Polluted canal in central TP HCM awaits transformation

Waste, black water, and hundreds of temporary homes line the Van Thanh canal, a central waterway in TP HCM set for a major renovation project starting early 2027, with an estimated cost exceeding 8,500 billion dong.

At low tide, many sections reveal large amounts of waste clinging to the banks and canal bed. Household wastewater from surrounding homes is also discharged directly into the water, worsening the pollution.

The Van Thanh canal, nearly 2 km long, stretches from Dien Bien Phu bridge to the intersection of the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal. It passes through Thanh My Tay ward, formerly part of Binh Thanh district, and plays a role in drainage and flood reduction for the area.

After many years of severe pollution, the canal will undergo renovation with a total budget exceeding 8,555 billion dong. The Urban Infrastructure Investment and Construction Project Management Board of TP HCM is the investor for this project, which is scheduled to begin construction in early 2027.

Over 1,000 households, living in hundreds of houses along both canal banks, are slated for clearance and relocation due to the project. Ngo Thi Lieu, 65 years old, has lived here for over 40 years. "In the 1990s, the canal water was still clean; people could swim in it," she recalled.

Metro line 1, connecting Ben Thanh and Suoi Tien, runs elevated over the Van Thanh canal. Both banks are densely populated residential areas with closely packed houses.

According to the design, the project will renovate 2,24 km of the canal, including the main channel and a secondary branch approximately 275 m long. Of the total 8,555 billion dong capital, more than 6,812 billion dong is allocated for compensation and resettlement support for 1,065 households. The remaining 1,743 billion dong will fund dredging and infrastructure construction.

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Canal route map. Graphics: Khanh Hoang

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Math Ta Ghe, a Cham resident, has lived with his mother for the past 20 years in a corrugated iron house, just over 2 m wide, along the Van Thanh canal. The cramped space is filled with their belongings, leaving little room for daily life.

According to Ghe, most residents along the canal are low-income laborers, living in small houses that they have gradually extended over time. When the tide recedes, the canal emits foul odors, and mosquitoes become prevalent, forcing residents to use mosquito nets and burn mosquito coils at night. He hopes the project will be completed soon to improve their living environment.

Access points to the canal are primarily small, winding alleys. At the entrance of alley 115 Ngo Tat To stands Van Thanh Pagoda, built in 1906 on the former site of Gia Dinh province’s Van Thanh Mieu after the original structure was destroyed by the French. The pagoda, located amidst the canal-side residential area, is a historical landmark linked to the origin of the name Van Thanh.

The project includes constructing a canal-side road with a width of 6-20 m and a new Phu An bridge, 17 m wide. It will also widen Ngo Tat To street, from Phu An bridge to Phu My street, to 25 m. The work also comprises a parallel road connecting to Dien Bien Phu, a storm and wastewater drainage system, and household wastewater collection sewers.

Van Thanh Park, one of the area's few green spaces, is located along the canal. After the project's completion, the spaces along both banks will connect with the park, expanding public areas and creating a foundation for linking TP HCM’s waterways.

As planned, approximately 4,2 hectares of land along the route are designated for developing parks, green spaces, and technical infrastructure.

The Van Thanh canal's endpoint flows into the Thi Nghe canal and the Saigon River. The project is expected to be completed by late 2029, aiming to improve the environment, enhance drainage capacity, reduce flooding, and establish a transportation system and green parks along the route.

[VIDEO_450774] Full view of Van Thanh canal. Video: Quynh Tran