Vietnam-based fund Saigon Asset Management(SAM) has on Tuesday announced the launch of SAM DigitalHub — a 50-hectare (124-acre), 150- megawatt data center campus initiative with a targeted investment of up to $1.5 billion.
Recognizing the increasing demand for a robust data center presence in Vietnam, SAM has collaborated with key stakeholders to address critical challenges faced by international operators entering the market, the fund said in a statement.
It is noted that over the past two years, SAM has worked alongside industry leaders to identify and overcome primary barriers to investment, including properly zoned land sites within an hour of major urban centers; reliable access to sustainable power sources and sufficient water for cooling; proximity to domestic and international airports; connectivity to multiple telecommunications providers and reliable fiber networks.
These considerations have culminated in the formation of SAM DigitalHub, an initiative designed to provide data center solutions in Vietnam.
According to the statement, a key component of SAM DigitalHub’s success is its collaboration with Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP), a flagship government-to-government (G2G) platform combining the strengths of Sembcorp, a Singapore-based energy and urban solutions provider, and Becamex, a Vietnam-based industrial and urban real estate developer.
“VSIP is excited to partner with a leading investment firm like SAM to jointly develop Vietnam’s first-of-its-kind Data Center Campus,” said Nguyen Phu Thinh, Chief Executive Officer of VSIP.
It is noted that SAM’s strategy involved securing a 50-hectare site capable of rapid scaling to meet the surging demand from international operators and hyper scalers.
Many potential locations have faced challenges such as non-compliant land zoning, inadequate infrastructure, limited lease tenure, and insufficient power capacity.
Thus, the SAM-VSIP partnership mitigates these challenges.
Additionally, SAM DigitalHub is committed to integrating renewable energy solutions, ensuring a net zero pathway for its clients, and targeting an initial renewable energy capacity of 50MW.
“The three key obstacles that have deterred our hyper scaler clients from entering Vietnam have been licensing, land, and power,
“By partnering with VSIP, we have successfully addressed these challenges, paving the way for the launch of our SAM Digital Hub,” said Louis Nguyen, Chief Executive Officer of SAM.
According to him, PMX, a SAM DigitalHub stakeholder, has successfully delivered or played key roles in delivering three projects totaling nearly 125MW information technology (IT) load in the past two years in Malaysia.
Building on this track record, he said PMX is currently engaged in the delivery of two additional hyperscale projects exceeding 100MW IT load, further reinforcing their experience, operational know-how, and customer engagement capabilities with both American and Chinese hyper scaler end-users.
“These strengths provide the foundation needed to ensure SAM DigitalHub becomes a premier, high-performance data center destination for both local and international clients,” he added.
According to the statement, the initiative has also garnered strong support and participation from industry leaders, including PMX, a key player in data center development.
“SAM has a long history and a successful track record in investment performance in Vietnam, and we are pleased to partner in this venture,
“The SAM team has assembled the ideal trifecta of investor, landowner, and data center developer to make this major accomplishment, SAM DigitalHub, a reality,” said Colin Phua, Managing Director of PMX.
To accelerate investment in Vietnam’s data center sector, SAM has launched a $300 million Vietnam Data Center Fund (VDCF), with the first closing expected by the fourth quarter of 2025.
This initiative aims to support the financial success of SAM’s digital infrastructure projects and attract a diverse range of international investors.
Reflecting on the evolving market dynamics, Louis Nguyen added the firm saw significant trends in the region where data center demand was shifting from Singapore to other countries in the region.
“Our goal was to collaborate with as many end customers and partners as possible to address their concerns and provide a seamless entry point,
“SAM DigitalHub is the culmination of that effort,” he added.
The statement also highlighted that the development of SAM DigitalHub positions Vietnam as a key player in the Southeast Asian digital economy, providing cutting-edge infrastructure and sustainable solutions to meet the surging demand for data center services.
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