The 80 kilometre-long Saigon River runs through many of the city’s districts.
However, the river section in the city centre is being encroached by many restaurants and construction sites.
The riverbank area in Binh Loi Ward is barely accessible to the public due to the number of riverside restaurants. The same situation is repeated in Binh Hiep Chanh Ward in Thu Duc City. Most of the cafés here are temporary, but their entrances have caused difficulties for people accessing the river.
Many paths to the riverbank in the Thao Dien Ward area have been blocked by barriers. Some restaurants operate boat services. While construction work is still underway in the area.
At some riverside construction works, gates have been set up to prevent people from entering, meaning that they can’t get access to the riverbank.
A café on Nguyen Van Huong Street
According to Nguyen Van Luc, 21, all access to the river in Thao Dien Ward has been blocked by construction sites or dumping sites, except for one on Nguyen Van Huong Street.
The same situation has been reported in Linh Dong Ward, Thu Duc District.
Nguyen Anh Tuan, head of the HCM City’s Department of Planning and Architecture’s Planning Board, said that in 2004, local authorities issued Decision 150 on the use and management of the Saigon River bank corridor. However, many construction projects were licensed before.
Under the HCM City Department of Construction’s proposal, the department will co-operate with localities to deal with violations in riverbank areas.
