During a live broadcast of the groundbreaking ceremony, Jackson whose son died in 2009 said the legendary singer "lived to make people happy and I am proud to maintain that, making Vietnamese people happier."My wish is to promote this project to all friends across the world so that they understand more about your country," Jackson said.The lead investor, Vietnam's Khang Thong Group, has compared the project to Disneyland or Universal Studios.Along with the 1,000 room hotel in which Jackson has invested, Happyland is to include a water park, film studio, theatres, a riverfront boardwalk, restaurants and other facilities, according to the group.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan told the ceremony that Happyland, due to open in 2014, would be "the largest tourism project in South Vietnam and Southeast Asia."Nhan said the "international-standard" project near the southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City aimed to draw 14 million visitors a year including three million foreigners.