HCM CITY — The 12th edition of the PropertyGuru Vietnam Property Awards was launched in HCM City on April 2, introducing new categories.

The new categories included Best Condo Developer and Best Housing Developer under the Developer Awards; Best First Home Development under the Residential Awards; and Best Wellness Hospitality Development and Best Factory/Warehouse Development under the Commercial Awards.

These additions complement an expanded list of accolades, including Best Marina Development, Best Landmark Development, Best Sales Gallery Interior Design, and Best Landmark Design. In the ESG Developer Awards category, honours include Sustainable Residential/Township Developer, Sustainable Commercial Developer, and Social Impact Champion.

Submissions are open to eligible entrants until July 31, with site inspections scheduled from August 24 to September 11. The awards ceremony will take place on October 16 in HCM City.

Organised by PropertyGuru Group, a leading property technology firm in Southeast Asia, the awards honour the country’s top real estate projects and developers. Winning entries will go on to represent Việt Nam at the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards grand final in Bangkok, Thailand this December, competing against the region’s leading developers.

Speaking at a press briefing in HCM City on April 2, Jules Kay, general manager of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events, said: “For the 12th edition of the awards in Việt Nam, we aim to set the gold standard for real estate higher across the nation as it looks forward to encouraging economic prospects ahead. Whether in HCM City or Hà Nội, the Vietnamese property sector continues to surprise and change for the better. Amid ongoing discussions at the policy level to better the country’s housing and real estate framework, we see a clearer match between regulatory progress and the industry’s forward momentum, reinforcing our confidence in Việt Nam’s long-term growth trajectory.”

Thiện Dương, chairperson of the independent panel of judges and general director of GroupGSA Vietnam, said: “This year’s programme spans a comprehensive range of categories across developer, development, design, and ESG achievements, a reflection of the industry’s diversifying strengths and shifting priorities. We encourage developers to improve the industry further and showcase what the future and gold standard of real estate look like.”

Bạch Dương, country manager of Batdongsan.com.vn, the official portal partner of the awards, said the market is entering a phase of stabilisation and consolidation. In the first months of 2026, prices have cooled while buyer sentiment has become more cautious, though end-user demand remains strong.

Data from Batdongsan.com.vn shows slight price adjustments across several segments. In Hà Nội, the average asking price for land plots in the first quarter of 2026 fell by 4 per cent compared to the end of 2025. In HCM City, prices of detached houses declined by 2 per cent.

This trend suggests that speculative products or those heavily reliant on borrowed capital are under pressure. Meanwhile, segments driven by genuine housing demand remain more stable and continue to attract interest. Despite the impact of capital costs and market sentiment, demand for real estate persists, but has shifted to a more selective state, he added. — VNS