The Thai conglomerate will direct the new investment towards retail, shopping centres and hospitality as it seeks to expand its presence across the Vietnamese market, according to Vietnam Investment Review.

Central Group (CRC) entered Vietnam in 2012 through Central Retail and has since developed a broad retail portfolio featuring GO!, Tops Market, Lan Chi Mart and Supersports. The group currently operates more than 300 stores and shopping centres across 26 cities and provinces.

The latest commitment would bring Central Group’s total investment in Vietnam to about $3bn, following approximately $1.5bn already invested.

Chairwoman Wallaya Chirathivat announced the plans during Vietnam Week in Thailand 2026. She identified Vietnam’s economic growth, expanding consumer base and opportunities to bring modern retail formats to smaller cities as key factors behind the group’s continued expansion.

Central Retail Vietnam chief executive Olivier Langlet said most of the new funding would support retail and shopping centre developments, with additional investment planned for hotels and other hospitality projects.

The group has identified about 200 potential locations in urban areas for further assessment.

Central Group’s hospitality portfolio in Vietnam includes the 984-room Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne in Lam Dong, which opened in 2020. Two further hotels are under construction in Van Don, Quang Ninh, adding around 1,000 rooms.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade estimated the country’s retail market at approximately $269bn in 2025.

Central Retail Vietnam generated more than $720.5mn in revenue during the first half of 2026, accounting for about 20% of Central Group’s total revenue. Vietnam remains the group’s second-largest market after Thailand.

By the end of August 2026, Thai investors had registered 824 projects in Vietnam, representing combined capital of more than $15.47bn, according to the Foreign Investment Agency.