Big Investment Group (BIG), a Vietnamese multi-sector investment firm, has secured up to $5 million in equity from Brookland Group & Partners. This investment aims to acquire hotels, co-living, and nightlife venues in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, particularly in District 1. The move addresses a gap identified by the city's tourism authorities: a lack of quality venues operating past 10 pm.
Vietnam is experiencing a tourism boom, with 12.3 million international arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 14.9% increase year-on-year. Ho Chi Minh City risks falling behind regional peers like Bangkok due to its limited night-time offerings. Hotel occupancy in the city reached 83% in the fourth quarter of 2025, with an average daily rate of $137, yet asset pricing remains competitive.
BIG's strategy is asset-light, focusing on management mandates, leasebacks, and franchises. The group plans to integrate co-living, dining, and entertainment under a single membership model, with a target of expanding room capacity significantly by 2035. "Occupancy is back, rates are back, and the assets are still priced as though neither had happened," said Huy Nhat Vo Phi, CEO of BIG.
The investment coincides with BIG's preparation for a listing on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange by September 2026. This transition from the UPCoM market will require higher disclosure and governance standards. Khoa Van Kieu, President of the Board of Directors at BIG, noted that the exchange upgrade is a testament to the company's robust governance and structure.
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