Development - Saigoneer

New Proposal Plans Metro Line Linking Long Thành Airport, Thủ Thiêm

2024-10-22T12:00:00+07:00

Let the paperwork begin!

The Ministry of Transportation is seeking feedback on a proposal for a VND484.7 trillion (US$3.42 billion) railway line that would span nearly 42 kilometers to link the currently under-construction Long Thành International Aiport in Đồng Nai with Thủ Thiêm in Saigon.

Local authorities and other agencies are being asked to offer input on the urgency of the project, proposed route, land use and needs, funding, station connectivity and site clearance solutions according to VnExpress. A group of Korean consultants will review the pre-feasibility report prepared by Vietnamese consultants.

The proposed line's 41.8-kilometer main route (11.7 kilometers in Saigon and 30.08 kilometers in Đồng Nai) will be approximately two-thirds above ground and one-third via tunnels. There will be 16 elevated stations and four below ground while an additional 4.4 kilometers of track will be constructed for depot access.

Construction could start in 2026 and the project would become operational by the beginning in 2030. Expanding in phases, the line will utilize nine four-car trains by 2035, 28 trains between 2045 and 2055, and finally 31 six-car trains by 2055. At its peak, it will be able to carry 30,000 to 40,000 passengers per hour in each direction. The cars will reach speeds of up to 110km/h on the main route and 80km/h in tunnels.

A budget of more than US$3.4 billion has been set for the proposed project. Over VND58.6 trillion (US$2.39 billion) is expected to come from the state budget and VND26.1 trillion (US$1.06 billion) provided by Offical Development Assistance (ODA) loans. Included in the costs is VND5.5 trillion (US$221.4 million) for site clearance and compensation affecting an estimated 140 hectares of land from 302 households.

The plan aims to reduce expected traffic to the new airport which is scheduled to open in 2026 and can currently only be accessed via the already-congested Long Thành-Dầu Giây Expressway. The project aligns with the bevy of other rail projects currently planned for or being constructed in southern Vietnam, including eight Saigon metro lines, and the Bình Hòa-Vũng Tàu Railway.

[Graphic by Đăng Hiếu via VnExpress]

Saigon Metro Line 1 Announces July Launch Date, Free Rides in Phase 1

2024-04-03T15:00:00+07:00

Will 2024 be the auspicious year when our legs could finally step on the metro platform for the first time?

On April 1, the Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) published a new plan detailing the expected operation of Saigon’s first and only metro line, Line 1. Contrary to conflicting rumors over the past months, MAUR revealed that Metro Line 1 will take its maiden voyage in July 2024.

According to Tuổi Trẻ, which reported on the updated plan, Line 1 will first undergo a “soft opening” running period free of charge to familiarize city residents with its existence before officially going into commercial operation in 2025.

Specifically, in Phase 1, which spans July 1–September 30, the line will employ seven three-car trains running from 5am to 10pm at a frequency of one arrival per 10 minutes.

In Phase 2, which spans October 1 to December 31, the line will increase to 12 three-car trains running from 5am to 10:30pm at 8–10 minutes per arrival during weekdays and nine trains during weekends and public holidays.

After that, in 2025, it’s expected that Metro Line 1 will amp up its service in accordance with designed specifications: 15 trains at 8 minutes per train during non-peak hours and 4.5 minutes per train during peak hours. Train services will be available from 5am to 11:30pm.

Last month, a MAUR report to the municipal People’s Committee sparked controversy amongst locals as it revealed that the launch date Metro Line 1 was once again delayed to Q4 2024, though the project director has since clarified that the report only includes the “most conservative” timeline.

Progress reports from MAUR put the long-awaited subway line’s completion rate at 98% with the remaining tasks including personnel training, fire safety assessment, and other quality assurance checks.

Hanoi Is Not Building Dragon-Inspired Longest Structure in the World, Official Says

2022-09-08T16:00:00+07:00

A 700,000-square-meter dragon-shaped building will remain a futuristic fantasy in the capital's Tây Hồ area, but it might be fun to indulge in its flashy design for a moment. The structure, meant to house central ministries and supporting branches, was once submitted to Hanoi officials to be considered for a revamp competition.

Dragon Tower imagined at night.

Dreamed up by UAE-based Dewan Architects + Engineers in coordination with TTA, the Dragon Tower draws inspiration from Sa Pa's terraced rice fields and Nha Trang's Cô Tiên Mountain with elevated offices in the shape of a dragon and a reservoir that floods during the city's rainy season. The dragon's rising head in the form of the area's highest tower would serve as a grand entrance for ministers, dignitaries and foreign guests. With connections to the city's rail system, the design plan also contains shops, restaurants and public spaces, including a nursery, library, and a learning center.

Detailed plans of the project.

Despite it catching the attention of netizens on the heels of a gold medal for mixed-media design at the recent 2022 Global Architecture & Design Awards, Hanoi authorities confirmed that there's no plan to turn this into a reality. Trần Ngọc Chính, Chairman of the Vietnam Urban Development Planning Association as well as head of the selection committee for an urban-planning contest for the ministries, clarified that the Dragon Tower was one of 15 proposals put forth during a 2021 competition to decide the new design for the central ministries headquarters, but it did not advance beyond the first round of considerations for numerous reasons. According to Chính, the committee determined that a dragon design does not properly symbolize the area; no one in Vietnam builds structures of that length; and it does not respond to the region's climate, or adequately consider energy needs.

The elevated "body" for flexible ministry and commercial use.

