The Thu Thiem New Urban Area project was completed by Sasaki Associates, Inc. on behalf of the Investment & Construction Authority for the Thu Thiem New Urban Area (ICA) of Ho Chi Minh City between May and December 2004. The primary objective of the planning effort was to update of the 1996 and 1998 master plans previously completed and approved for Thu Thiem; these earlier plans lacked public support and had not been implemented.  The planning effort for Thu Thiem commenced in 2003, through an open International Ideas Competition for the Thu Thiem peninsula, sponsored by Ho Chi Minh City and ICA.  The Sasaki scheme was awarded first prize.  Subsequently, ICA and Sasaki established a working process for the detailed master planning of Thu Thiem at 1:5000 and 1:2000 scales, as well as Urban Design Guidelines.  The 7 month process included four (4) Work sessions and three (3) Seminars in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in which planning and design considerations for Thu Thiem were presented and discussed.  The Work session and Seminars included representatives from ICA, UPI, Ministry of Construction (Hanoi), over 70 local city agencies and hundreds of individuals, as well as local and international experts. Additionally, a bilingual project website was established-the first of its kind in Vietnam-that allowed for the participation of numerous agencies, citizens and other interested parties in the process of development of the plan.