VIETCOMBANK TOWER: THE PIONEERS IN GREEN BUILDINGS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Vietcombank Tower, a Grade A+ office building located at No. 5 Me Linh Square, District 01, Ho Chi Minh City, has marked its 20-year journey toward becoming the first Vietnam's entity to receive both LEED Platinum and WELL Gold certification.

Vietcombank Tower is owned by Vietcombank – Bonday – Benthanh Joint Venture Company Limited (hereinafter called VBB), which remarks the cooperation between the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) and its partners. The building started construction in 2010, and officially commenced operations at the end of 2015.

Strategically located behind the Tran Hung Dao statue, outwarding Bạch Đằng Wharf with an panoramic view of the Saigon River, Vietcombank Tower occupies a golden location in Ho Chi Minh City. "From the outset, our goal was to create a superior office building in terms of architecture, quality, and class," stated by Mr. Dao Ngoc Hung, General Director of VBB.

                                   (Vietcombank Tower and its “golden” location in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City)

Exemplary quality and outstanding business performance

Upon its inauguration, Vietcombank Tower achieved an occupancy rate of 85%, which increased to 98–99% between 2016-2020. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, occupancy rate only dropped to 91% in 2021 before quickly recovering to 97% over the past three years, far exceeding the 88% average occupancy rate of Grade A office buildings in Ho Chi Minh City.

The tenant list includes major domestic and international corporations such as Vietcombank, Heineken, Phu Quoc Petroleum Operating Company (Petro Vietnam), Johnson & Johnson, Sunlife, Shiseido, Idemitsu, Sojitz, Sumitomo Corporation, Pernod Ricard, and Baker & McKenzie, etc. These companies operate in a variety of industries, including finance, energy, legal consulting, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods.

Designed by the legedary architect Cesar Pelli, who is known for iconic architects such as the Petronas Towers (Malaysia) and the International Financial Centre (Hong Kong), Vietcombank Tower delicately combines Western modernity and indigenous culture elements. Standing 206 meters tall with 35 above-ground floors and 4 basements, the tower's crown-like pinnacle is inspired by the Hung King’s crown, establishing a distinctive mark. Its façade, crafted from premium stone and aluminum glass, not only exudes contemporary elegance but also enhances energy efficiency.

(Outstanding American-style architecture constructed of stone, aluminum, and glass to save energy)

The champion of green and sustainable offices 

In the past three years, Vietcombank Tower has prioritized meeting international standards for sustainable buildings. In 2023, the British Standards Institution (BSI) certified the building with four ISO standards: ISO 9001:2015 for Quality Management, ISO 14001:2015 for Environmental Management, ISO 45001:2018 for Occupational Health and Safety, and ISO 50001:2018 for Energy Management. In August 2024, the tower achieved LEED Platinum certification, the highest level awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Going forward, Vietcombank Tower is expected to become Vietnam's first building to receive WELL Core V2 Gold certification.

While LEED focuses on energy efficiency and operational performance, WELL emphasizes enhancing the health and user experience through ten key criteria, including air quality, lighting, acoustics, materials, and comfort. With these achievements, Vietcombank Tower is poised to become Vietnam’s first and only office building to hold both certifications.

Mr. Santanu Dupta Gupta, the representative of USGBC, remarked: "VBB's vision and determination have transformed Vietcombank Tower into a rare example in Vietnam of successfully converting an existing building into a world-class green project."

(USGBC representative awards LEED Platinum certificate to Vietcombank Tower)

Since its inception, VBB has collaborated with the original design team to maintain the highest standards of performance and sustainability. Vietcombank Tower is equipped with advanced elevators, a fresh-air ventilation system, and cutting-edge security systems. Thanks to regular maintenance, the building has ensured stable operations and high-quality performance for nearly a decade after its inauguration.

"We are not only investors and owners but also the building’s operators, which ensure every enhancement is implemented optimally", emphasized by Mr.Dao Ngoc Hung, General Director of VBB.

In 2024, Vietcombank Tower is further investing in advanced technologies, including Swedish access control systems and American developed air quality monitoring systems, to create a safe and healthy working environment.

With robust financial capabilities and a long-term strategy, Vietcombank Tower continues to solidify its position as the top office building in Ho Chi Minh City. According to Mr. Hung, the building's goal extends beyond maintaining high occupancy rates; it aims to establish an ideal working ecosystem for exceptional businesses. “We envision every space within the tower not just as a workplace but as an environment that inspires creativity and fosters the growth of all businesses,” Mr. Hung shared.

(CafeF, dated 27/12/2024, https://cafef.vn)