Vietnamese Seaside Resort and Commercial Center Relies on PENETRON ADMIX for Durable Concrete Waterproofing Protection

The first phase of construction of the Dragon Ocean Đồ Sơn Resort in Hải Phòng, Vietnam, was completed in May 2023. Once completed, the project will add a vibrant seaside economic center to the northern Vietnamese region. PENETRON ADMIX, a crystalline concrete waterproofing admixture, was used to protect all below-grade concrete structures exposed to the hydrostatic pressure of the Đồ Sơn location.

The 3rd largest city in Vietnam and that country’s busiest seaport that serves Hanoi and the Red River Delta region, Hải Phòng is a major economic and industrial center. Blessed with historic colonial-era architecture at its center, this city of around 2.1 million inhabitants is the cultural and technological center of Vietnam’s Northern Coast region.

Located in the Đồ Sơn district (adjacent to the Đồ Sơn peninsula) of Hải Phòng, about 22 km (14 miles) south of the city center, the Dragon Ocean Đồ Sơn Resort covers an area of 480 hectares (1,190 acres) of reclaimed land. The project is the largest coastal urban development in northern Vietnam and the largest eco-tourism development in the Hải Phòng region.

A town square with fountains forms the center of this mixed-use development, which integrates a business district (with offices and state-of-the-art conference and seminar centers), a commercial center (with supermarkets, retail stores, restaurants, cafes, and cinemas), and a 5-star Wyndham Hotel with 303 rooms and 42 villas. Amenities include: a 27-hole golf course, an artificial lake, a water amusement park with freshwater & saltwater swimming pools, and playgrounds.

“Because of the location of the Dragon Ocean Đồ Sơn Resort on reclaimed land right on the ocean shore, high groundwater levels at the construction site needed to be addressed,” says Kim Khanh Ngo Xuan, CEO & Managing Director of Penetron Vietnam. “During the planning phase of the project, Hoa Binh, the general contractor, asked Penetron Vietnam for a robust and durable concrete waterproofing solution.”

PENETRON ADMIX was ultimately specified to treat almost 18,000 m³ (24,000 yds³) of concrete for the below-grade concrete structures of the foundation slabs, retaining walls, and underground water storage tanks used by the hotel, retail stores, and offices – as well as the town square fountains.

Added to the concrete mix during the batching stage, PENETRON ADMIX reacts with the moisture in concrete to produce an integral crystalline formation throughout the concrete matrix. This makes the concrete impermeable to water, moisture, and waterborne elements such as chlorides due to the coastal environment, even against high hydrostatic pressures. This crystalline formation greatly increases the service life and durability of concrete structures.

“PENETRON ADMIX provides permanent protection for concrete exposed to the constant hydrostatic pressure encountered at the Đồ Sơn construction site,” adds Kim Khanh Ngo Xuan. “It also provides a self-healing capability that automatically self-heals and seals any hairline cracks that appear during the lifespan of the PENETRON ADMIX-treated concrete structures, greatly reducing the need for maintenance in the future.”