Construction officially began on July 1 on the Nha Rong-Khanh Hoi Cultural Park and Bach Dang Riverside Public Green Space project.
The development carries a total investment of VND 29.317 trillion (approximately USD 1.12 billion) and will be delivered by Sun Group under a build-transfer (BT) contract.
Covering 73.3 hectares, the flagship project is designed to ease traffic congestion at the southern gateway to the city, expand public riverside spaces and preserve the historical and cultural significance of the Nha Rong-Khanh Hoi area.
The first component of the project includes a 9.6-hectare cultural park surrounding Nha Rong Port, integrated with the renovation of the 1.4-hectare Ho Chi Minh Museum grounds to create an 11-hectare unified public park.
Across the Saigon River, Bach Dang Wharf will be upgraded with an underground car park, an underground shopping centre and improved infrastructure, making the waterfront more accessible to residents and visitors.
The second phase focuses on revitalising the Khanh Hoi area by converting former port warehouses into a mixed-use complex featuring public spaces, retail outlets and exhibition venues.
The existing wharf will be transformed into a landscaped green promenade with spacious pedestrian walkways overlooking the Saigon River. This section of the project also includes an underground parking facility designed to accommodate both residents and tourists.
The third component will deliver major transport upgrades, including widening Nguyen Tat Thanh Street to between eight and 10 lanes, constructing the Hoang Dieu underpass, building a pedestrian bridge linking Nha Rong-Khanh Hoi Port with Bach Dang Wharf, replacing Tan Thuan 1 Bridge, widening Tan Thuan 2 Bridge, and adding new cruise ship piers and passenger terminals.
The fourth component will expand public green space at Bach Dang Wharf, place part of Ton Duc Thang Street underground and construct additional underground parking and commercial facilities.
Once completed, the former port district is expected to become a landmark cultural, historical and tourism destination along the Saigon River, enhancing residents' quality of life while creating a new engine for Ho Chi Minh City's future development.
