In the era of data explosion, Data Center is no longer just a technology support infrastructure, but has become a strategic asset - a "blood vessel" of the global digital economy. When data becomes the "new oil", large technology corporations and leading investment funds in the world have quickly shifted capital flows to Data Center projects with a scale of billions of US dollars. From North America to Europe, and especially the Asia-Pacific region, the trend of investing in digital infrastructure is heating up every day. Vietnam, in that picture, is emerging as a potential destination, with many advantages gradually being identified and exploited.
The global Data Center market is currently witnessing an unprecedented wave of investment. Large infrastructure funds such as EQT Infrastructure, Temasek, GIC and Warburg Pincus are all stepping up their ownership or cooperation with Data Center operators in Asia. At the same time, technology corporations such as Google, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft and recently NVIDIA are actively building or leasing Data Centers in strategic locations to serve the needs of AI, cloud computing and global services. M&A deals, land expansion, and hyperscale data center investments are taking place continuously in technology cities such as Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, Jakarta and Bangkok.
Compared to other developed markets in the region, Vietnam is still an untapped “gold mine” in the Data Center sector. With its strategic geographical location in the middle of the East Asian technology supply chain, competitive infrastructure and labor costs, and impressive digital growth, Vietnam is becoming an attractive destination for international investors. In addition, its young population, high internet penetration, and the rapid transformation of industries such as e-commerce, fintech, and artificial intelligence have created a huge demand for data – requiring increasingly modern, secure, and sustainable storage and processing infrastructure.
One notable point is that legal policies in Vietnam are gradually encouraging investment in data infrastructure. Decree 53/2022 requires personal data and important data to be stored within Vietnam. This not only ensures cybersecurity, but also puts pressure on international technology businesses and platforms to invest or rent local Data Center services. This is a big boost for the domestic market.
Major domestic and foreign investors have seen the opportunity early on. VNPT, Viettel, FPT, CMC and DCH are domestic enterprises that have been deploying many Tier III Data Centers, aiming to serve both domestic and international markets.
In particular, DCH has announced plans to operate a Data Center dedicated to artificial intelligence by the end of 2025 - a strategic move to anticipate the AI trend and the increasing demand for GPU infrastructure.
The Digital HUB project implemented by DCH Group in Ba Ria – Vung Tau is a clear demonstration of this trend. This is not just a data center, but a large-scale digital infrastructure project of strategic significance, with the goal of becoming an international data connection axis, an AI center, and a key driving force for Vietnam’s digital economy in the next decade.
Great aspirations on strategic land
The Digital HUB project is located in Ba Ria – Vung Tau – a locality with a particularly favorable location, adjacent to Ho Chi Minh City, with developed electricity and telecommunications infrastructure, and close to international submarine fiber optic cable landing points. The choice of this location is not random, but a strategic move to optimize international connections, reduce data transmission latency and create a complete digital ecosystem right next to the key economic region of the South.
With a scale of up to 100 hectares, the project is designed to become a hyperscale data center complex, according to TIA-942-C Rated 4 standard - the highest level currently in data center design and operation. The project is systematically planned with diverse functional zones, not only serving the purpose of data storage but also being an integrated technology complex: from AI research center, cloud computing, to disaster recovery center and infrastructure supporting global data transmission.
Modern technology and sustainable design
One of the most outstanding features of the Digital HUB project is the application of a series of the world's leading advanced technologies. The data center system includes 5 Data Center Hall buildings, each with a capacity of 20MW - a total capacity of up to 100MW, with more than 6,000 rack cabinets serving server equipment. This is currently one of the largest scales in Southeast Asia.
In terms of cooling technology – a key factor affecting performance and power consumption – DCH Group invests in advanced solutions such as direct liquid cooling and direct-to-chip cooling. This solution helps the data center operate stably with power usage efficiency (PUE) lower than 1.4, an impressive achievement in the industry. Along with that are cold storage systems (ice tanks), microgrids and battery energy storage systems (BESS), ensuring stable power supply, optimizing costs and being environmentally friendly.
In terms of security, the entire area is strictly controlled according to international standards, from physical security to cyber security. DCH also builds a disaster prevention and recovery system, ensuring the continuity of digital services even in the event of natural disasters or global connectivity disruptions.
In particular, Digital HUB is oriented to be a green and sustainable data center. The project invests heavily in a solar power system combined with a microgrid, which can meet up to 70% of electricity demand in the first phase and aims to be carbon neutral (Net Zero +) after 2030. In addition, the natural gas generator system helps reduce CO₂ emissions by 60% compared to traditional fossil fuels. This is one of the few projects in the region to achieve a comprehensive ESG orientation - including environment, society and governance - right from the design stage.
On the other hand, international investors such as NTT (Japan), Gaw Capital (Hong Kong), and many corporations from Korea and Singapore are also actively negotiating cooperation, surveying locations and implementing projects in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Binh Duong, Bac Ninh, etc.
What makes Data Centers an attractive investment channel is their stable business model, long-term profits and lower operating risks compared to traditional commercial real estate. Although the cost of building an international standard Data Center can range from 50 to 200 million USD, the utilization rate is often very high if located in urban centers or key industrial zones. In addition, long-term leases of 5-15 years with large customers such as banks, network operators, technology companies bring stable and predictable income. This is the reason why more and more financial investors – even those who have never been involved in the infrastructure sector – are looking to participate in the Data Center value chain.
However, opportunities always come with challenges. Vietnam still faces many barriers such as a lack of suitable land for large-scale DC construction, stable power sources and limited efficient cooling systems. In addition, legal regulations and investment procedures are still being finalized, causing many difficulties in quickly implementing large projects. Competition from regional rivals – especially Singapore and Indonesia – is also increasing rapidly as these countries have taken a step forward in building digital infrastructure ecosystems.
However, the current time is still a “golden window of opportunity” for investors who want to position themselves early in a potential market like Vietnam. As major cities plan for Data Center clusters, as policies begin to open up more to digital infrastructure, and as the demand for AI, cloud and personal data increases sharply – Data Centers will become one of the most important strategic assets in a long-term investment portfolio.