The Thu Thiem peninsula is located at an extraordinary position along the east bank of the Saigon River, directly across from the historic District 1 core area. At 657 hectares, Thu Thiem also represents a strategic expansion opportunity within the city's northeast growth corridor. Over the past 100 years, comprehensive development of Thu Thiem has been attempted but restricted due to technical obstacles such as lowlands, flooding, and soft soils, as well as a physical disconnection between the site and the historic city.

A number of initiatives, however, are now coalescing that will support larger development at Thu Thiem, including the construction of the Thu Thiem Bridge which connects Binh Thanh District to Thu Thiem, an East/West tunnel below the Saigon River connecting District 1 and Thu Thiem, an East/West Boulevard through the Thu Thiem site, a new airport to the east of Thu Thiem in the district of Long Thanh, and relocation of several ports along the west bank of the Saigon River.