At the meeting, Daisuke said AEON Vietnam opened its first shopping mall more than a decade ago in the Celadon Tan Phu residential area and has since continued to expand its footprint. Following the merger of Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau into Ho Chi Minh City, AEON now operates three major malls in the area.

The group is planning to build three additional shopping centres, two in the former Binh Duong and one in the former Ba Ria-Vung Tau, with total investment expected to reach several trillion VND. Each centre will cover about three hectares and create 1,500 to 2,000 jobs once operational.

With the new projects, Ho Chi Minh City will have six large AEON malls, thus contributing to economic growth. The company also aims to expand into the Mekong Delta.

Daisuke described Vietnam as AEON’s second most important market after Japan, adding that its retail network in the country is expected to triple by 2030. This expansion will support both domestic consumption and the export of Vietnamese goods.

He said sites for the three new malls have been selected and discussions are underway with relevant agencies in the two former provinces. He expressed hope for continued guidance from city departments as investment licensing progresses.

Chairman Duoc welcomed AEON’s strong investment and support for the city’s development, and asked the Department of Finance to coordinate with the company in preparing investment documents. He affirmed that any issues during implementation could be addressed directly with municipal leaders.

Work to start on over US$200 million Aeon Mall project in Can Tho this weekend

Construction on the VND5.4 trillion (US$208.7 million) Aeon Mall project will start on April 26 in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975-2025).