The Vibrant Saigon River: Unveiling Ho Chi Minh City’s Riverside Renaissance

Ho Chi Minh City: A Vision for the Future

With the approved plan, Ho Chi Minh City envisions becoming a global city by 2060, known for its civility, modernity, and compassion. The city aims to match the development level of major cities worldwide and serve as Asia’s economic, financial, and service hub. As a growth pole and driving force, it will propel the southern region and the entire country forward.

The city’s urban development goals focus on fostering creativity and high interactivity, coupled with knowledge-based and high-tech economic growth, to enhance socio-economic development. Forming dynamic zones will enhance the city’s role as a regional and national growth center.

Ho Chi Minh City will serve as a vital transportation and digital infrastructure hub in the Southeast region, nationally and internationally. It will be a regional link and a multimodal transport hub for the Southern Key Economic Region. The city also holds a strategically important position regarding national defense and security in the Eastern Southern region and the entire country.

The adjusted master plan for Ho Chi Minh City, with a vision towards 2060, forecasts a population of 11-13.7 million by 2030 and 14-16.5 million by 2040.

In terms of spatial development orientation, the city will adopt a multi-center urban model, forming multifunctional urban subdivisions with key areas focusing on finance, commerce, tourism, culture, sports, research, education, and high-tech production. This approach will boost interactivity in socio-economic activities and foster interconnected development.

Urban space development will be closely linked to the establishment of a public transport system, providing convenient connections to the national and international transportation network, thus creating urban economic development corridors.

The city’s spatial structure will comprise six subdivisions: the central subdivision and the eastern, western, northern, southern, and southeastern subdivisions. Each subdivision will be multifunctional, associated with key development areas that serve as regional, national, and international centers, offering high-quality employment opportunities and living environments. The organization of space within these subdivisions will be closely tied to the public transport system.

Regarding spatial axes and development corridors, the plan inherits the content of the adjusted master plan for Ho Chi Minh City’s construction until 2025, continuing the city’s development in four directions: east, south towards the sea, northwest, and west-southwest. Additionally, the plan proposes the development of spatial axes, including four north-south axes and five east-west axes, and the formation of new development corridors along the Saigon River and the coastal economic zone.

The development along the Saigon River will transform the riverfront into the city’s prime urban space. The traditional riverfront areas will be developed into a unique, central urban destination, showcasing the city’s distinct character and integrating the river’s landscape with its historical formation. A public park strip will be established along the river, featuring a continuous bike and pedestrian path connecting various urban spaces and ensuring access to riverfront amenities and services.

As for the coastal economic zone, the plan involves organizing an inter-regional transportation system, connecting the city’s southern coastal areas with neighboring provinces and linking key maritime economic centers such as the international transshipment port, coastal urban tourism, technology, and eco-tourism areas, as well as the Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve.