Flooding Delays Ho Chi Minh City Expressway: What’s the Construction Department’s Response?

Highway Delays Due to Land Acquisition Issues

Mr. Hoàng Phúc Dũng, Deputy Head of Technical Infrastructure Department at the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, stated that two projects are currently underway on the HCMC – Long Thành Expressway. The section from An Phú to Ring Road 2, managed by the City’s Transport Board, is expanding from 4 to 8 lanes within the existing land area. Construction is expected to begin before November 5, 2025.

The extension from Ring Road 2 to National Highway 51 (Đồng Nai Province), led by the Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC), involves significant land clearance. According to Mr. Dũng, delays in handing over cleared land are directly impacting the overall timeline.

“The City’s Compensation and Land Clearance Board has signed a contract with VEC and is progressing on schedule. The city is urging the earliest possible handover of all cleared land,” Mr. Dũng added.

Flood Control for the Emerging Megacity

Regarding flood management as HCMC expands its administrative boundaries following mergers with Bình Dương and Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu, the HCMC Department of Construction representative noted that the city is updating its drainage system planning to finalize the Flood Control and Wastewater Treatment Plan for 2025–2045.

The city is simultaneously implementing key projects: the Tidal Flood Control Project (Phase 1), the Tham Lương – Bến Cát – Rạch Nước Lên Canal Environmental Improvement Project, the West Saigon Basin Drainage System Upgrade, and renovations of Xuyên Tâm Canal, Hy Vọng Canal, Văn Thánh Canal, Xóm Củi Canal, and Bà Lớn Canal.

“Post-merger, the urban scale has expanded, requiring interconnected regional drainage infrastructure rather than isolated solutions. Collaboration among provinces in the Southern Key Economic Region will determine long-term flood control success,” Mr. Dũng emphasized.

Increasing Complexity of Tidal Flooding

According to the HCMC Department of Construction, the city has completed and operationalized several tidal control gates, including Bình Lợi – Bình Triệu – Rạch Lăng, Nhiêu Lộc – Thị Nghè, Rạch Nhảy – Ruột Ngựa, five gates in Thủ Đức District, Ba Thôn Gate, and Đá Hàn Gate. These measures significantly reduced flooding during the recent peak tide of +1.82m on October 24.

However, heavy rain combined with high tides still caused severe flooding in low-lying areas such as Thanh Đa – Bình Quới, Trần Xuân Soạn, Huỳnh Tấn Phát, and Phạm Hữu Lầu. In Thanh Đa, water overflowed embankments, submerging homes in areas where ground levels were only +0.5m above the tide. The city is urgently implementing the Thanh Đa Peninsula Erosion Control Project and upgrading the Trần Xuân Soạn drainage system to address these issues.

Regarding concerns about idle construction cranes posing safety risks, Mr. Hoàng Phúc Dũng confirmed: Under HCMC’s Decision 07/2023, projects halted for over 12 months must dismantle or lower cranes and conduct regular safety inspections. Violators face fines up to 80 million VND and mandatory equipment re-inspection.

Real Estate Risks from Illegal Deposits

According to the HCMC Department of Construction, in the first nine months of 2025, post-merger HCMC developed nearly 14 million m² of new housing, achieving 94% of the annual target. Luxury properties are trending upward, while social housing initiatives are boosting supply.

In response to developers illegally raising funds through “placeholding deposits,” the HCMC Department of Construction issued a directive requiring real estate firms to transact only for legally compliant projects. Violations will be inspected and penalized.

“We urge residents to purchase only from projects with fully disclosed legal documentation to avoid disputes,” Mr. Dũng advised.