The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction has proposed a VND2.95 trillion (USD112 million) project to widen Nguyen Tat Thanh Street and construct a new Tan Thuan 1 Bridge, aimed at reducing congestion and supporting the redevelopment of the Ben Nha Rong riverside area into a public cultural space. The proposal follows the city’s decision to cancel earlier residential projects on a 32-hectare site along the Saigon River in favor of creating a park and cultural precinct.
The project covers a 2.5 km stretch from Khanh Hoi Bridge to Tan Thuan Bridge, expanding the existing four-lane road to six to eight lanes. Plans also include building a four-lane underpass at the Hoang Dieu intersection and replacing the current Tan Thuan 1 Bridge, which has been operational for over 120 years. The Department of Finance has been tasked with arranging funds for the preparation phase, while the Department of Planning–Architecture will organize an architectural design competition to ensure the upgraded works align with surrounding riverfront developments.
Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, built before 1975, runs along the Saigon River connecting the former Districts 4 and 7. Despite past upgrades in 1992, the corridor remains one of the city’s most congested due to limited capacity and growing urban traffic. The new project forms part of Ho Chi Minh City’s broader urban redevelopment and transport improvement initiatives along the Saigon River.