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 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, according to an announcement distributed via Media OutReach Newswire.
The significance of the announcement lies in its timing and scale. New7Wonders, founded by Bernard Weber, revived the ancient tradition of naming wonders with a modern twist: the choices are made by millions of people worldwide, not by a single arbiter. The organization's 2007 global vote drew more than 100 million votes, demonstrating that a wonder becomes a wonder when it speaks to a shared sense of pride. Vietnam has already experienced this phenomenon: Ha Long Bay earned its place among the New7Wonders of Nature, proving that a single place can rally international support. Now, as the United Nations projects that around 68% of the global population will live in urban areas by 2050, the concept of a wonder is shifting from natural beauty to cities that balance nature, technology, sustainability and quality of life. Vinhomes Green Paradise's participation thus places Vietnam at the center of a global conversation about what future cities should be.
The "7 Wonders of Future Cities" campaign, launched on Oct. 31, 2025, has drawn 265 participants from around the world. Vinhomes Green Paradise was the first to be named an Official Participant, a distinction that underscores the project's alignment with the campaign's criteria: sustainable development, technological advancement, innovation and human-centric design. 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. From May to October 2027, those 28 finalists will compete through three qualifier stages, with millions of votes expected to decide the outcome. On Oct. 31, 2027, New7Wonders will confirm, validate and declare the "7 Wonders of Future Cities."
Measured against the campaign's criteria, the project is built on three core pillars. Environment & 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 planned at just 16% across the 2,870-hectare site, 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, big data and artificial intelligence into urban governance, operations and environmental monitoring, aiming to optimize resource use, improve operational efficiency and foster a modern, safe and civilized living environment. 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, designed to support a high quality of life for residents.
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. Vinhomes' stated ambition to build that relationship into its vision is an important starting point, he said, 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. In his view, Green Paradise has an opportunity to demonstrate its approach through evidence of progress and outcomes over time, contributing to a valuable international exchange on responsible development in sensitive natural settings.
The implications extend beyond the project itself. From Ha Long Bay to Can Gio, Vietnam's story of wonders is being written in a new language: cities that listen to nature, use technology in service of people and measure success by quality of life. 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. More information about the developer is available at https://vinhomes.vn/en.
