In the afternoon of July 22, on the Tham Luong - Ben Cat canal road, Mr. Tran Van Son (56 years old, Go Vap ward) leisurely cycled as usual every day.
For him, this is not only a way to exercise but also an opportunity to witness the changes of the canal that people once likened to a "dead canal".
More than 3 years ago, no one thought this place would have such a beautiful day" - Mr. Son, while cycling, looked at the water, which was clearer than before.
The man who has been attached to the area for many years recalled that in the past, both sides of the canal were just narrow paths, with weeds growing lushly. Every time it rained, the road was muddy and slippery; in the sunny season, it was dusty.
Under the canal, water hyacinth covers it, garbage from plastic bottles, styrofoam boxes, rubble to animal carcasses floats, smelling strongly. "In the past, few people wanted to stop by the canal. Now, that scene is only in memory," Mr. Son said.
After more than 3 years of construction, many sections of the Tham Luong - Ben Cat - Nuoc Len canal renovation project have taken on a new look. Solid embankments, synchronous railings, and wide asphalt roads have made the area a community activity area for people.
Every afternoon, the canal road is bustling with people running, cycling, taking their children for a walk or standing to admire the water surface, enjoying the cool air.
Every afternoon, Mr. Nguyen Hong Cong (75 years old, An Nhon ward) walks to exercise along the canal. The man who has lived more than half a century by this canal said that he never thought he would ever exercise on a spacious, clean and beautiful road like today.
He recounted that many decades ago, the canal water was still clear, fish and shrimp were abundant, people living along the canal relied on natural aquatic resources, and children often bathed in the river every afternoon.
However, the urbanization process has caused wastewater and domestic waste to continuously fall down, and the canal is gradually polluted. The water surface turns black, fish and shrimp disappear, and people are gradually turning their backs on the canal they once were attached to.
Now with the renovation project, the whole area has completely changed. Roads are spacious, the environment is clean, and the air is also much more airy" - Mr. Cong shared.
Tham Luong - Ben Cat - Nuoc Len canal is nearly 32 km long, the longest canal in Ho Chi Minh City, flowing through 17 wards and communes from the West to the North of the city.
In 2023, the environmental improvement and infrastructure construction project along the canal route was started with a total capital of more than 8,200 billion VND, then adjusted to more than 9,000 billion VND.
The project includes building concrete embankments on both banks, dredging the canal bed, building a road along the canal 8 - 12 m wide, drainage system, lighting, green trees, 12 wharves and 3 connecting bridges.
According to Mr. Vo Viet Cuong - Deputy Head of Project 4 (Ho Chi Minh City Urban Infrastructure Construction Investment Project Management Board), all 10 construction packages are being implemented simultaneously.
To date, the acceptance value has reached about 69.52%, and the actual construction volume has reached more than 79%. The SW pile embankment item along with the drainage system and discharge gates has been completed about 98%; especially the road and infrastructure items have reached about 59%.
Currently, the entire route has been opened to traffic for about 37.5 km. Many sections have completed road surfaces, sidewalks, green trees and connected to existing infrastructure for people to use.
The project is being accelerated by units, striving to be completed by the end of this year. Many completed sections have been effective, helping people have more living space, and at the same time contributing to changing the urban appearance of the city" - Mr. Cuong said.
