Houses built along the Doi Canal which has been seriouslly polluted in District 8, HCM City.
Ho Chi Minh City has approved a major urban redevelopment plan to clear nearly 15,000 homes built along polluted canals in District 8, with an estimated investment of VND 105.18 trillion (approximately USD 4.1 billion).
Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Chairman Nguyen Van Duc signed off on an urban renewal scheme targeting houses built on or along canals in District 8, including Ong Lon, Ong Be, Can Giuoc, Ben Nghe, Doi, Xang and Ruot Ngua.
These waterways are heavily polluted and lined with deteriorating homes that lack basic utilities, facing serious risks of fire, flooding, and erosion. The houses stretch along 54 kilometres of canal banks across 10 wards.
The core objective of the plan is to relocate all these homes while simultaneously investing in resettlement zones, social housing, and the renovation of old apartment blocks to provide residents with safer and better living conditions.
Under the proposal, 36.5 kilometres of canals will be dredged, 73.1 kilometres of embankments constructed, and 734,750 square metres of canal-side roads developed.
The plan also includes the creation of 102,731.8 square metres of green space and parks, as well as 247,000 square metres of commercial land to be redeveloped.
The total investment for the project is estimated at VND 105.18 trillion (approximately USD 4.1 billion). The city expects to generate approximately VND 105.91 trillion (USD 4.12 billion) in revenue through land auctions and commercial housing development, covering the entire investment.
A key feature of the plan is its integration of economic, tourism and service development along the canals. District 8 will explore launching river bus routes and hosting regular cultural events, such as the Spring Flower Market and Floating Fruit Week, alongside waterway tourism, arts, and nighttime economy activities. The goal is to transform this low-lying, underdeveloped area into a vibrant and attractive destination within the city.
Between 1993 and 2025, Ho Chi Minh City relocated 44,338 households from canal banks along four main waterways and several tributaries.
However, 398 projects involving canals and rivers across the city remain unimplemented, with an estimated 39,600 homes still awaiting relocation.
District 8 accounts for the largest share with 14,950 houses, followed by Nha Be District with 4,452, District 7 with over 4,000, and Binh Tan District with 3,396.
To complete the remaining clearance work, the city will require an initial VND 221.37 trillion (approximately USD 8.6 billion), comprising VND 130.68 trillion (approximately USD 5.1 billion) for compensation, support, and resettlement.