Vietnamese automaker VinFast is jumping into the luxury game with its new Lac Hong brand.
The Lac Hong name isn’t entirely new, having debuted on presidential and armoured versions of the VF9 SUV. Starting in 2027. Lac Hong will become its own standalone brand with the 900S, a gargantuan flagship sedan, and the 800S SUV.
Both vehicles have grilles with tall vertical slats, which are supposedly inspired by Vietnamese bamboo, while the badges and emblems are finished in real gold-plated alloy.
There are other elements drawn from Vietnamese culture included in these cars. The brand’s logo, for instance, is a mythical Lac bird spreading its wings, while the interior features bronze drum patterns and images of terraced rice fields.
Naturally, the interior also includes acres of Nappa leather, gold-plated trim, and plenty of wood.
The 900S will be available with a glass partition to divide the front and rear passenger compartments, plus a starlight headliner, folding tables, and a large screen projector.
Top-spec versions of the 800S and 900S will have a tri-motor drivetrain with one motor on the front axle, and two at the rear.
Total output is said to be 460kW, but the company has yet to indicate how big the battery will be and how much range the cars will have. An active air suspension system is said to deliver “maximum smoothness and comfort”.
The Lac Hong 800S and 900S are scheduled to go on sale in 2027 in Vietnam. Pricing and export plans have yet to be confirmed.
VinFast was founded in 2017 by Pham Nhat Vuong, one of Vietnam’s richest men. The company’s initial lineup of cars included the Fadil (a rebadged Opel Karl/Vauxhall Viva), Lux A2.0 (a redesigned ‘F10’ BMW 5 Series), and Lux SA2.0 (a reworked ‘F15’ BMW X5).
Since then the range has grown to encompass seven EVs, six e-scooters, and two electric buses. Some of these vehicles are available outside of Vietnam, but the reviews have ranged from unimpressed to scathing, with Motor Trend labelling the VF8 “not ready for public consumption”.
Despite this, Vinfast rose to the top spot in Vietnam’s sales charts in 2024 by selling roughly 87,000 cars. Last year this figure doubled to 175,099 vehicles.
The company has an Australia connection too, as it purchased Holden’s Lang Lang proving ground in 2020 for $35 million, only to put it up for sale a year later.