HCM CITY — The shortlist of nominees for the 2018 PropertyGuru Vietnam Property Awards have been announced after they were chosen by an independent panel of judges.

A total of 25 companies have made it to the list in the competition categories. The fourth annual awards have 43 categories, including new awards in the categories of building communities, design and construction, customer care, and public facilities.

The competition is welcoming returning and new entrants amid the launch of many world-class projects across the country.

Leading the shortlist is CapitaLand Vietnam with 16 nominations. It had been chosen best developer last year.

The second-most nominated developer is Alpha King, whose luxury condo project Alpha City has been shortlisted in six categories across development and design.

Tied in third place are Gamuda Land and KIẾN Á Corporation with eight appearances each on the list, including for Best Mid End Condo Development  and Best Affordable Condo Development, respectively.

KIẾN Á Corporation’s founding chairman Huỳnh Bá Lân has been named Vietnam Real Estate Personality of the Year, an award not selected by the jury but by editors of PropertyGuru Property Report magazine.

Lân was chosen for leading an organisation that prioritises developing quality projects for lower-income consumers and building schools to international standards.

The exclusive gala dinner on June 22 at the InterContinental Saigon Hotel ballroom is the award’s biggest edition yet.

Organisers expect the black-tie ceremony to be attended by nearly 500 guests and members of the media.

Terry Blackburn, founder and managing director of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards, said: “Việt Nam real estate is fast becoming a major draw for investors in the Asia-Pacific because of its acclaimed offerings in the condominium, hotel, resort and mixed-use segments.

“Whilst HCM City and Hà Nội continue to be the main engines of the industry, it is encouraging that a provincial location such as Khánh Hoà now has a strong domestic market that developers there can be recognised on an internationally-known platform like the PropertyGuru Vietnam Property Awards.” — VNS