An autonomous space industry; an ASEAN hub for UAV research and development; the construction of a comprehensive digital twin; and a semiconductor technology development center… will serve as the “core pillars” enabling Ho Chi Minh City not only to match global standards in science and technology but also to achieve a breakthrough in GDP.
In an official document on proposed solutions for the development of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) in the new era, recently sent by Mr. Tran Kim Chung, Chairman of CT Group, to Mr. Tran Luu Quang, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, it was stated that, in the spirit of leveraging the strengths of Politburo Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 24, 2024, and driven by the Group’s strong commitment to the City’s new development phase, CT Group proposes several key solutions aimed at fostering HCMC’s prosperous development based on science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation, specifically through the following core solution groups.
BUILDING HO CHI MINH CITY INTO A SPACE ECONOMY HUB
According to Mr. Chung, CT Group is currently operating the CT Group Centralized Digital Technology Center – CT High-tech R&D Center located on DT 743 Road, Binh Hoa Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, and is developing Digital Space Research Center No. 1 (SS1 – Space Ship One) with a total floor area of 500,000 square meters in Bay Hien Ward, HCMC
The Group proposes to invest in a Space Economy Testing Center covering approximately 20–30 hectares in an area aligned with the City’s designated master plan. In addition, CT UAV – a CT Group member – plans to invest VND 50 trillion over a continuous 10-year period to position Vietnam as the ASEAN hub for UAVs, which would serve as the backbone for building a near-space economy in Vietnam – an industry projected to surge with an estimated value of USD 20- 30 billion.
According to Mr. Chung, CT UAV- a member of CT Group is currently experiencing rapid and comprehensive development of the core technologies of the strategic unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry. CT UAV has identified its core strategy as achieving full mastery of the UAV value chain and technologies, with the goal of reaching an 80–95% localization and technological self-reliance rate by the end of 2025. This capability is demonstrated through CT UAV’s control of six key technology domains: electronics and microchip technologies; software platforms and artificial intelligence; control and autonomous systems; composite materials technology; energy technologies; and security and communication technologies.
On August 12, 2025, CT UAV secured an export order for 5,000 heavy-lift unmanned cargo aircraft for South Korea, within the framework of the State visit to the Republic of Korea by General Secretary Tô Lâm. The two sides are currently working closely to implement this order. At present, CT UAV’s five factories are intensively preparing for production, with particular emphasis on the foundry plant, which is undertaking the preparation of multiple complex components.
On August 20, 2025, CT Group signed a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia’s National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) on the development of the Low-Altitude Economy (LAE) and digital transformation. The agreement covers cooperation across 16 key sectors, including security; border patrol and national defense; smart cities and transportation; healthcare and emergency services; logistics and delivery; digital transformation; tourism, media and creative industries; education and research; environment, ecology and the green economy; agriculture; forestry; fisheries and aquaculture; construction and infrastructure; energy and renewable power; mining and heavy industry; and telecommunications and digital infrastructure.
To help Ho Chi Minh City not only reach global standards in science and technology but also trigger a surge in GDP and address a range of pressing urban challenges- including transportation, tourism, services, urban planning, and security- CT Group leaders say the city needs to develop an autonomous space industry. This includes building a full value chain spanning equipment manufacturing, infrastructure operations, and data service exploitation through public–private partnerships and the attraction of global investment. Equally critical is the development of high-quality human resources, with training programs for aerospace engineers, near-space data scientists, and AI research teams serving the low-altitude space sector, alongside the establishment of internationally accredited research and innovation centers. In addition, a robust legal framework and international cooperation are needed to align with global standards while safeguarding space data sovereignty and the nation’s strategic interests.
Accordingly, CT Group has proposed the development of a research and manufacturing complex of approximately five hectares near Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology under Vietnam National University–Ho Chi Minh City, at a location designated by the city.
DIGITAL TWIN AND SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CENTER
In the same document sent to Mr. Tran Luu Quang, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, the Chairman of CT Group also proposed the development of a comprehensive digital twin for Ho Chi Minh City, aimed at completing the city’s end-to-end digital transformation. The initiative would position Ho Chi Minh City among the first cities in the world to advance toward a fully integrated digital twin, serving as a breakthrough catalyst across all sectors of the city’s economy.
At present, CT Group is developing technologies and equipment for Vietnam’s “Digital Twin” project (DT – Digital Twin), code-named DT15. Globally, most cities remain at the smart city stage, with only a limited number of countries- such as Singapore and China- having progressed from smart city models to digital twin development.
The DT15 Digital Transformation Project is currently regarded as the most complex digital twin model in the world, as it represents a living replica of the real world built on 15 layers of data. The digital twin technology applied in Vietnam’s DT15 project is considered the most advanced and cost-efficient among countries developing digital twins, enabling the comprehensive digitization of airspace, land, water surfaces, and underground layers. This allows for the full-scale application of artificial intelligence in real-time management, command, and operations, supporting precise planning, forecasting, and the optimization of all development activities based on advanced AI.
With the goal of positioning Ho Chi Minh City as Vietnam’s semiconductor technology development center- fully mastered by Vietnamese capabilities and eventually evolving into a regional hub, while contributing to national semiconductor security – CT Group has become the first enterprise in Vietnam capable of executing the entire semiconductor technology development process end to end, with rapid deployment and systematic workforce training.
Accordingly, CT Semiconductor – CT Group, has proposed investing in a semiconductor manufacturing plant bearing the name “Ho Chi Minh City” at the Saigon Hi-Tech Park, with a total investment of USD 200 million and targeted for inauguration in 2026. These programs are expected to attract tens of thousands of engineers to the city, contributing significantly to budget revenues and GDP growth.
The Chairman of CT Group also proposed the development of a regenerative biotechnology complex for Ho Chi Minh City on par with those in advanced countries. A member of the Group, VGCT – Vietnam Gene & Cell Technology, established in 2018, is currently a pioneering entity in Vietnam in the fields of biotechnology, regenerative medicine, and stem cell research.
VGCT is currently conducting research and making significant investments in the application of stem cells in areas such as anti-aging and cancer treatment, while advancing toward the development of immune cell technologies and targeted therapies, including CAR-T therapy. This approach treats hematological cancers by reprogramming patients’ T cells. The company is also oriented toward establishing specialized laboratories for in vivo CAR-T research, as well as building a stem cell bank for Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
In addition, VGCT aims to apply gene-editing technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 to develop crop varieties with high adaptability to extreme conditions and climate change, including drought, salinity, and pests, while contributing to carbon neutrality. The group is also pursuing smart bio-agriculture models, promoting digital transformation in agriculture toward a sustainable, green, and technology-driven sector, integrated with digital twin technology in agricultural applications.
CT Group has proposed the allocation of a portion of the Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Agricultural Park in Cu Chi to implement research and production activities aimed at improving efficiency and preventing resource waste.
Alongside the above proposals, the Group has also requested approval to transform the 340-hectare Vinh Loc Ecological Lake Park currently under development in Binh Chanh into a Science Park modeled after Hong Kong Science Park. In addition, CT Group has proposed piloting carbon credit generation programs in Cần Giờ and forest areas in Bình Dương and the former Ba Ria–Vung Tau province, as well as developing carbon credits for industrial parks and export processing zones in Ho Chi Minh City. The Group further proposes collaborating with the stock exchange to establish a pilot international carbon credit trading platform at the IFC Ho Chi Minh City, and launching a pilot initiative to create a Digital University for Innovation.
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