The Heart of Ho Chi Minh City Beats to a New Rhythm: Unveiling District 1’s Upcoming Pedestrian Street

On September 16, the Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City directed the deployment of a pilot project to improve traffic and renovate urban space on Thai Van Lung Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1.

Accordingly, the City’s People’s Committee assigned the Department of Transportation to coordinate with the Department of Planning and Architecture and the People’s Committee of District 1 to urgently review and carefully calculate the investment scale and implementation costs of the project, ensuring flexible traffic organization, creating an urban highlight, and following the directions of the Party Committee of the City’s People’s Committee. The project proposal will then be submitted to the authorized agency for appraisal and investment decision, in accordance with regulations.

The People’s Committee of District 1 is responsible for conducting a survey and encouraging businesses and organizations in the project area to contribute financially to the investment in auxiliary items that can be socialized. They will also manage, operate, and maintain the works after the project’s completion, in accordance with regulations.

The Department of Planning and Investment is tasked with promptly advising and proposing to the City’s People’s Committee regarding the assignment of preparing the project proposal and arranging capital for investment preparation to implement the project as per regulations. They will also coordinate and guide the Department of Transportation in preparing the project proposal for submission to the authorized agency for appraisal and investment decision, following the prescribed process.

Previously, on September 13, the Party Committee of the City’s People’s Committee agreed on the policy to deploy the pilot project for improving traffic and renovating urban space on Thai Van Lung Street, utilizing the city’s budget and socialized capital.

The pilot scheme, designed by the Department of Transportation in collaboration with Japanese-Vietnamese planning experts and relevant parties, was sent to the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City.

Thai Van Lung Street, stretching from Ly Tu Trong to Nguyen Sieu Street, is approximately 400 meters long and houses numerous accommodation facilities and eateries catering to tourists.

As per the design proposal, both the sidewalk and the road surface of Thai Van Lung Street will be paved with granite stones. The street will feature designated pick-up and drop-off points, signboards, and electronic information boards. The greenery and lighting system will also be renovated and replaced to harmonize with the surrounding landscape.

The existing road will be narrowed, and the sidewalks on both sides will be widened by an average of 5 meters each. Additionally, the businesses along Thai Van Lung Street will be rearranged, incorporating auxiliary facilities and iconic, artistic elements.

Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Transportation plans to maintain the current traffic organization, except on Saturdays and Sundays, when the street will be converted into a pedestrian zone from 7 PM to 11 PM.