{"id":1108,"date":"2026-06-01T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/india-marketing.jp\/vietnam-news\/central-retail-thainguyen\/"},"modified":"2026-08-02T16:54:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T07:54:09","slug":"central-retail-thainguyen","status":"publish","type":"vietnam-news","link":"https:\/\/india-marketing.jp\/en\/vietnam-news\/central-retail-thainguyen\/","title":{"rendered":"Central Retail breaks ground on its 46th GO! mall in Thai Nguyen Province, targeting regional cities with a VND 410 billion investment"},"content":{"rendered":"
\nThis article is based on what we could verify As of August 1, 2026<\/strong> This article is based on public materials and news reports from Vietnam. Vietnam's tax system, regulations, and administrative divisions change frequently, so information here may have been updated since publication. For actual business decisions, please confirm the latest details with the relevant government authorities or local experts as primary sources.\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Central Retail Vietnam breaks ground on a GO! mall in Pho Yen, Thai Nguyen Province<\/h2>\n\n

The Vietnamese arm of major Thai retailer Central Retail Corporation held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 15, 2026, for a mall incorporating a GO! hypermarket in Van Xuan Ward, Pho Yen City, Thai Nguyen Province. This will be Central Retail's 46th mall across all of Vietnam.<\/p>\n\n

Group CEO Olivier Langlet said the project was realized \"at an unusual pace of nine months from initial discussions to groundbreaking,\" underscoring the acceleration of the company's expansion in Vietnam.<\/p>\n\n

Project overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n
Item<\/th>Description<\/th><\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Legal name<\/td>GO! Pho Yen<\/td><\/tr>\n
Location<\/td>Van Xuan Ward, Pho Yen City, Thai Nguyen Province<\/td><\/tr>\n
Groundbreaking date<\/td>May 15, 2026<\/td><\/tr>\n
Expected completion<\/td>Q3 2027<\/td><\/tr>\n
Total investment<\/td>Over VND 410 billion (about 2.4 billion yen)<\/td><\/tr>\n
Total floor area<\/td>Over 12,000 m2<\/td><\/tr>\n
GO! hypermarket floor area<\/td>4,736m2<\/td><\/tr>\n
Number of items handled<\/td>Over 40,000 items (food, daily necessities, FMCG)<\/td><\/tr>\n
Attached facilities<\/td>Dining area, entertainment facilities, convenience store chains, fashion brands<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Background: Central Retail's regional city expansion strategy<\/h2>\n\n

Central Retail operates 44 malls plus 330 stores in Vietnam, spread across 26 provinces and cities. Since 2024, it has accelerated store openings in regional cities with dense industrial parks, moving beyond the Tier 1 cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.<\/p>\n\n

Pho Yen in Thai Nguyen Province is an industrial park area where Samsung Electronics Vietnam's flagship plant is located. The entry of foreign-invested manufacturers led by Samsung has rapidly raised the region's income levels and spending power, driving up demand for modern commercial facilities.<\/p>\n\n

Central Retail Vietnam's recent store openings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
Store name<\/th>Location<\/th>Status<\/th><\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
GO! Dong Nai<\/td>Dong Nai Province<\/td>Already opened<\/td><\/tr>\n
GO! Tuyen Quang<\/td>Tuyen Quang Province<\/td>Expected completion December 2026<\/td><\/tr>\n
GO! Pho Yen<\/td>Thai Nguyen Province<\/td>Expected completion Q3 2027<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Central Retail has set a plan to open 10-12 new GO! malls and 23-25 new mini GO! stores between 2026 and 2028.<\/p>\n\n

Local Reaction<\/h2>\n\n

Thai Nguyen provincial authorities have welcomed the construction of the GO! mall as \"developing living infrastructure for the industrial park area.\" Tens of thousands of Samsung plant workers live in Pho Yen City, and demand for a modern shopping environment was clear.<\/p>\n\n

Local farmers have expressed hope for \"securing a nationwide sales channel through GO! for OCOP (One Commune One Product)-certified goods.\" As part of its \"Better for Vietnam\" strategy, Central Retail is promoting the procurement and sale of local agricultural products.<\/p>\n\n

A Vietnamese retail industry analyst noted, \"Nine months from initial discussions to groundbreaking is an unusually fast pace for commercial real estate development in Vietnam. It is the result of both Central Retail's investment decision-making and Thai Nguyen Province's administrative support moving quickly.\"<\/p>\n\n

Implications for Japanese Companies<\/h2>\n\n

Central Retail's entry into Thai Nguyen carries three implications for Japanese retailers and consumer goods makers.<\/p>\n\n