Cushman Wakefield to assess Vietnam AI campus plan

Cushman & Wakefield has been appointed to lead a feasibility study for Stavian Digital Park in Ho Chi Minh City, backed by the United States Trade and Development Agency.

The study will assess whether the proposed development can support a large-scale artificial intelligence and cloud campus in Vietnam's commercial centre. Stavian Digital Park is planned as a 300-hectare site, with Phase 1 targeting 300MW of power capacity by 2030.

APTelecom will serve as a specialist subcontractor, focusing on telecommunications connectivity and digital infrastructure planning. Its remit also includes market development, commercialisation strategy and financial modelling.

The proposal reflects growing interest in Southeast Asia as cloud providers and artificial intelligence investors look beyond the region's established data centre markets. Vietnam has drawn attention because of its limited existing capacity, lower construction costs and regulatory changes that have encouraged more overseas investment.

Vietnam remains the most underserved data centre market in Asia Pacific, with about 1.4 million people per megawatt of operational capacity, according to Cushman & Wakefield. The firm added that the country ranks second in the region for yield on cost, a metric investors track when considering new infrastructure projects.

Ho Chi Minh City has seen particularly rapid growth in planned supply. Cushman & Wakefield's market data shows the city's development pipeline reached 68MW in the first half of 2026, more than double its existing operational capacity.

Study scope

The feasibility study covers 15 workstreams, including market demand, site suitability, power infrastructure, telecommunications links, financial viability, sustainability, regulation and implementation. It will also assess the conditions needed to make the project bankable and suitable for long-term investment.

Plans for the site include international subsea connectivity of up to 200 Tb/s and a carrier-neutral design intended to attract a range of users rather than a single network provider. The development is aimed at cloud service providers, enterprises, government digital infrastructure, content delivery networks and artificial intelligence workloads.

The proposal also includes an energy mix featuring on-site solar generation and other renewable energy infrastructure. That could give the project a path to lower-carbon electricity as large data centre operators face growing pressure to secure cleaner power sources.

Andrew Green, Head of Data Centre Group, Asia Pacific, Cushman & Wakefield, said: "Data centre investment across Asia Pacific is expanding beyond established hubs, and the next phase of growth will increasingly come from emerging markets that can support long-term hyperscale and AI-driven demand. With its competitive construction costs and strong data centre demand, there is significant opportunity in Vietnam to develop infrastructure that meets global standards for scalability, resilience and sustainability."

Vietnam focus

The planned campus is part of a broader push to expand Vietnam's digital infrastructure as demand for cloud services, data storage and computing rises. The market is still at an earlier stage than larger regional centres such as Singapore, but investors have been weighing whether secondary markets can absorb the next wave of data centre construction.

Stavian Hightech Infrastructure said the digital park is intended to complement MViSTA, a proposed open submarine cable system linking Vietnam with Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. The link would be significant because international connectivity has often constrained digital infrastructure operators in Vietnam.

Danny Dung Le, Chief Executive Officer, Stavian Hightech Infrastructure, said: "Stavian Digital Park is envisioned as a campus capable of meeting the requirements of hyperscale cloud providers, enterprises and other major digital infrastructure users while delivering long-term economic and strategic value. SDP complements MViSTA, a proposed open submarine cable system linking Vietnam with Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, and reflects our ambition to develop the advanced infrastructure required to support Vietnam's digital transformation. Cushman & Wakefield's global capabilities and understanding of the Vietnamese market will help provide the evidence base and implementation framework needed to advance the project."

USTDA's involvement places the study within a broader US effort to support digital infrastructure projects across the Indo-Pacific. The agency has been active in preparing subsea cable and connectivity projects in Southeast Asia, often with an emphasis on using US technology and advisory services.

Thomas R. Hardy, Deputy Director, USTDA, said: "Vietnam is a growing hub for data and AI infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific, and this partnership lays the groundwork for a landmark project built on trusted technology. This project will help Vietnam meet its growing digital infrastructure needs while positioning U.S. companies to deliver the technology and expertise that clients are seeking for projects like this."

The study will also consider the project's potential effects on employment, economic growth, technology transfer, foreign direct investment and trade cooperation between the US and Vietnam. Its findings are expected to give stakeholders an independent view of the site's technical, commercial and financial prospects.

Hoang Nguyet Minh, Country Head, Cushman & Wakefield Vietnam, said: "Vietnam is entering a decisive phase in the development of its digital economy, creating a clear need for larger, more resilient and more sustainable data centre capacity. Our role is to bring together market intelligence, technical assessment, financial analysis and development strategy to provide Stavian and its partners with a robust basis for investment and implementation. This study represents an important step towards shaping Stavian Digital Park into a well-planned development that can support Vietnam's digital ambitions and evolving infrastructure needs."