Ho Chi Minh City awakens the "green dragon"

The Saigon River corridor planning is not simply about infrastructure development, but it is an urban reconstruction with a strong identity, where cultural and historical values ​​along the river will be preserved, blending with modern constructions, waterways and river tourism services. That dream, if realized, will not only make Ho Chi Minh City more beautiful and vibrant, but also affirm its position as the most dynamic city in the country.

Vinhomes urban area (Binh Thanh district) reflects on the Saigon river (Photo: Le Toan)

The Saigon River meanders like a “green dragon” embracing Ho Chi Minh City. With the river corridor planning strategy, urban areas, and accelerated investment in infrastructure projects, the dream of a splendid riverside city, where people live in harmony with nature, is no longer a fantasy.

Historic River

During the historic days of April, when Ho Chi Minh City was bustling with the atmosphere of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and the reunification of the country, Bach Dang Wharf Park put on a new coat of bright flags and flowers, bustling with cultural activities such as flower lantern boat parade, amateur music, sailing performances, windsurfing , water jets... In the midst of that space, the Saigon River still flows quietly and preserves the sacred moments of history.

Seen from above, the Saigon River curves softly like a “green dragon” passing through the heart of the city. The “green dragon” is not only a metaphor for the beauty of the river, but also a vivid symbol of more than 300 years of formation and development of the land of Saigon - Gia Dinh - Cho Lon - Ho Chi Minh City.

Both sides of the river have long been a gathering place for craft villages, ports, and bustling markets, creating a typical "on the wharf, under the boat" lifestyle of southern cities.

The Saigon River corridor planning is not simply about infrastructure development, but it is an urban reconstruction with a strong identity, where cultural and historical values ​​along the river will be preserved, blending with modern constructions, waterways and river tourism services. That dream, if realized, will not only make Ho Chi Minh City more beautiful and vibrant, but also affirm its position as the most dynamic city in the country.

Going back in time, the Saigon River is also a place that marks the historical milestones of the nation. It was here, on June 5, 1911, that the young man Nguyen Tat Thanh got off the ship at Nha Rong Wharf, starting his journey to find a way to save the country, a sacred event that the Saigon River witnessed.

Over time, the Saigon River still preserves places associated with historical achievements such as Bach Dang wharf, Rach Tra wharf..., each place is a piece in the long journey for national independence and freedom.

Today, the river not only has historical significance, but is also an important waterway for trade, connecting Ho Chi Minh City with the Eastern and Southwestern provinces and international connections.

With a length of more than 250 km, flowing through Binh Phuoc, Binh Duong and Ho Chi Minh City, the Saigon River also plays a role in providing domestic water, regulating floods, serving agricultural production and ensuring water security, especially in the context of increasingly obvious climate change.

For Ho Chi Minh City, the Saigon River is not only a river flowing through the heart of the city, but also represents the identity of a dynamic city. And now, in a strong transformation, that river is being awakened to once again write a new journey for Ho Chi Minh City.

Awaken the "blue dragon"

No longer quietly drifting between old embankments and bustling streets, the "green dragon" is gradually being awakened by strategic decisions and the aspiration to create a riverside urban area worthy of the region.

Looking at the major cities of the world, like Paris on the Seine,

London on the Thames River, Seoul on the Han River…, the development process cannot be separated from nature. These cities all fully exploit the advantages of rivers to create their own identity, develop living space, tourism, culture, and transportation.

The same goes for Ho Chi Minh City, the development process of the City cannot be separated from nature, especially when nature has given the City a priceless gift like the Saigon River.

Realizing that, in 2020, Ho Chi Minh City officially approved the Project on Developing River Embankments and Riverside Service Economy for the period 2020 - 2025, with a vision to 2040. This is one of 52 projects under the 4 key programs of the 11th City Party Congress, term 2020 - 2025.

