Vinhomes Green Paradise, a 2,870-hectare coastal development in Can Gio, Ho Chi Minh City, is set to enter the global voting phase of New7Wonders' "7 Wonders of Future Cities" campaign on October 31, 2026. 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 October 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 applications accepted through October 31, 2026. The global voting phase will unfold in three stages: from November 2026 to April 2027, public voting will determine a longlist of 77 participants, from which New7Wonders will select and reveal 28 finalists based on its defined criteria. From May to October 2027, the 28 finalists will compete through three qualifier stages, with millions of votes expected to decide the outcome. On October 31, 2027, New7Wonders will confirm, validate and declare the "7 Wonders of Future Cities."
The initiative matters because the world is increasingly shaped by cities. 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. Bernard Weber, founder of New7Wonders, revived the ancient tradition of naming wonders with a key difference: the wonders would be chosen not by one person, but by millions of people around the world. The organization's 2007 global vote drew more than 100 million votes. Vietnam has previously rallied global support for Ha Long Bay, which earned its place among the New7Wonders of Nature.
Measured against the campaign's criteria, Vinhomes Green Paradise is built on three core pillars. Environment and Nature: the development occupies a rare coastal site in Can Gio, adjacent to the sea and the UNESCO-recognized Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, with construction density across the 2,870-hectare site planned at just 16%, leaving most of the land for green spaces, water bodies and ecological landscapes. Smart City: the project is designed to integrate the Internet of Things (IoT), big data and artificial intelligence (AI) into urban governance, operations and environmental monitoring to optimize resource use and improve operational efficiency. Human-Centric Development: amenities and services are planned around a people-first philosophy, 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 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.
The project's participation is expected to inspire national pride and rally support from communities in Vietnam and abroad, strengthening Vietnam's voice in the global conversation on the future of cities. For readers and industry observers, the vote offers a measurable test of whether a development can translate its environmental and technological ambitions into outcomes that resonate globally. More information about the developer is available at https://vinhomes.vn/en.
