Unique 'oasis' in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, with only one way out

Peaceful oasis in the heart of the city

Binh Quoi Ward was established on the basis of merging the entire natural area and population of Ward 27 and Ward 28 of the old Binh Thanh District with an area of 6.34 km² and a population of more than 46,200 people.

The ward is completely surrounded by the Saigon River and Thanh Da Canal, considered an "oasis" or "green lung" in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.

This separation unintentionally creates a peaceful living space, completely contrasting with the bustling, noisy pace of life of one of the largest cities in the country, with nearly 14 million people.

Panoramic view of Binh Quoi ward, considered an 'oasis' or also known as the 'green lung' in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, only 5km from the center. Photo: TK

Nowadays, people living in Binh Quoi still retain the simple images of the countryside with small coconut-lined roads and green gardens.

The ward is mainly small, winding alleys leading to residential areas. The houses here are not too splendid, but have a rustic, simple character.

This place is also famous for its airy garden restaurants, designed in the style of a village with fish ponds, bamboo bridges, and thatched huts. This is a favorite destination for many people in Ho Chi Minh City who want to find a place to relax, enjoy the fresh air and enjoy rustic dishes.

However, the geographical separation brings 'disadvantages' to this locality as it is only about 5km from the center of Ho Chi Minh City.

Thanh Da Bridge, the starting point of the unique Binh Quoi route. Photo: TK

Binh Quoi Street, the section 'through' Thanh Da residential area. Photo: TK.

Connecting traffic infrastructure is a big challenge as Binh Quoi Road is the only road to access the entire Thanh Da - Binh Quoi peninsula. This road connects to the main Xo Viet Nghe Tinh axis via Kinh Thanh Da bridge. Although it has been upgraded, it is often overloaded, especially during rush hours, causing difficulties for travel and transporting goods.

Previously, Binh Quoi residents had another option to connect to the East bank of the city by the Binh Quoi - Thu Duc ferry terminal. This ferry terminal directly connects Binh Quoi Street (Ward 28, old Binh Thanh) with Road 45 (Hiep Binh Chanh Ward, old Thu Duc City), helping to significantly shorten travel time.

However, this ferry terminal has stopped operating since mid-2024, so traffic pressure on the only road route is even more overloaded.

Binh Quoi ferry terminal will stop operating from mid-2024, causing traffic pressure on the only route of Binh Quoi. Photo: TK.

Looking forward to more bridges and roads to break the 'loneliness'

The current traffic situation depends on a single road route, not only causing inconvenience to people but also reducing the attractiveness and development of the whole area.

For decades, Thanh Da – Binh Quoi peninsula has been expected to become a modern ecological urban area. A series of large projects have been planned, but most of them remain on paper.

The eastern bank of Binh Quoi ward is a developed urban space running along Pham Van Dong street, connecting to Tan Son Nhat airport. Photo: TK.

Meanwhile, Binh Quoi ward is like a countryside village in the middle of bustling Ho Chi Minh City with small coconut-lined roads, lush green gardens... Photo: TK.

A series of traffic infrastructure projects that people are looking forward to, such as the plan to build bridges connecting to the old Thu Duc City in directions such as Thao Dien, Linh Dong, and Truong Tho. These bridges are expected to help share the pressure on Binh Quoi Street and significantly shorten the travel distance for people.

In addition, the development of waterway transport is also considered a potential option. By adding tourist and transit boat piers, people will have more travel options, especially connecting to the East bank of the city (Thu Thiem area - old District 2).

According to planning experts, the construction of additional connecting bridges will not only help relieve traffic pressure on Binh Quoi Street but also create a strong driving force for real estate and eco-tourism projects to be implemented. This will transform this "oasis" from a "unique" place into a livable riverside urban area, still retaining its own characteristics.