Current status of over 7 km of Saigon River riverside road soon to be expanded to six lanes

Approximately 7,4 km of the riverside road through former Binh Duong is set for expansion with a total investment of 9,400 ty dong, creating a major transportation axis parallel to national highway 13 and aiming to alleviate regional traffic congestion.

The Saigon River riverside road project spans the wards of Lai Thieu, Thuan An, and Binh Hoa, located in what was formerly Binh Duong province and is now part of TP HCM. The route will be constructed with six lanes, measuring 32 m in width, featuring a 21 m wide road surface and sidewalks 4-5 m wide.

Recently, TP HCM officials collaborated with local authorities and project management boards to address challenges and accelerate land handover for the project. The project is currently awaiting appraisal of its feasibility report by the Department of Construction in june, with construction anticipated to begin once land clearance is completed.

A 3-8 m wide embankment road currently runs along the Saigon River, serving local residents. The most complete section is about 3 km through Lai Thieu ward, featuring two lanes about 10 m wide and sidewalks planted with many trees.

This route is interrupted at Phan Dinh Phung canal due to the absence of a bridge, forcing residents to take a detour of about 300 m.

Most of the planned area still consists of narrow dirt roads, interspersed with residential areas and fruit orchards belonging to residents in Lai Thieu and Thuan An wards.

The final section of the project borders An Son port in Thuan An ward. This area primarily features local roads and long-standing fruit orchards belonging to residents.

Along the route, there are also several inland waterway wharves interspersed with residential areas along the Saigon River. Notably, the wharf near Chau Van Tiep road in Lai Thieu ward (background image) is a bustling hub where boats frequently arrive and depart, trading pottery and earthenware from nearby traditional craft villages.

Additionally, along the river, there are religious establishments reflecting the long-standing traditional culture of local residents. A prominent example is Phu Long communal house, built around 1842, situated close to the riverbank with an area exceeding 5,000 m2.

For about one month, many households in Lai Thieu ward have begun handing over land after receiving compensation. Ms. Thu Tam, 55, received over one ty dong in compensation for an area of approximately 130 m2. She stated that despite the compensation not meeting her expectations, she still agreed to hand over the land.

Nguyen Minh Chau, 63, from Lai Thieu ward, stands by his 5,000 m2 orchard cultivating durian, mangosteen, and pomelo. He mentioned that his family had nearly 1,000 m2 of land reclaimed for the project. As the authorities have not yet set an official price, the compensation amount remains unknown. "I hope the project is implemented soon so that the riverbank can have a more modern and spacious road," he said.

Near national highway 13, there are still several restaurants, cafes, tourist areas, and residential homes built close to the riverbank. The project involves reclaiming approximately 33 ha of land. Wards have already organized public meetings to announce the land acquisition plan.

The road's starting point is at Vinh Binh canal, connecting with national highway 13 (right corner), which is currently undergoing expansion.

Upon completion, the over 7 km Saigon River riverside road will contribute to urban beautification, expand riverside development opportunities, enhance residents' quality of life, and ease traffic pressure on national highway 13. This infrastructure will also establish a modern urban landscape axis along the Saigon River.