On the morning of June 28, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council approved the investment policy for the project of dredging, improving the environment and building infrastructure for Van Thanh canal (Binh Thanh district), with a total cost of more than VND 8,555 billion.
The project aims to improve urban areas, reduce environmental pollution and increase drainage capacity for the city center.
The project is divided into two component projects, of which the site clearance and resettlement part is more than VND6,812 billion, the construction and installation project is more than VND1,743 billion.
A total of 1,077 cases were affected, of which 749 households had to be completely relocated.
The project will renovate the entire main canal nearly 2km long (from Vo Oanh Street to Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe Canal) and a 275m long branch of the canal.
Within this scope, Van Thanh canal and branch canals will be dredged with a canal bed width of 25 to 50m, 3m deep; at the same time, a bank protection embankment will be built with prestressed concrete rubble along both sides of the main route and branch canals.
At the same time, the project invests in building a traffic road along the canal with a roadway from 6m to 20m, creating a new connection axis for the area.
Phu An Bridge will be newly built with a width of 17m, while Ngo Tat To Street (from Phu An Bridge to Phu My Street) will be expanded and upgraded to a 25m road width.
A parallel road will also be built to connect to Dien Bien Phu road, increasing the ability to connect inner-city traffic.
The project also builds a system of vertical drainage culverts for domestic use; a system of vertical culverts, cross-drainage rainwater culverts and a system of sewers to collect wastewater, ensuring comprehensive drainage for the area.
In addition, about 4.2 hectares of land along the canals will be planned into parks, green areas and technical infrastructure works, contributing to improving the landscape and living environment for people.
The project is expected to be implemented in the period from 2025 to 2030, with the implementation progress as follows:
Phase 2025 - 2026: Conduct feasibility study report preparation, locally adjust detailed planning projects and organize compensation and site clearance work.
In 2026: Conduct construction surveys and prepare construction drawing designs - estimates.
August 2026: Complete the appraisal and approval of construction drawing design - estimate.
From September to November 2026: Organize the selection of consulting contractors for supervision and construction.
From December 2026 to January 2027: Complete procedures to prepare for construction.
From January 2027 to December 2025: Deploy construction and complete the entire project.
The Ho Chi Minh City Urban Infrastructure Construction Investment Project Management Board is the unit assigned to be the investor of both project components.
Van Thanh Canal is located right under Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien) and only about 1km from the center of Ho Chi Minh City, one of the important drainage canals for Binh Thanh District and the city. This is also a large branch in the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal basin (along with Xuyen Tam canal).
However, over the years, encroachment, silting and serious pollution have gradually turned Van Thanh canal into an environmental black spot.
