Ho Chi Minh City's People's Committee recently submitted a proposal to the City Party Committee's Standing Board regarding the construction of a new administrative center. The current administrative offices are scattered throughout the city, creating difficulties for interdepartmental coordination, as well as for residents and businesses. A centralized administrative center is therefore considered essential. The city has proposed three potential locations in An Khanh, Thu Duc, and Cat Lai wards.

The first proposed location is a cluster of 9 plots in the Thu Thiem urban area, An Khanh ward, covering 9.6 hectares. This area is part of the future financial and administrative center, near the central lake, with good transport links via the Thu Thiem 2 bridge, Ring Road, and Saigon River Tunnel.

An aerial view reveals this area is currently vacant land, with surrounding road connections and proximity to the city center via Ba Son bridge.

This site is opposite the Sala urban area, at the intersection of three main roads in Thu Thiem: Mai Chi Tho, To Huu, and Nguyen Co Thach. Its advantage lies in its readily available vacant status, allowing for quick commencement of construction.

The city estimates this Thu Thiem location could accommodate 6,000 to 7,800 civil servants, meeting the needs of a fully centralized administration.

Much of the proposed site is currently vacant, featuring canals and overgrown vegetation typical of wetlands.

However, the current zoning designates this area for educational, cultural, and mixed-use purposes, necessitating adjustments for an administrative center. Furthermore, using a portion of the central lake park area could impact green space and the approved planning structure.

Based on Sun Group's proposed scale, the Department of Construction suggests a building density of 40% to 60%, a maximum height of approximately 35 floors, and a total floor area of about 160,000 square meters.

This location will benefit from future strategic infrastructure, including Ring Roads 2, 3, and 4; the Ho Chi Minh City - Dau Giay Expressway and other inter-regional expressways; the Thu Thiem metro and national railway stations; and air travel access through Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh airports.

About 6 km away is the site of the former Thu Duc City People's Committee headquarters in Cat Lai ward, covering about 7.73 hectares (including the existing 4.73-hectare headquarters and 3 hectares of adjacent sports land).

This site already has basic infrastructure, requires minimal site clearance, is easily accessible via Mai Chi Tho - Dong Van Cong Street, and allows for rapid development with lower infrastructure costs.

However, its limited size can only accommodate about 3,400 people. The area's traffic is already congested, and adjustments to the adjacent land's zoning would be necessary.

Following the merger, many offices in the former Thu Duc City People's Committee headquarters are now closed, with limited activity.

The largest proposed site, at 11.6 hectares, is the expanded Ha Tien Cement factory area in Truong Tho, Thu Duc ward (right corner).

Located about 10 km from Ho Chi Minh City's center, this site is next to the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line, Vo Nguyen Giap Street, and the Saigon - Rach Chiec river junction. This location is suitable for an administrative complex with a public square and open space, conveniently connected to the metro line.

This industrial land's lease expired in 2020. Part of the former Ha Tien Cement factory has been cleared, with machinery and equipment removed in 2019. The remaining area is currently used as a concrete mixing plant and container depot.

If chosen for the administrative center, pollution remediation, relocation, site clearance, zoning adjustments, and infrastructure improvements would be required, leading to a longer preparation period.

If this site is selected, an additional 8 hectares from the Southern Transportation Joint Stock Company (SOTRANS) could be incorporated if needed. This company's land currently operates as a port, with frequent container truck traffic.

The remaining sign at the entrance marks the former Ha Tien Cement grinding plant. The site itself is often muddy and dusty depending on weather conditions.

The city aims to begin construction in Quarter 1 of 2026, ensuring functionality, aesthetics, and a landmark design that serves the needs of residents and businesses effectively.

Previous plans had designated the city's centralized administrative area within the existing center or the Binh Quoi - Thanh Da peninsula. Before the merger, the Department of Construction proposed an administrative center at 86 Le Thanh Ton Street, covering 1.8 hectares and accommodating approximately 1,692 officials. However, this scale wouldn't meet current staffing needs and also faces limitations in key transport connections.

Quynh Tran - Thanh Tung