In a decisive move to solidify its position as a regional technology hub, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has officially established a specialized interdisciplinary task force to accelerate the development of a $2 billion AI Data Center. Spearheaded by the Kinh Bac City Development Holding Corporation (KBC) in partnership with international investors, the project is slated for the Tan Phu Trung Industrial Park. The newly formed task force aims to bypass administrative bottlenecks, providing a "fast-track" mechanism for licensing, infrastructure, and legal procedures to ensure the project meets its ambitious implementation timeline.
A "Special Task Force" for a Mega-Project
Recognizing the strategic importance of high-tech infrastructure, HCMC Chairman Phan Van Mai signed the decision to form a specialized working group on December 30, 2025. This team is designed to provide direct, hands-on support for what is currently one of the city's largest foreign and domestic combined investments.
- Membership: The task force comprises 15 key members, including leaders from the Department of Planning and Investment, the Department of Science and Technology, and the Department of Information and Communications.
- Direct Participation: Uniquely, the group includes direct representatives from the investors including KBC, Accelerated Infrastructure Capital (AIC), and Saigon - Northwest Urban Development JSC to ensure real-time communication between the private sector and city regulators.
- Mandate: The team is authorized to resolve inter-departmental issues, coordinate land-use approvals, and provide legal guidance to ensure the project adheres to both Vietnamese law and international standards.
The "AI Factory" at Tan Phu Trung
The project, which represents a shift from traditional industrial parks to "digital ecosystems," is a joint venture that combines Vietnamese land and banking power with global tech expertise.
- Strategic Partnership: The project is anchored by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between KBC, AIC (a London and Hong Kong-based digital infrastructure fund), and VietinBank, which will act as the primary financial partner.
- Massive Scale: Spanning 10 hectares in the Tan Phu Trung Industrial Park, the facility is designed as a hyperscale AI campus with an IT load capacity of 200 MW.
- GPU Powerhouse: Once operational, the center is expected to house up to 100,000 GPUs, serving as an "AI Factory" that provides high-performance computing, cloud storage, and big data analysis for domestic and international clients.
Economic Impact and Strategic Significance
The establishment of this task force signals HCMC's intent to use the digital economy as its primary growth engine, aiming for it to contribute 40% of the city’s GRDP by 2030.
- Job Creation: The project is expected to create thousands of high-quality jobs for IT engineers and data scientists, fostering a local talent pool capable of competing globally.
- Regional Hub Ambition: By hosting a hyperscale center of this magnitude, HCMC aims to compete with established hubs like Singapore and Hong Kong, positioning itself as a "Digital Gateway" for Southeast Asia.
- Sovereignty and Security: The center will allow Vietnamese data to be stored and processed domestically, aligning with the Law on Data and enhancing national data sovereignty.
Overcoming Legal Hurdles
Despite the high level of support, the task force faces the challenge of aligning Vietnam’s current regulatory framework with the rapid pace of AI technology.
Discrepancy Resolution: The team will work to address discrepancies between international data standards and local regulations, particularly concerning cross-border data flows and energy consumption for massive server farms.
Infrastructure Support: A key priority for the group will be ensuring a stable, high-capacity power supply and high-speed fiber connectivity to the Tan Phu Trung site, which are critical for the continuous operation of an AI-powered facility.The success of this $2 billion project is seen as a litmus test for HCMC's ability to attract "eagles" who are top-tier global investors into its high-tech ecosystem.