In a short span of time, a series of major infrastructure projects in Ho Chi Minh City have simultaneously completed site clearance, turning densely packed residential areas and long-delayed developments into vast, open construction sites.
The Xuyen Tam Canal renovation project, long seen as a bottleneck because of compensation and land clearance problems, has now changed markedly.
Many houses along the canal have been demolished, opening up a vast space for the works.
The project stretches for nearly 9km through Gia Dinh Ward, Binh Thanh Ward, Binh Loi Trung Ward and An Nhon Ward, affecting 2,190 households.
With total investment of about VND 17.2 trillion (USD 670 million), it is expected to be completed in 2028.
Vo Thi Bich Chi, 58, of Binh Thanh Ward, who has lived along the Xuyen Tam Canal for decades, said she was astonished. “I am truly surprised by the speed of site clearance for this project. In just a short time, a series of houses along the canal have been demolished. Now we only hope the project will be completed soon so this area can have a new look that is cleaner and more orderly.”
The Xuyen Tam Canal will be dredged to a depth of about 3.5 metres and widened to between 20 and 30 metres. Roads of 6 metres wide will be built on each side, along with pavements of 3 to 4 metres. The project is expected to revive the canal and improve travel and business conditions for thousands of households.
Similarly, at the National Highway 13 expansion project, after years of delays, site clearance along sections of the route is now being carried out at pace.
The upgrade and expansion of National Highway 13, from Binh Trieu Bridge to Vinh Binh Bridge, has a total length of about 6.3km and total investment of nearly VND 21 trillion (USD 810 million).
Residents living along the route have hurried to dismantle their homes and hand over the land.
Nguyen Van Trang, 62, said: “We have lived here for decades and business has been convenient, so naturally there is some reluctance. But for the city’s broader development, my family agreed to hand over the land. We hope that once the road is widened, people will no longer face the prolonged congestion seen in the past.”
The road will be widened to 60 metres, equivalent to 10 to 12 lanes, and developed under a public-private partnership model through a build-operate-transfer contract.
The northern bank renovation project along Kenh Doi, stretching through Chanh Hung Ward and Phu Dinh Ward, is expected to be completed in 2028. Rows of houses close to the canal edge have been demolished, opening up new space along the waterway.
The project directly affects more than 1,600 households, with total land recovery reaching 5.85 hectares.
The aim is to improve living standards, eliminate dilapidated housing and environmental pollution, and create public spaces that help reshape the urban landscape.
This urban overhaul is not merely about tearing down old structures, but about rebuilding space, creating room for new infrastructure and shaping the city’s appearance for years to come.