- January 15, 2026
- Posted by: SportsV
- Categories: Featured Articles, Features, Home News, Industry News, News, Press Releases
The People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and leading Vietnamese developer Sun Group has held a spectacular groundbreaking ceremony for one of South East Asia’s most anticipated sports projects – the Rach Chiec National Sports Complex, which has been master planned by global architecture firm Populous.
Total investment in the 186.78 hectare project is valued at more than VND145,000 billion, with the centrepiece being an up to 70,000-seat stadium featuring a retractable roof and one of the world’s most advanced air-conditioning systems.
Populous Senior Principal and Global Director Brett Wightman said Rach Chiec would place Vietnam on the global sporting map with the ability to host top-level sports events and international concerts:
“Rach Chiec National Sports Complex will enhance Vietnam’s sports infrastructure and lay the foundation for Vietnam to host major international events such as the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic & Paralympic Games. We are excited by Sun Group’s ambition to make Ho Chi Minh City a world leading sport and entertainment precinct.”
The vision for the Central Stadium takes reference from the water palms that line the rivers of the region. The Stadium will have a retractable roof, advanced soundproofing and a cutting-edge air-conditioning system that can adjust temperature by seating zone. This will allow the Stadium to not only host international-level sports events, but also to be converted into a multifunctional stage for large-scale concerts, regional and global entertainment programs.
A multi-functional complex capable of hosting 90% of Olympic sports
In addition to the central stadium, the complex will include indoor arenas and sports centres equipped with modern air-conditioning systems that can flexibly adjust temperature by seating zone:
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- The multi-purpose Competitive Arena and Performance Arena covering 10 hectares with a capacity of about 18,000 seats will serve indoor sports, art performances, entertainment programs and combined events.
- A multi-purpose Sports Centre with 5,000 to 10,000 seats will accommodate competitions in multiple disciplines, training, and community sports events.
- An international-standard Aquatic Centre will host swimming, diving, and water polo.
- A Tennis Centre will support competitions, training and professional tournaments.
- There will also be a fitness and recreation centre, along with auxiliary courts.
In addition, community sports areas and facilities for athletes, coaches and medical teams will expand Rach Chiec’s role from a professional competition centre into a sport and entertainment precinct integrated with urban life, forming a closed-loop ecosystem of training, competition and rehabilitation.
The 2026 SVB LIVE Conference & Exhibition – with a focus on elevating the live experience through key pillars including Architecture & Design, Fit-Out & Interiors, Premium Experience and Technology – is being hosted at Everton’s spectacular new Hill Dickinson Stadium on October 1st and 2nd, with an Opening Night Icebreaker on September 30th; Populous is a longstanding sponsor.
Populous Senior Principal and Lead Designer for the project Andrew Tulen said Rach Chiec National Sports Complex had been master planned to allow the community access to health and recreational services, contributing to improved quality of life, reduced stress and better physical and mental health.
Mr Tulen said:
“Populous has designed the precinct to ensure that all the venues work together seamlessly and that it will be an important community asset and a catalyst for further development in the area. Populous has decades of experience designing iconic spaces for the world’s most renowned names in sport and entertainment, from stadiums such as the London Olympic Stadium to arenas and event spaces such as the Sphere in Las Vegas. It’s this type of design excellence that our team in Asia hope to bring to Rach Chiec, Sun Group and Ho Chi Minh City.”
A New International-Standard Conference Center in Ho Chi Minh City
Alongside sports facilities, the project allocates a large area for public spaces and urban services. Public parks and plazas will extend throughout the site, linking all sports facilities, creating ecological buffers, and offering community spaces. Waterfront areas will host recreational activities, community sports, outdoor events and festivals, as well as dining, shopping, and cultural exchange spaces, contributing to better quality of life for residents.
Commercial, service and conference areas are planned to support sports and event activities, hosting world-class artistic performances and forming a centre for an event-driven economy, nighttime economy and increased tourist spending in Ho Chi Minh City.
The Conference Centre will be one of the largest in the region, including a main hall and multiple smaller multifunctional rooms suitable for international exhibitions, conferences, seminars and forums. Nearby hotels will provide high-end accommodation with convenient access and direct connection to the sports complex.
The city selected Vung Tau Sun Co., Ltd., a Sun Group subsidiary, as the investor for the project.
About Populous
Populous is a global design firm that began with a singular focus – to draw people together around the things they love, through experiences that capture all the senses, amplifying the atmosphere of excitement and pure joy shared in human moments. We design iconic spaces for the world’s most renowned names in sports and entertainment, from stadiums such as the London Olympic Stadium and Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium to arenas and event spaces such as the Sphere in Las Vegas, and urban environments like the ICC Darling Harbour Master Plan in Sydney, as well as major transport projects such as the redevelopment of Kansai International Airport.
With our APAC head office in Brisbane, our diverse team includes specialists across a range of disciplines, from architecture and interior design to branded environments, urban planning and event design. Having been involved in 15 Summer and Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games since 1996, our work has transformed neighbourhoods, revitalised cities, built relationships and connected people to the incredible and the awe-inspiring. It’s our vision for design excellence that has led Fast Company to name Populous one of the world’s 50 most innovative companies, ranking us No. 1 in architecture.
Project renders, courtesy of Populous. Image top: Groundbreaking for the Rach Chiec National Sports Complex on January 15
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