Pico Play, a global leader in planning, designing, developing, and constructing world-class themed attractions and entertainment, is continuing to invest in Vietnam. Since 2022, the company has established two fabrication facilities and now aims to bring its workforce in Vietnam to 200 by the end of 2026.
Recognising the country's potential as an emerging entertainment market, Pico Play's presence in Vietnam began with a facility in Hai Phong, followed by a second facility in 2025. The company currently employs approximately 150 local workers.
Pico Play's Vietnam workforce currently totals 150, with plans to expand to 200 by the end of the yearImage courtesy of Pico Play
National recognition
In recognition of Pico Play's commitment to Vietnam, the company was nominated for several 2026 Outstanding FDI Enterprises in Socio-Economic Development accolades, including Top Famous Brand, Reputable Service Aimed at Consumer Rights, and Outstanding FDI Enterprise in Socio-Economic Development.
Pico Play managing director Darren McLean, who was nominated for Excellent Entrepreneur in Socio-Economic Development, says the awards recognise the company’s commitment to forging regional relationships and supporting the country's wider prosperity:
"Before COVID, we’d worked with Vingroup and Sun Group on several projects, so when the opportunity arose in 2022 to set up a permanent presence in Vietnam, it was an easy decision to make – not only to grow our fabrication capabilities but also to better serve our clients.
"Vietnam has incredible potential for domestic tourism and as an international destination.
"There is a vibrant population of 100 million people, a beautiful coastline that extends along the South China Sea, and myriad wonderful mixed-use tourism developments along that coast – supported by the necessary infrastructure investments, such as airports, hotels and convention centres – which complement the attraction and entertainment offerings."
Crafting unforgettable attractions
Pico Play provides end-to-end services for themed attractions and experiences, ranging from planning and design to fabrication and installation.
With this approach, the company produces memorable attractions for some of Vietnam’s leading theme parks, such as Harry and the Lost Magician at VinWonders Nha Trang, an immersive, multisensory 360-degree flying cinema experience.
This ride, in which guests 'fly' past 12 famous landmarks in their quest to find a vanished magician, demonstrates Pico Play’s creative and technical expertise.
"Harry and the Lost Magician is a showpiece attraction that sits in a castle at the centre of the park," says McLean.
"We delivered both the creative storytelling and technical integration from concept design all the way through to fabrication and installation."
See also: Plan, design, build, deliver: Pico Play does it all
Pico Play’s ongoing investment in Vietnam is driven by a growing domestic market and the potential to export Vietnamese artisanship to projects worldwide, for example to China, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Australia.
To meet rising demand, Pico Play revealed a new, expanded fabrication facility in October 2025 and is actively recruiting to bring its Vietnam workforce to 200 by the end of 2026. McLean says this growth is backed by a commitment to hiring Vietnamese locals across the company’s operations, whether in the corner office or on the factory floor.
"If I were to give advice to a company looking to invest in Vietnam, it would be to invest in recruiting and developing the local workforce, both in terms of professional management services and skilled workers," says McLean.
"The labour force in Vietnam is full of highly qualified professionals and skilled workers who are well trained and educated and have an exceptional work ethic."
Talented team
Vietnam factory manager Oliver DinhHung says Pico Play’s nominations in the Outstanding FDI Enterprises in Socio-Economic Development initiative reflect the diverse team of skilled professional artists and tradespeople.
"What truly sets our team apart is their ability to perfectly blend traditional artistic craftsmanship with strict, international engineering and safety standards," says DinhHung.
"They are also incredibly adaptable, constantly learning new materials and production workflows."
Delivering end-to-end theme park fabrication under one roof, the 14,000-square-metre facility is home to departments including technical design and CAD/CNC processing, heavy structural steel welding, EPS foam sculpting, GFRC and FRP moulding, and detailed scenic painting.
The company's Vietnam workshop employs a diverse team of skilled professional artists and tradespeople
Image courtesy of Pico Play
A key speciality is the fabrication of intricate steel structures. Projects such as two full-scale aeroplanes and several 15-metre-tall ancient trees demonstrate custom steelwork that guarantees structural safety while supporting the creative outer layers.
"In the theme park industry, no two projects are the same. Each one presents a completely different set of challenges, from complex engineering to unique artistic demands," says DinhHung.
"What I am most proud of is how our team consistently adapts and overcomes these new challenges, project after project."
Pico Play’s latest Hai Phong facility also includes a dust-free showroom and staging area where clients can experience elements of their attraction during production.
Ramesh Ramasamy, Pico Play’s director of production engineering, says: "The Vietnam facility is world-class because it combines skilled fabrication capability experienced leadership, and a strong focus on quality, safety and continuous improvement.
"We follow quality control checks from material receiving through to fabrication, dimension inspection, finishing and final inspection before shipment. We are also improving our QA/QC system with clearer standards, inspection records and corrective actions to ensure consistent quality."
Additionally, health, safety, and environmental controls, including risk assessments, PPE use, housekeeping, emergency planning, and safe working practices, are critical to the facility's daily operations.
By prioritising quality and safety, Pico Play creates an environment where its team can thrive and work to a consistently high standard.
"With a continued focus on people, process, quality, safety and technology, the facility can support larger and more complex international projects and grow into a stronger regional fabrication hub for Pico Play," says Ramasamy.
Further to its expansion and development of facilities and workforce, Pico Play is establishing a new, separate company in Vietnam.
According to McLean, investing in a second entity will not only position Pico Play for further expansion in the region but also evidence its confidence and long-term vision for Vietnam.
Last week, Pico Play revealed PlayMAXX, its innovative gameplay system for the attractions industry, at IAAPA Expo Asia in Hong Kong.
