Global architecture practice Populous has secured the design commission for two major venues at Vietnam’s Rach Chiec National Sports Complex, advancing plans for a large-scale sporting and entertainment precinct near Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnamese developer Sun Group has appointed the firm to design a centrepiece 70,000-seat National Stadium and an 18,000-seat Arena at the sports complex. The commission follows Populous’ completion of the masterplan for the 186.78-hectare precinct and a groundbreaking ceremony held earlier this year.

The design progress was discussed during a visit to Populous’ Asia Pacific headquarters in Brisbane last month by Queensland Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates, who was given an early presentation of the design concepts.

The project is being led by Andrew Tulen, Senior Principal and APAC Director from Populous’ Singapore studio, with support from architects and designers in Brisbane and across the practice’s Southeast Asian studios.

The venues are intended to accommodate major international sporting competitions and entertainment events while also being accessible to the local community beyond scheduled programs.

“The Stadium and Arena design are informed by the masterplan for the entire precinct, providing anchors for a park-like experience, supported by commercial offerings and activations. We are focusing on making the venues accessible, well connected and flexible to provide a variety of experiences for all demographics,” says Tulen.

A key feature of the proposed Rach Chiec Stadium is a fully retractable roof designed to meet acoustic performance requirements. This would be the first athletic stadium of its size in Southeast Asia to incorporate this system, allowing organisers to have complete control over conditions inside the bowl while limiting noise impacts on neighbouring residential communities during concerts and major events.

The stadium’s architectural concept references the Nipa Palms found along waterways surrounding the development site. The plants’ relationship with riverbanks, along with the shelter created beneath their canopies, has informed the building’s form and facade design.

This approach is reflected in an open-concourse design intended to protect spectators from the elements while maintaining connection with the surrounding city life.

The stadium and arena will form part of a broader masterplan that includes an aquatic centre, multipurpose halls, training facilities and sports medicine services. These elements will be arranged around a central park and riverside landscape, combining event infrastructure with community spaces.

Planned provisions include adaptable seating configurations, zone-based air-conditioning systems, and digital and broadcast infrastructure designed to respond to evolving venue operations and audience engagement aligned with the demands of modern events.

“Populous is a great example of Queensland expertise competing and winning on the world stage, and this appointment is a clear indication of its status as one of Australia's most significant exporters of design services," notes Minister Bates.

The Rach Chiec National Sports Complex is intended to strengthen Vietnam’s capacity to host major international sporting and entertainment events. The masterplan has been developed to accommodate approximately 90% of Olympic sports, with the scale, zoning and security requirements associated with competitions such as the Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup.

The development also supports Vietnam’s longer-term ambition to host an Olympic & Paralympic Games.

Renders courtesy of Populous

Architecture News & Editorial Desk

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