A new southern metropolis formed by merging Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and Ba R'a-Vung Tau aims to reach a Gross Regional Domestic Product of VND2.97 quadrillion (US$114 billion) in 2025, reports Hanoi's Vietnam News.

The merger combines financial, manufacturing and port infrastructure strengths into a self-sustaining urban ecosystem. Ho Chi Minh City. formerly Saigon, serves as a financial hub, Binh Duong contributes industrial capacity and foreign investment, while Ba R?a-Vung Tau offers deep-sea ports and energy diversity.

Experts say the region forms an "urban-service-innovation triangle" but warn that fragmented planning has led to inefficiencies in logistics and infrastructure. High logistics costs and limited multimodal transport links hinder competitiveness.

A shortage of skilled labour in fields such as AI, big data and international finance also deters foreign investment. Experts urge reforms in policy, infrastructure and service diversification to unlock growth.

Digital transformation and the fourth industrial revolution present opportunities in fintech, e-commerce and high-tech sectors. The region's seaport capacity is expected to reach 32.7 million TEU annually, rivalling Singapore.

Major infrastructure projects including new airport terminals and Ring Roads 3 and 4 are expected to boost logistics and tourism. The Cai Mep-Th? Vai port complex, ranked among the world's top 20, will support ambitions to become a regional logistics hub and global megacity.