What’s special in Bình Dương / the VSIP area: Thủ Dầu Một, VSIP I–III, the Japanese community and Aeon Mall
Bình Dương was Vietnam’s most industrialised province — 30 industrial parks, the VSIP flagship, LEGO’s and Pandora’s new factories — and on 1 July 2025 it became the northern third of Ho Chi Minh City; Thủ Dầu Một, Thuận An, Dĩ An, Tân Uyên and Bến Cát are now wards of HCMC. For a plant manager at VSIP II or Mỹ Phước this is home — the one place in the merged city where daily life is organised around the factory rather than the centre.
Character
Three zones. VSIP I and Thuận An / Dĩ An, 20 km from District 1: the 1996 original park, Sóng Thần, the Aeon Mall Bình Dương Canary that anchors Japanese and Vietnamese family life, and dense worker housing. Bình Dương New City / Thủ Dầu Một, 35 km out: a planned city built by Becamex with Japanese partner Tokyu — the Midori Park precinct, the Hikari restaurant street, the Sora Gardens serviced apartments, a second Aeon Mall opened in November 2025, a Japanese kindergarten and VSIP II on its edge. VSIP III and Tân Uyên / Bến Cát, 45–55 km: LEGO’s carbon-neutral plant (2025), Pandora, the Mỹ Phước parks and a fast-growing supplier belt.
Who lives here
Japanese managers and engineers (the largest foreign community, in Midori Park and Sora Gardens), Singaporean and Taiwanese plant managers near VSIP I and II, Korean electronics-supplier staff, Danish families around LEGO, and hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese workers. Families with older children usually keep them in Phú Mỹ Hưng or Thảo Điền schools.
Commute to the industrial parks
| From Bình Dương New City (Midori Park) | Off-peak | Peak | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| VSIP II (Hòa Phú) | 10–15 min | 15–25 min | Inside New City |
| Mỹ Phước I–III / Bàu Bàng (Bình Dương parks) | 15–30 min | 25–45 min | Route 13 north |
| VSIP III (Tân Uyên) | 20–30 min | 30–45 min | ĐT 742 / Vành đai 4 sections |
| VSIP I (Thuận An) / Sóng Thần | 25–35 min | 40–60 min | Route 13 / Mỹ Phước–Tân Vạn |
| Saigon Hi-Tech Park | 40–55 min | 60–90 min | Mỹ Phước–Tân Vạn → Route 1A |
| Amata City Biên Hòa | 45–60 min | 70–100 min | Mỹ Phước–Tân Vạn → Route 1A |
| District 1 | 60–75 min | 90–120 min | Route 13 → Bình Triệu |
| Tân Sơn Nhất airport | 60–80 min | 90–120 min | Route 13 → Phạm Văn Đồng |
From the Thuận An / VSIP I side subtract 25–35 minutes on every southern trip and add the same to VSIP II–III.
Housing and rent (USD / month)
- Midori Park (The View, The Glory, The Nest — Becamex Tokyu, Japanese-standard): 1BR 500–800; 2BR 750–1,200; 3BR 1,000–1,600.
- Sora Gardens serviced apartments (New City): 1BR 700–1,100; 2BR 1,000–1,700; 3BR 1,400–2,200 — Japanese-speaking reception, invoices, shuttle to VSIP II.
- Thuận An / Dĩ An towers near Aeon Canary and VSIP I (Habitat, The Emerald, Lavita, Charm City): 1BR 350–600; 2BR 500–850.
- Villas and townhouses in New City and EcoLakes Mỹ Phước: 900–2,500.
Schools and hospitals
A Japanese kindergarten and bilingual schools in New City; Vietnamese-Singapore International School at VSIP I; older children bus 60–75 minutes to Phú Mỹ Hưng or Thảo Điền. Hospitals: Becamex International Hospital (New City, English and Japanese service) and Columbia Asia Bình Dương; complex cases transfer to FV, Vinmec or AIH in 60–90 minutes. See schools and healthcare.
Food and after work
Hikari’s circular food court and the Japanese restaurants around Midori Park; the Aeon Mall food halls in Thuận An and New City; Thủ Dầu Một’s riverside cafés; Twin Doves, Sông Bé and Harmonie golf courses, where much Japanese and Korean business is done on Saturdays. Nightlife is quiet.
Engineer’s tip
Bình Dương has the shortest commute-to-factory in the merged city and the most Japanese-friendly logistics: Japanese-speaking clinics, Mizuho, MUFG and SMBC offices in New City, and equipment suppliers inside VSIP II. Our stock reaches VSIP I–III and Mỹ Phước the same business day when confirmed before 11:00, gate pre-registration included — see the VSIP page and the Bình Dương parks page. Route 13 and Mỹ Phước–Tân Vạn supply strips sell pneumatics, cutting tools, PPE and cable; instruments still come from Saigon.
Risks
- Traffic: Route 13 at Lái Thiêu and the Mỹ Phước–Tân Vạn road are truck corridors with 60–90-minute peaks; Route 13 widening and Ring Road 3 works continue through 2027.
- Flooding: Thuận An (Lái Thiêu, Vĩnh Phú) and Dĩ An’s low streets flood in storms and river tides; New City and VSIP II are on high ground.
- Isolation: outside New City and Thuận An, English is rare and evenings are quiet.
- Address confusion: since July 2025 leases, invoices and residence registration must read “…ward, Ho Chi Minh City”, not “Bình Dương province”.
FAQ — Bình Dương / VSIP area
- Is Bình Dương still a province?No. Since 1 July 2025 the former province is part of Ho Chi Minh City; Thủ Dầu Một, Thuận An, Dĩ An, Tân Uyên and Bến Cát are now wards of the city. Everyone still says “Bình Dương”.
- Where do Japanese managers live in Bình Dương?Mostly in Bình Dương New City (Thủ Dầu Một side): Midori Park by Becamex Tokyu, the Sora Gardens serviced apartments and the streets around Hikari — 10–15 minutes from VSIP II, with a Japanese kindergarten, restaurants and the second Aeon Mall opened in November 2025.
- How far is VSIP from central Ho Chi Minh City?VSIP I (Thuận An) about 20 km, 45–60 minutes; VSIP II (Thủ Dầu Một) 35–40 km, 60–80 minutes; VSIP III (Tân Uyên) 45–55 km, 70–90 minutes off-peak — longer at peak.
- What does an apartment cost near VSIP II?USD 500–800 for a one-bedroom and USD 750–1,200 for two bedrooms in Midori Park, USD 700–1,700 in Sora Gardens serviced apartments; USD 350–850 in Thuận An near VSIP I.
- Which hospital serves the VSIP area?Becamex International Hospital in New City and Columbia Asia Bình Dương for routine and emergency care; FV, Vinmec and AIH in Saigon for complex cases, 60–90 minutes away.
Need equipment at VSIP tomorrow?
Calibrated rental instruments, new equipment and torque tools from Ho Chi Minh City stock reach VSIP I–III and Mỹ Phước the same business day when confirmed before 11:00, with VAT e-invoice, CO/CQ and gate registration handled.
Request rental quote Talk to an FDI advisor · Phone / Zalo 0902 327 669
