Ho Chi Minh City has unveiled a large-scale redevelopment plan to transform the entire waterfront zone along the Saigon River that runs through the city’s heart. The target area covers about 73.3 hectares of waterfront and water surface, including the Bach Dang Wharf that’s familiar to tourists. The total project cost reaches about 29.32 trillion dong (about US$1.1 billion; at roughly 158 yen to the dollar as of June 2026, about 174 billion yen). Under the concept, the road running along the riverbank is put underground, while a river park and cultural facilities spread out at ground level. Construction is set to begin in Q3 2026, with completion expected in Q2 2029. This plan, which will reshape over four years the waterfront that is the gateway to Saigon sightseeing, is directly relevant to Japanese travelers who walk along the river or ride the water bus.
The gist of the plan
The core of the plan is a swap of ideas: put space for cars underground and space for people at ground level. Part of the section of Ton Duc Thang Street that runs in front of Bach Dang Wharf will be put underground, and commercial facilities and parking will be housed in that underground space. In the space freed up at ground level, a promenade with greenery spreads out, and the piers for the water bus and sightseeing cruises will be redeveloped.
The redevelopment area is broadly divided into two. One is the downstream Nha Rong–Khanh Hoi district, where a riverside cultural park, an exhibition and event space renovated from the former Saigon Port headquarters, and a museum facility recreating a historic ship are planned. The other is the central Bach Dang Wharf, which will be remade—centered on greenery and an expanded embankment—into a waterfront where people can linger. Ben Nha Rong Tourist Service Company has stepped forward as the investing entity.
Why now—the current state of Bach Dang
Bach Dang Wharf is a classic Saigon sightseeing spot within walking distance of Ben Thanh Market, the Saigon Cathedral, and the Opera House. A statue of the 13th-century hero Tran Hung Dao overlooks the river, and an old flagpole built by the French in 1865 also remains. At dusk, Landmark 81 and Bitexco Tower on the opposite bank reflect on the water, and it bustles with people watching the sunset, coffee in hand, at riverside cafés.
On the other hand, this area has long drawn complaints that it’s split by roadway and hard to walk out to the water’s edge. Behind the city’s move to redevelop lies an absolute shortage of green space. By figures the city presented, park area per resident is a mere 0.7 square meters or so. It’s a strikingly low level even compared with the world’s major cities, meaning residents can’t sufficiently enjoy the river, the city’s greatest asset. This plan can be called an attempt to change this waterfront from a “place to pass through” into a “place to spend time.”
Scale and schedule
Here’s a summary of the figures that could be confirmed in the main sources. Items that couldn’t be confirmed are not listed.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Target area | About 73.3 hectares (land + water surface) |
| Total project cost | About 29.32 trillion dong (about US$1.1 billion / about 174 billion yen) |
| Road to be put underground | Part of Ton Duc Thang Street near Bach Dang Wharf |
| What will be built underground | Commercial facilities and parking |
| What will be built at ground level | River park, greenery, cultural facilities, piers |
| Related roads | Nguyen Tat Thanh Street widened to 8–10 lanes (an underpass at the Hoang Dieu intersection) |
| Related bridges | New Thanh Tuan 1 Bridge (6 lanes) built; Thanh Tuan 2 Bridge widened to 8 lanes |
| Construction period | Q3 2026–Q2 2029 |
The project cost breaks down into about 19 trillion dong from land use and about 10 trillion dong from the city’s budget. A public-private partnership (PPP) framework is envisioned, in which investors front the construction costs and the city pays later.
The response—expectations and requests
The direction of opening the waterfront to residents has drawn broadly positive reactions. Residents welcome being able to reach the riverside without being blocked by roadway. As a place for daily walks, jogging, and evening cool-off, the significance of a large green space arising in the city center is not small.
Urban planning experts view the method of housing cars and commerce underground and handing the ground level to pedestrians as a realistic solution that uses limited land three-dimensionally. The city side, too, sees significance in being able to meet parking and commercial demand while holding down the volume of buildings covering the ground.
At the same time, there are requests. How far can underground commercial facilities coexist without undermining the waterfront’s public nature, and how to hold down the impact on traffic and scenery during the four-year construction period—these points are noted as challenges for making the plan fruitful. A perspective on how to preserve and make use of historic port architecture and monuments is also essential.
