Ensign Media, the publisher of Property Report magazine and organiser of the Asia Property Awards, officially launched the Viet Nam Property Awards 2015 in HCM City on March 18. — VNS photo Xuan Huong.

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — The Asia Property Awards will include Viet Nam from this year, helping showcase the country's best properties on the regional stage.

Started in Thailand in 2006 by Ensign Media, the publisher of Property Report magazine, the awards honoured developments, consultants, architects and designers in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and China until last year, and has been expanded this year to include Myanmar and Indonesia besides Viet Nam.

The 2015 Viet Nam Property Awards were open to nominations from the real estate industry and general public, Terry Blackburn, CEO of Ensign Media, said.

Entries would close on March 27 and the final winners would be honoured at a gala dinner in HCM City on June 25, he said.

In all 32 awards will be given away to the most exceptional projects, designers and developers covering residential, commercial, office, hospitality, villa, and green development.

Special recognition will also be given to the company exhibiting excellence in corporate social responsibility.

Winners will go on to compete in the grand finale in Singapore in October.

All award categories would be assessed and judged under the supervision of BDO International, one of the world's largest accountancy networks, Blackburn said.

After remaining frozen for a few years, Viet Nam's real estate market had bounced back strongly this year, he added. — VNS