The Saigon River can become a special version like the Seine River of Paris, not only a landscape, but also a driving force for multi-dimensional development in culture, economy, tourism and environment.

(Report by IPR and AVSE)

From here, the plan to awaken the "green dragon" is no longer a vague concept on paper, but begins with very specific steps. Bach Dang Wharf Park, the symbol of the River City, is the starting point for that journey. The park has an area of ​​1.6 hectares, renovated into a modern, airy public space, harmoniously connecting history and new life. The project, completed in March 2022, will not only change the face of the central landscape, but also bring people a true cultural and tourist destination on the riverbank.

However, the “awakening” of this river does not stop at the landscape. Ho Chi Minh City has taken a step further by putting into operation the No. 1 river bus route, connecting Bach Dang wharf with Thu Duc City. This is not only a new means of transport, but also the first step in the journey of building an urban system connected to the river.

Mr. Nguyen Kim Toan, Director of Thuong Nhat Company Limited, who has spent many years researching and directly implementing the river bus route, recalled that, from ancient times, our ancestors had a saying: "Follow the river to come, rely on the river to live, and develop thanks to the river". Therefore, developing the riverside economy is not a choice, but a necessity for a riverside city.

According to Mr. Toan, after many years, Ho Chi Minh City has now recognized the value that the river brings. But the biggest obstacle is not the resources or potential, but the unclear direction and the unsynchronized approach. What the City needs now is an effective riverside economic development strategy that saves time, social resources and most importantly, must come from the spirit of respecting the value of the flow.

The dream of a glamorous riverside city is no longer far away

The dream of a splendid riverside city, once a beautiful image on the planning map, is now gradually stepping out of the paper and clearly appearing on every inch of land along the Saigon River.

In April 2023, an important turning point was marked by a special working trip by Ho Chi Minh City Party Secretary Nguyen Van Nen to Paris (France), where the Seine River winds through a civilized, modern and unique urban area. Not just a trip to learn, this is a journey connecting Ho Chi Minh City and the Paris Regional Planning Institute (IPR), in coordination with the Global Vietnamese Experts Organization (AVSE Global), to launch a research and planning program for the development of the Saigon River corridor.

Just a few months later, in October 2023, the first workshop took place in Ho Chi Minh City with the participation of leading domestic and international experts. By March 2024, the Saigon River Corridor Comprehensive Development Planning Report was published, marking the first concrete step in the journey to turn this river into a real "backbone" for Ho Chi Minh City in the new era.

“We believe that the Saigon River can become a special version like the Seine River in Paris, not only a landscape, but also a driving force for multidimensional development in culture, economy, tourism and environment,” the IPR and AVSE report wrote.

Not stopping at the vision, a series of specific investment proposals began to take shape. In October 2024, Sun Group Corporation officially proposed the 78.2 km long Saigon River Road project, extending from Cu Chi to Can Gio Bridge, a new backbone along the river, both reducing traffic pressure and opening up a methodical direction for riverside urban development. Along with that is the idea of ​​planning riverside urban areas in Cu Chi and Hoc Mon, contributing to expanding urban space to the Northwest, an area with much untapped potential.

However, for that dream to take shape in a sustainable way, experts believe that Ho Chi Minh City needs to take steady steps. Architect Khuong Van Muoi, former Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Architects Association, frankly pointed out that the City needs to clearly define the functions of each riverside area, which are residential areas, which are parks, which are landscape spaces, which are waterways... and everything must be carefully planned in a scientific urban design.

The first riverside urban areas have been gradually completed, from Sala Urban Area in Thu Thiem, to Vinhomes Central Park in Binh Thanh, modern urban areas reflecting on the Saigon River...

Now, when Ho Chi Minh City accelerates investment in transport infrastructure and urban infrastructure, the dream of a riverside city is no longer a fantasy. It is a well-founded development goal, a near future and worth waiting for!

Source: https://baodautu.vn/tphcm-danh-thuc-rong-xanh-d275218.html