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, 2026. As the first Official Participant in the campaign, the project carries Vietnam’s ambition to be recognized among cities that will define 21st-century urban living. The move matters because it places a Vietnamese development at the center of a global conversation about how cities balance nature, technology and human needs at a time when the United Nations projects that around 68% of the world’s population will live in urban areas by 2050.
The campaign, launched on Oct. 31, 2025, has drawn 265 participants from around the world and 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. Vinhomes Green Paradise was the first to be named an Official Participant, according to the announcement distributed via Media OutReach Newswire. The global voting phase will unfold in three stages: public voting from November 2026 to April 2027 to determine a longlist of 77 participants, from which New7Wonders will select 28 finalists; qualifier stages from May to October 2027; and the declaration of the “7 Wonders of Future Cities” on Oct. 31, 2027.
The project’s significance lies in how it measures against the campaign’s criteria. It occupies a rare coastal site in Can Gio adjacent to the sea and the UNESCO-recognized Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, with construction density planned at just 16% across the 2,870-hectare site, leaving most land for green spaces, water bodies and ecological landscapes. It is designed to integrate the Internet of Things, big data and artificial intelligence into urban governance, operations and environmental monitoring. Amenities and services are planned around a people-first philosophy, spanning healthcare, education, senior living, culture, sports, entertainment and dining. More information is available at https://vinhomes.vn/en.
Following an on-site visit, Jean-Paul de la Fuente, director of New7Wonders and chairman of the “7 Wonders of Future Cities” campaign, said the Can Gio setting places the relationship between development and nature at the center of the discussion. He noted that Vinhomes’ stated ambition to build that relationship into its vision is an important starting point, while 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, adding that Green Paradise has an opportunity to demonstrate its approach through evidence of progress and outcomes over time.
The campaign builds on New7Wonders’ tradition of global voting, which drew more than 100 million votes in 2007, and on Vietnam’s earlier success with Ha Long Bay, which earned a place among the New7Wonders of Nature. By shifting the focus from natural landscapes to cities, the “7 Wonders of Future Cities” campaign reflects a broader redefinition of what constitutes a wonder. Vietnam’s participation is expected to inspire national pride and rally support from communities at home and abroad, strengthening the country’s voice in the global conversation on the future of cities.