Takeaways for Japanese travelers
There’s much to look forward to once it’s completed. If the waterfront—now split by roadway—is connected as a continuous promenade seamless from Ben Thanh Market and the Opera House, the walkability of Saigon sightseeing will rise a notch. With the piers in place, transferring to the water bus and cruises will go smoothly, making it easier to structure a day like “shop at the market → stroll the waterfront → cross to the opposite bank by boat.” Cultural facilities and a museum making use of the former Saigon Port look set to become new stops to touch the city’s modern history.
On the other hand, if you visit Saigon during the construction period (late 2026 to early 2029), keep in mind that there may be partial traffic restrictions and scenic limitations around Bach Dang. As construction proceeds on Ton Duc Thang Street and related roads, parts of the riverside may be temporarily closed. There are two ways to enjoy it: wait for completion from 2029 on, or find seeing the “work in progress” an interesting travel record in itself.
Ripple effects on the city and tourism
This redevelopment doesn’t stop at a one-off park project. The move to raise the waterfront’s appeal with the Saigon River as its axis lifts the value of water transport such as the water bus and river cruises, expanding tourists’ routes beyond just land to the waterways as well. If the widening of Nguyen Tat Thanh Street and the construction and widening of bridges proceed at the same time, the congestion-prone central traffic will also gradually be sorted out. It’s also a step toward filling the park shortage of 0.7 square meters per resident, and can be called an investment that lifts the city’s quality on both the living and tourism fronts. Just as cities around the world, including Kyoto, have worked on regenerating their riverbanks, Saigon too is trying to steer from a “city that turns its back on the river” toward a “city that opens to the river.”
Practical information—how to enjoy the current waterfront
工事が本格化する前の今こそ、現在のバクダン埠頭を味わっておきたい。中心部のウォーターバス起点はバクダン船着き場で、ベンタイン市場やグエンフエ通り(歩行者天国)から徒歩圏内にある。ウォーターバスの運賃は片道15,000ドン、往復30,000ドン(約180円)ほどで、ランドマーク81やサイゴン橋を眺めながら川を上下する手軽な川クルーズとして人気だ。便数は限られるため、乗船前に当日の時刻を確認しておくとよい。
A waterfront stroll is pleasant from evening into night when the heat eases. The dry season, December to April, has stable weather and is comfortable to spend outdoors. Local-chain cafés line the river, where you can take a breather while viewing the sunset or night scenery. Walking the current simple waterfront while imagining its completed form is also a treat.
Summary
The Bach Dang waterfront redevelopment is a bold plan—about 73.3 hectares and about 29.32 trillion dong—that rearranges cars underground and people at ground level. After completion in 2029, the waterfront that is the face of Saigon will be reborn as a continuous space you can enjoy on foot. Some constraints are expected for travel during the construction period, but including that, being able to watch up close the process of the city opening to the river is an experience available only now. If you next visit Saigon, be sure to see the changing waterfront with your own eyes.
Frequently asked questions
Q. When will the Bach Dang waterfront redevelopment be completed?
A. Construction is set to begin in Q3 2026, with completion expected in Q2 2029. After completion, the riverbank road will be put underground, and a river park and piers will be developed at ground level.
Q. Can you still visit Bach Dang Wharf during the construction period?
A. The detailed restrictions will be judged once announced, but as construction proceeds on Ton Duc Thang Street and elsewhere, there may be traffic restrictions and scenic limitations along parts of the river. We recommend checking the latest local information before visiting.
Q. How can you enjoy the current Bach Dang Wharf?
A. Staples are a mini-cruise around the Saigon River by water bus (15,000 dong one way) and sunset and night-view watching at riverside cafés. It’s within walking distance of Ben Thanh Market and the Opera House, and the evening onward is a comfortable time to spend.
Related reading
- Three Vietnamese sights make Asia’s popular-spot list—rethinking the standard route
- A secret bomb shelter remaining in an old Saigon café — the wartime history of Cà Phê Đỗ Phủ
- Seats sunk into a pond where carp swim, foreign customers flock to Saigon's oasis café
Source:
