Walkers and cyclists can enjoy lush greenery at Central Park.
The integrated township of Celadon City in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is the epic culmination of renowned developer Gamuda Land working with nature to deliver a sustainable sanctuary within a rapidly developing city.
In parts of Ho Chi Minh City, the population density can soar up to 67,000 persons per sq km but Celadon City with a density of less than 30,000 per sq km gives a totally different experience.
What’s more, at the heart of the township is the 40-acre Central Park featuring over 6,000 mature trees and three lakes, accessible not only to the residents but also the surrounding communities.
The quality low-density living and lush greenery make Celadon City an exquisite and thriving oasis in bustling Ho Chi Minh City.
It is hard to believe that this 200- acre site in Tan Phu District (Son Ky Ward) located beside the airport was once barren and poorly used.
“We listened to what the land had to tell us and invested upfront in the creation of a central park before the construction of the residential and commercial developments.
“The Celadon City Central Park is the country’s largest privately funded public park,” said Gamuda Land Ho Chi Minh City general director Wyeren Yap.
“One of the key concepts is the unique manner in which the landscape is designed.”
“40 acres (18% of the total development) is dedicated to the park with each resident of Celadon City enjoying 12.4sq m of green area, which is eight times bigger than the average green area for a Ho Chi Minh City resident (1.6sq m).”
Sustainable township
Gamuda Land knows that placemaking is vital to the success of a dynamic township.
“We are committed to making good towns that grow sustainably for generations through mindful master planning,” said Yap.
“Celadon City brings together all the key elements including how we created and connected gathering places; how we laid out the parks and lakes and built streets that encouraged walking and biking; how we crafted beautiful streetscapes and how we built a town square and clubhouse that draws people together.
A well-planned recreational spot in Central Park, the star attraction of the sustainable Celadon City.
“Our mindful planning gives the township a distinct personality and a strong sense of belonging. So when people move in, they will want to be a part of it.”
He further explained that the mindfulness extends to the care of the environment.
“We are committed to preserving the land’s natural features and blending them into the neighbourhoods.”
In the case of Celadon City, given the originally poor quality of the land, a lot more creative thought, enhancement and improvement were put in place, leaving the land ina better shape.
“We create lush, nature-rich environments that encourage people to come out of their homes and spend quality time outdoors with the community,” he said, adding that Celadon City is the first of its kind nature-inspired integrated township supported by modern conveniences in Ho Chi Minh City.
Celadon City Central Park
The star attraction of the township is without a doubt its stunning Central Park.
The expansive parkland is categorised into four thematic zones — Riparian Forest, Grassland, Waterfront Meadows and Waterspring.
Forming a ring around the residential zone, 70% of the homes are within 100m of the lush embrace of the park.
Yap said there was no green lung in the entire Tan Phu district prior to this and the site was void of any flora and fauna.
Despite its strategic location, the agricultural flat land was poorly utilised, occupied by squatter farmers and rundown livestock smallholders.
The adjacent neighbourhoods were chaotic, congested and lacked good infrastructure.
The developer utilised advanced tree planting methodology where a nursery was set up Close to the site and stocked with sizeable and mature trees to create a near- instant effect for the park when completed.
The lakes also double as water retention ponds to mitigate any excess in rain and helps dispense the water in a safe manner.
The systematic and holistic planning also includes pedestrian, jogging and cycling paths.
The Central Park is now matured and lush with various native plants and a healthy ecosystem, allowing the community to enjoy nature at their doorsteps.
Squirrels, cicaclas, ducks, swans, birds and butterflies are daily sightings.
Amenities within easy reach
To further enhance liveability is a multitude of well-connected modern conveniences including the Celadon City Sports and Resort Club to promote a healthy lifestyle.
A Cultural Village to celebrate the traditions of the country as well as educational institutions are Jocated within and around the township.
The largest and most comprehensive sports club (13.4 acres) in Vietnam has an Olympic sized swimming pool, recreational and children’s pool, a gym, sauna and steam rooms, tennis, badminton and basketball courts among others.
Expansion of the 800,000sq ft AEON Mall to double its size was completed last month, making it the biggest mall in Vietnam.
As a finishing touch is the Cultural Village to promote the rich traditions of Vietnam in arts, fashion, gastronomy and music.
Targeted for completion in 2020, it is poised to be the premier one-stop gastro-cultural hub in Ho Chi Minh City, bringing the best cuisine and heritage of the country’s three key regions to the fore.
Thoughtful masterplan
Celadon City with three residential precincts is the epitome of a sustainable township for the community to grow up and grow old in.
To date, 1,520 apartments in the Ruby Precinct have been completed and handed over to purchasers while 3,893 more units are under construction.
Upcoming residential enclaves are the Emerald Precinct and Diamond Precinct.
In total, Celadon City will have over 6,000 medium-rise apartments with panoramic views of pristine greenery.
To be developed over six phases, the entire township is scheduled for full completion by 2023.
Good connectivity within and outside the township is also a given via a network of boulevards with tree-lined walkways that link the various precincts with the main arterials to the city, Tan Son Nhat Airport and the north.
Internationally recognised
This excellence in town-making bagged the developer the FIABCI World Prix d’Excellence Award 2019 in the Master Plan Category, further sealing Celadon City’s status as a well-planned and well-managed development.
The stringent evaluation by top real estate professionals across the globe has made the accolade even more meaningful.
“The recognition is a testament of our town-making principles.
“The award proves that we have been doing the right thing all these while and that our mindful town-making is our differentiator,” said Yap.
Property finesse in Vietnam
Gamuda Land first ventured into Vietnam in 2007 with its maiden project Gamuda City in Hanoi, followed by Celadon City in Ho Chi Minh City in 2010.
“We knew of the challenges ahead considering that township development was a new concept here back then. But we believed in our principles and expertise as well as the potential of the Vietnamese market,” said Yap.
Today, Celadon City is one of the most sought-after addresses in Ho Chi Minh City, attracting property investors from inside and outside Vietnam.
Moving forward, Yap said Gamuda Land HCMC will focus on completing the various residential and commercial components of the township.
“Gamuda Land sees huge growth potential in Vietnam and will further develop our brand presence here. We are looking for more land banks in Ho Chi Minh City.
“Based on recent research and dispatches of Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association, there is a stable macroeconomic growth which is maintaining a positive growing momentum (GDP around 7% per year), to contribute towards a healthy real estate market.
“Besides, Ho Chi Minh City lacks green and well master-planned townships but has a rapid increase of middle-class residents.
“This is where our expertise come into play, answering the market demand for townships like Celadon City,” he concluded.
