I wonder if that area has anything to do with the planned development of a Japanese town in HCM.

Article from 5 years ago:

“Japanese Town” in Vietnam Planned
Oct 08, 2012 Ida Torres Lifestyle & Travel No Comments

“Japanese Town” in Vietnam Planned
If you find yourself in a Japanese-looking town in Vietnam by 2020, do not think that you were suddenly transported from one country to another. This is because railway and real estate developer Tokyu Corporation will be building one soon.

Inspired by the neighborhood that developed along the Denentoshi line, top officials from Binh Duong, a Vietnamese province located just north of Ho Chi Minh City, approached the developer in order to bring Tokyu’s expertise and ideas to their province. The Denentoshi line is a major commuter rail line that runs from Shiba shopping district in Tokyo to the Kanagawa Prefecture and has been a familiar set in many Japanese TV dramas. Lush neighborhoods have developed along this line and has become the model that Binh Duong wants to adapt. Tokyu plans to start construction by 2014, starting with high-rise residential buildings and followed by homes, offices, schools, and commercial buildings over a total of 110 hectares. They will be targeting corporate executives and Japanese families that work in a nearby industrial zone. The company is also considering building a bus network from Binh Duong and Ho Chi Minh City.

This joint venture is something entirely new to Tokyu and comes at a perfect timing as the company searches for business opportunities outside of Japan, such as in Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries. There is a growing demand for town development projects in the growing industrial zones in Vietnam. There are currently about 100 Japanese companies operating in the industrial zone near the planned Japanese-styled town.

japandailypress.com/japanese-town-in-vietnam-planned-0814785/