The Thu Thiem 4 bridge could be converted into an underpass.

A clearance of 10-15 meters is too low.

Opening the seminar, Mr. Le Quoc Minh, Member of the Central Committee of the Party and Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, affirmed the importance of Thu Thiem 4 Bridge as a gateway to the Saigon port area. Therefore, the design calculations for the bridge's clearance for navigation will directly impact the planning and economic development, especially river tourism, of Saigon port and the entire waterway area of ​​Ho Chi Minh City.

Therefore, designing high bridge clearance, or using swing or open bridge options, will help the Saigon port area accommodate seagoing vessels, thereby allowing for the replanning of Saigon port into an international tourist port to develop the riverside economy. Conversely, designing low bridge clearance will diminish the potential of the waterways in this area.

Mr. Nguyen Hai Linh, Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board of Vinaconex Corporation, said that every tourist visiting Ho Chi Minh City should visit the Saigon River to better understand the city. Therefore, if the Thu Thiem 4 bridge only has a clearance of 10-15m, which is too low, then we have killed the idea in its infancy. The city is transforming and striving to implement mechanisms for development, so let's focus on doing it and doing it even better.

The plan for Thu Thiem 4 bridge is outdated, dating back 20 years.

According to architect Ngo Viet Nam Son, behind the issue of the Thu Thiem 4 bridge's clearance lies a larger story about planning thinking for harmonious development across various aspects. Looking at the current state of the Thu Thiem area, we can see that the current plan is a patchwork of previously existing plans. With Ho Chi Minh City revising its planning, the city should comprehensively consider the Thu Thiem 4 bridge project, not just its clearance, design, or location. Bridges built need to have a connection between the new and the old, especially with heritage structures.

"We need to consider the proportions of Thu Thiem Bridge 3 and Thu Thiem Bridge 4. The city must carefully calculate the clearance height, aesthetic design, and engineering aspects of Thu Thiem Bridge 4. I hope the designs of these two bridges will be included in the program to reorient Ho Chi Minh City's planning in conjunction with the future planning of the Saigon River," suggested architect Ngo Viet Nam Son.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Ky, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietravel Company, also agreed with the opinion that the Thu Thiem 4 bridge needs to be re-planned because it is "too old," having been in existence for 20 years. Therefore, the city can review and avoid making the same mistakes as with the old planning.

"We cannot explain why the Phu My Bridge has a clearance of 45m while the Thu Thiem 3 and 4 bridges are projected to have a clearance of only 10m. Increasing the bridge clearance may increase current costs, but it will be much cheaper in the future. We sincerely hope the city will reconsider this so as not to lose this important advantage," Mr. Ky emphasized.

It is possible to build a swing bridge, an open bridge, or an underpass.

Dr. Tran Du Lich, a member of the National Monetary Advisory Council and Chairman of the Advisory Council for the implementation of special mechanisms for the development of Ho Chi Minh City, believes that the city was once a bustling international trading port. Therefore, Ho Chi Minh City should leverage the location of the Nha Rong - Khanh Hoi port to build a cruise ship tourism port to welcome domestic and international tourists, with the goal of transforming it into a global center for trade, tourism, services, and night-time economy. If this is achieved, in the future, the city will become an international tourism center with a strong focus on cruise tourism.

"The city should merge District 4 into District 1, expand Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, create a focal point connecting a strip of riverside land from Bach Dang Wharf (District 1) to Tan Thuan (District 7), and draw the city center towards the riverbank to create a landmark," suggested Dr. Tran Du Lich.

The Thu Thiem 4 bridge project may be redesigned to become an underpass.

Mr. Tran Quang Lam, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport, said that the city has also paid close attention and organized many conferences and seminars to plan and exploit land resources and develop urban areas associated with the Saigon River. Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Chairman Phan Van Mai personally led a delegation to France to learn from their experience.

Ho Chi Minh City has not only Bach Dang Port but also Nha Rong Wharf, so the planning along both sides of the Saigon River and urban management functions need to be reconsidered. Ho Chi Minh City is currently developing and adjusting the plan. Fortunately, Resolution 98 allows the city to adjust the local planning, so we must not miss this opportunity. The Thu Thiem 4 Bridge connects the east and west banks, which is very important. Therefore, the city will consider and study construction options to ensure that it does not affect the development of waterway transportation.

"The city is reassessing the situation and hasn't finalized anything yet. Adjustments will be made when necessary. Two weeks ago, I discussed this with the Department of Planning and Architecture and the affected localities to make appropriate adjustments. In other countries, swing bridges and open bridges have been built and are not difficult. In addition, the city is also studying the option of building an underpass. We will adjust whichever option is most favorable for development. Not only Thu Thiem 4 Bridge but also Thu Thiem 3 Bridge will undergo comprehensive adjustments. The goal is to ensure that transportation serves the development of the economy, culture, and society. I will report back to the city leaders and, together with the Department of Planning and Architecture, advise on appropriate adjustments to ensure the needs of waterway development are met. The technical aspects are in place, and Resolution 89 provides many opportunities to mobilize capital for bridge construction through BT and PPP models… We will discuss revisions to meet the expectations of the people and the city's development," Mr. Lam stated.

Quick overview at 8 PM: News summary for August 18th

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