Vinhomes Green Paradise, a 2,870-hectare coastal development in Can Gio, Ho Chi Minh City, will enter the global voting phase of New7Wonders' "7 Wonders of Future Cities" campaign on Oct. 31. As the campaign's first Official Participant, the project carries Vietnam's aspiration to be counted among the cities that will define urban living in the 21st century.
The campaign, launched on Oct. 31, 2025, seeks to identify the next generation of urban wonders by recognizing pioneering cities and developments that champion sustainable development, technological advancement, innovation and human-centric design. It has drawn 265 participants from around the world, with Vinhomes Green Paradise being the first to be named an Official Participant. The global voting phase will unfold in three stages: public voting from November 2026 to April 2027 will determine a longlist of 77 participants, from which New7Wonders will select 28 finalists; those finalists will compete through three qualifier stages from May to October 2027; and on Oct. 31, 2027, New7Wonders will confirm, validate and declare the "7 Wonders of Future Cities."
The significance of this announcement lies in its timing and symbolism. The United Nations projects that around 68% of the global population will live in urban areas by 2050, shifting the idea of a wonder from beauty inherited from nature to cities that balance nature, technology, sustainability and quality of life. Vinhomes Green Paradise is built on three core pillars that align with the campaign's criteria: Environment & Nature, with construction density planned at just 16% across the site, leaving most of the land for green spaces, water bodies and ecological landscapes adjacent to the UNESCO-recognized Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve; Smart City, integrating the Internet of Things, big data and artificial intelligence into urban governance, operations and environmental monitoring; and Human-Centric Development, with an ecosystem of internationally benchmarked services spanning healthcare, education, senior living, culture, sports, entertainment and dining.
Following an on-site visit, Jean-Paul de la Fuente, director of New7Wonders and chairman of the campaign, noted that the Can Gio setting places the relationship between development and nature at the center of the discussion. He said the project's lasting value will depend on how planning decisions, environmental safeguards and long-term management support the ecosystem as the development progresses. "For me, this is where the idea of a future city becomes particularly meaningful: understanding the natural systems on which a place depends and explaining how they will be cared for," he said.
Vietnam's previous success with Ha Long Bay, which earned its place among the New7Wonders of Nature, demonstrates the country's ability to rally global support. The project's participation is expected to inspire national pride and strengthen Vietnam's voice in the global conversation on the future of cities. As the campaign's first Official Participant, Vinhomes Green Paradise is positioned to showcase a model of responsible development in sensitive natural settings. More information about the developer is available at https://vinhomes.vn/en.
