Polluted canal next to metro line 'revives' after renovation

After nearly a year of renovation, the Da Do canal next to Metro line 1 is no longer polluted, improves drainage, enhances urban landscape, and will be completed by the end of this year.

The Da Do canal, nearly two kilometers long, starts at the intersection of Nguyen Hoang street and Vo Nguyen Giap avenue (formerly Hanoi Highway) and extends to the Saigon River. It has long suffered from severe pollution. The project, with a total investment exceeding VND 86.7 billion, aims to enhance drainage capacity, improve the environment, and upgrade the urban landscape in eastern Ho Chi Minh City.

Compared to October 2025, the water is now clearer, free from the dense water hyacinths that once choked it.

The section of the canal flowing under the pedestrian bridge of An Phu station looks different from last year. This is a vital drainage route for the area, channeling water to the Saigon River and Rach Chiec.

The project's design includes dredging approximately 1.7 km of the canal bed and installing drainage pipes. The construction is currently about 80% complete and is expected to finish by the end of this year.

Before the renovation, the canal bed was heavily silted, narrowed, and overgrown with water hyacinths and wild plants. Many sections were culverted, obstructing water flow, causing pollution, and frequently emitting foul odors.

Most of the canal has been dredged, with 1.5 km of embankments and walls built along both banks. The investor is currently constructing sidewalks and surrounding landscaping. On the construction site, multiple teams are simultaneously carrying out tasks such as installing culverts, building retaining walls, and completing the embankment system along both banks.

Near Den bridge, a team of workers is completing the final sections of the embankment. Approximately 80 workers are operating in three continuous shifts to ensure the project stays on schedule.

A 300-meter section of the canal flowing into the Saigon River will be the last to be constructed before connecting the flow. After the canal renovation is complete, greenery, walkways, and lighting systems will be synchronously installed.

The project is expected to effectively control flooding and improve the environment, transforming the area into a new landscape highlight at the eastern gateway of Ho Chi Minh City.

Vo Thi Y, a resident of Binh Trung ward, noted that the water was previously black and stagnant, forming a pond. "I hope the project finishes soon so the environment becomes cleaner and more beautiful," she said.

Overview of the renovated Da Do canal. Video: Quynh Tran