The longest canal in Ho Chi Minh City is gradually reviving
Every afternoon, Mr. Mai Van Hieu (70 years old, living on Phan Huy Ich Street, Tan Binh District) takes his grandson to the Tham Luong - Ben Cat - Nuoc Len canal bank, quietly observing the workers at work. Mr. Hieu still has not forgotten the scene of the past: Garbage piled up on both sides of the bank, the canal water is black and thick because of wastewater from factories pouring down, causing the flow to gradually die.
But since the beginning of 2023, when the renovation project started, the canal has begun to change. Machinery rumbles, construction materials are gathered, and household waste is cleared. Workers are busy working every day, breathing new life into the once-forgotten canal.
“Every day, I see the canal change. Concrete piles are planted, creating a solid embankment, and the water is gradually becoming clearer. Witnessing the changes little by little, I feel very happy,” Mr. Hieu shared.
From Cho Cau Bridge (Quang Trung Street, Go Vap District) looking towards the sunrise, the new appearance of the canal is becoming clearer after nearly 2 years of construction. The two roads along the canal are gradually taking shape, opening up a spacious, clean and beautiful space.
The "black canal" of yesteryear is reviving, lighting up hope for a "second Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe" in Ho Chi Minh City.
Tham Luong - Ben Cat - Nuoc Len canal, nearly 32km long, passing through 7 districts, is being renovated with a total investment of more than 9,000 billion VND. The project includes major items such as dredging, concrete embankments on both banks, construction of 7-12m wide roads along the canal, drainage culverts, boat docks, drainage systems, lighting and trees.
According to Mr. Dau An Phuc - Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Infrastructure Construction Investment Project Management Board (investor), the project has completed nearly 50% of the volume and is expected to be inaugurated before December 31, 2025.
“This canal will become the main drainage axis for nearly 15,000 hectares of the surrounding area, while also helping to reduce traffic pressure on National Highway 1 thanks to two routes along the canal. The project also creates conditions for the development of waterway transport, connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Long An via Cho Dem River and with Dong Nai and Binh Duong via Saigon River,” said Mr. Phuc.
Commencement of renovation of Xuyen Tam canal and North bank of Doi canal
According to Mr. Dau An Phuc, Ho Chi Minh City will start renovating Xuyen Tam canal and the North bank of Doi canal this year.
Xuyen Tam Canal, nearly 9km long, flowing through Binh Thanh and Go Vap districts, will be dredged to a depth of 3.5m, widened from 20 - 30m, building a wastewater collection system and developing infrastructure on both banks with 6m wide roads, 3 - 4m wide sidewalks, parks and trees. The project has a total investment of more than 17,200 billion VND, of which compensation and site clearance costs are more than 14,000 billion VND.
It is expected that the first package through Go Vap district will start construction in March 2025. The two packages through Binh Thanh district will be implemented before April 30, 2025. The entire project is expected to be completed in 2028.
The project to build infrastructure and improve the environment of the North bank of Doi Canal (District 8) with a total investment of more than 7,400 billion VND. The project will build 4.3km of embankment, dredge the canal bed, expand roads along the canal bank, build a new Nguyen Duy extension road and Hiep An 2 bridge. The project is expected to start in the third quarter of 2025 and be completed in 2028.
According to Mr. Dau An Phuc, one of the biggest challenges for canal renovation projects is site clearance and resettlement. Currently, the People's Committees of Districts 8, Binh Thanh, and Go Vap are focusing on removing obstacles to ensure the progress of site handover to investors.
Currently, Ho Chi Minh City still has 373 rivers, canals and streams that have not been renovated, with about 46,000 houses that need to be relocated. The city aims to complete the clearance and resettlement of all these households by 2030 to clear the flow, improve the environment, beautify the urban area and exploit land funds for economic development.
