UOB Vietnam announced the official commencement of construction of its new headquarters building, UOB Plaza Ho Chi Minh City, on July 1, becoming the first foreign bank to develop and own a purpose-built headquarters within the Vietnam International Financial Centre – Ho Chi Minh City (VIFC HCMC). The Grade-A office tower, designed in line with international sustainability standards, is expected to be completed in 2030.
The total investment in UOB Plaza HCMC will be around US$450 million. In a press release, UOB says this reflects “the bank’s long-term commitment to Vietnam as a core market”. By establishing its Vietnam headquarters within the VIFC HCMC, UOB is strengthening its role in supporting Vietnam's growing connectivity with regional and global capital, trade and investment flows, UOB adds.
Wee Ee Cheong, deputy chairman and CEO of UOB, says: "Vietnam is a key pillar of UOB's regional strategy. Our new headquarters reflects our confidence in Vietnam's future and our support for Ho Chi Minh City's ambition to become an international financial centre. Having our own headquarters buildings in all five of our key markets underscores our long-term commitment to the region, its businesses and communities. Through our extensive network, we are uniquely positioned to deepen connectivity across the region and create greater value for our 8.5 million customers."
UOB Plaza HCMC will be located at 2 Ton Duc Thang Street within the Ba Son precinct. The building will be 160 metres in height (a tad lower than Bukit Timah Hill), comprising 36 storeys. The property is designed by Gensler and will be built to international Grade-A standards with a commitment to achieving Buulding and Construction Authority (BCA) Green Mark certification.
In October 2017, UOB received a licence from the State Bank of Vietnam to establish UOB Vietnam as a foreign-owned subsidiary bank in Vietnam, the only Singapore bank to do so.
