Prime Minister Le Minh Hung inspected two major infrastructure projects in Ho Chi Minh City on the afternoon of October 13 during a working trip to the southern metropolis. He reviewed construction progress and obstacles requiring urgent resolution.
The projects are the Tham Luong–Ben Cat–Nuoc Len Canal infrastructure and environmental improvement project and the project to combat tidal flooding in Ho Chi Minh City with climate change considerations. At the sites, the Prime Minister heard reports on project progress, construction obstacles and issues requiring attention in the coming period.
The canal project is one of the city's infrastructure works. The municipal People's Committee approved it in 2022 and adjusted it in 2025. Total investment exceeds 9.03 trillion VND (348.46 million USD), and implementation is scheduled for 2021 to 2026.
Construction began on February 23, 2023, with 10 packages. About 80% of the workload is complete and disbursement has reached approximately 75%. Work covers roads, pavements, canal embankments and road surfacing. About 62km of embankments have been completed, while 48km of roads along both sides of the canals have opened to traffic. The project is expected to improve the environment, mitigate flooding, upgrade the urban landscape and strengthen transport connections between Ho Chi Minh City and neighbouring localities, including Tay Ninh and Dong Nai.
The first phase of the tidal flood-control project, with total investment of 10 trillion VND, is approximately 95% complete. Around 1,500 workers have been mobilised to accelerate construction, with handover scheduled for November.
The project covers a 570sq.km area on the right bank of the Saigon River and in the city centre, home to around 6.5 million people. Launched in 2016 under a build-transfer (BT) arrangement, it comprises six major tidal-control sluice gates, an embankment system along the Saigon River and auxiliary facilities. It also includes approximately 7.8km of embankments and riverbank protection between Vam Thuat and Song Kinh, and smaller sluice gates measuring 1–10 metres wide from Vam Thuat to Muong Chuoi.
The central management facility and SCADA system have also been completed. The system enables centralised operation, collects and monitors water-level and rainfall data, controls sluice gates and pumping stations, and supports warnings and waterway traffic coordination.
Originally scheduled for completion in 2018, the project has suffered repeated delays due to legal obstacles and difficulties in arranging payments to the investor. Competent authorities have introduced policies and mechanisms including Government Resolutions No. 16/2026/NQ-CP and No. 212/NQ-CP, National Assembly Resolution No. 260/2025/QH15 and Government Decree No. 257/2025/ND-CP.
Sources: VietnamPlus
Sources: VietnamPlus / Vietnam News Agency
