Rach Xuyen Tam: before and after canal-side house clearance

The densely populated area of temporary homes along Rach Xuyen Tam is gradually clearing, as residents dismantle and move belongings to hand over land for the renovation project.

In late June, the Rach Xuyen Tam canal section along Bui Huu Nghia street, Gia Dinh ward, became clearer after many canal-side houses were dismantled and the land handed over.

The Rach Xuyen Tam canal renovation project spans 6,7 km, includes three auxiliary branches, and has a total capital exceeding 17 trillion VND. This key urban regeneration project for TP HCM restarted in late 2025 after a 20-year delay.

Following the clearance, both banks of Rach Xuyen Tam are gradually opening up, revealing the canal-side space compared to the tightly packed houses three years ago.

The canal section intersecting Bui Huu Nghia street, previously home to hundreds of dilapidated houses, is now largely cleared. This area, marking the project's starting point, will feature widened roads, a canal-side park, and additional public spaces.

Bamboo and wooden piles that once supported temporary houses are now visible in the Rach Xuyen Tam canal bed after the canal-side demolitions.

Excavators and cranes operate along Rach Xuyen Tam, demolishing the remaining permanent houses within the project's scope.

Residents hire workers to dismantle houses and move belongings from the cleared area to ensure timely land handover. Tran Thanh Tu, 67, was breaking bricks to salvage scrap iron from his demolished house. "My family has received compensation and is currently staying with relatives nearby," said Tu.

A representative from Gia Dinh ward People's Committee (UBND) stated that 112 houses along Bui Huu Nghia street are slated for complete clearance for the project. The local authorities continue to encourage remaining households to self-demolish and promptly hand over their land.