Chairman Chính noted that while the designers of the plan can do with it what they please, including entering it in global contests, he wants to make clear that it is not suitable for Hanoi and not under construction. He stressed that media outlets should be careful in how they describe the plan so as not to give readers the wrong impression. Architecture experts have also cautioned against placing importance on contests that are often nothing more than paid advertising operations with no foundations in architectural integrity or knowledge.

The head of the dragon rising into a sky it will never take a breath from.

While the grandiose building is nothing more than concept art at this point, it's interesting to imagine its existence, alongside other ill-fated ideas like West Lake's floating opera house.

[Images via Archdaily]

Hanoi Unveils Design for New Floating Opera House Near West Lake

2022-07-15T14:00:00+07:00

Hanoi is planning to build a 13,000 square-meter floating theater near West Lake with a capacity of around 3,500 seats.

According to Tuổi Trẻ, the structure will be the crown jewel of an urban planning project on the Quảng An Peninsula that will include green spaces, a cultural theme park, hotels, commercial spaces and entertainment areas. The entire project is planned to extend across 77 hectares of land, bordering Xuân Diệu Street in the north, Thủy Sứ Lake in the northwest, and West Lake in the southwest.

A rendering of the urban planning project via VnExpress.

The new opera house will serve as an art performance space and a venue for cultural and political events. Nguyễn Lê Hoàng, Tây Hồ District's deputy chairman, assured residents that the theater is designed to float on Đầm Trị Lake and would not intrude on West Lake itself. Italian architect Renzo Piano, who has managed projects like The Shard in London and Parliament House in Valletta, Malta, is set to design the building.

The Tây Hồ District People's Committee is now gathering public opinions on the plan. Four posters have been hung around Quảng An and there will be a conference to collect impressions from the residential community directly affected by the project.

[Top image via Xây Dựng]

At Thủ Thiêm 2 Bridge's Launch, Exuberance and Selfies Galore

2022-05-10T18:00:00+07:00

After seven years under construction, the Thủ Thiêm 2 Bridge officially opened for traffic at 5pm, April 28. This was a much-anticipated project for Saigoneers, with over VND3.1 trillion in investment — the most of the city’s existing bridges at the time of writing.

The bridge spans 1.5 kilometers, featuring six lanes and two pedestrian paths. It crosses the Saigon River to link downtown District 1 and Thủ Đức City.

The existence of Thủ Thiêm 2 is expected to spur the development of the Thủ Thiêm Peninsula and relieve traffic pressure on other urban arteries connecting the rest of the city to Thủ Thiêm.

Work on the Thủ Thiêm 2 Bridge officially commenced in February 2015, slated for a completion date in 2018, but like most public infrastructure projects in metropolitan Saigon, it was bogged down by numerous site clearance issues.

At Saigoneer, we remember October 2017 like it was yesterday, when it was announced that 258 heritage trees on Tôn Đức Thắng Avenue were to be axed or relocated to make space for Thủ Thiêm 2’s connecting ramps. The news evoked palpable sadness among city residents, many of whom had grown up with these rows of green giants.

Tuổi Trẻ reports that construction of the bridge dragged on until a halt in August 2020 due to troubles with land clearance. It wasn't until April 2021 that much of the red tape was dealt with, and the two sides were eventually connected in September the same year.

During Saigoneer’s visit to the site at launch, we saw throngs of eager urbanites standing by while the final barricades were being removed. Many waited two hours (and seven years!) hoping to be the first people in town to enjoy a rare sunset view on the bridge.

And eventually, when the lanes were cleared, Thủ Thiêm 2 welcomed a cascade of excited commuters driving on its fresh asphalt for the first time — couples on bikes, older Saigoneers taking a stroll, and even kids perched atop their fathers’ shoulders. Some waved at our photographer.

Immerse in the ambiance through a few shots from the bridge opening captured by Saigoneer. Let’s look forward to the eventual appearance of Thủ Thiêm 3 and 4 in the future.

FLC Group to Help Build $5bn Railway From Vientiane to Hà Tĩnh

2022-03-23T13:00:00+07:00

All aboard!

VnExpress reports that FLC Group, the conglomerate which operates a string of resorts across Vietnam as well as Bamboo Airways, has signed on to help build a US$5 billion rail line between Vientiane, Laos and Vũng Áng Port in Hà Tĩnh Province.

The route, which will span 555 kilometers, includes a 103-kilometer-long section in Vietnam, which FLC will be responsible for. The Petroleum Trading Lao Public Company, Laos' top fuel distributor, will handle the rest of the project in Vietnam's neighbor. Work on the project could begin as soon as this November, though no timeline for completion has been announced.

Discussion of a rail line linking landlocked Laos to Vietnam's coast goes back at least as far as 2015, with planners aiming to increase trade links from Laos and northern Thailand through Vũng Áng.

At a ceremony to announce the agreement in Vientiane, representatives from FLC Group also asked the Laos government to create favorable conditions for the corporation to invest in tourism, aviation and mining projects there.

Enormous 'City Within a City' Planned for An Phú, Thủ Đức City

2022-03-18T10:00:00+07:00

It will feature a wide range of building styles and features.

Masterise Homes, the prominent Saigon-based real estate developer, announced this week that it has appointed Foster + Partners, the United Kingdom's largest architecture firm, to advise the development of an enormous project called The Global City.

According to a press release, the 117.4-hectare development will include high- and low-rise apartments, villas, social housing, schools, medical facilities, a shopping mall and a host of other amenities. The "city within a city" would be located in An Phú Ward and replaces a previous project called Sài Gòn Bình An township.

CNN adds that the development will be centered on a "spine" of trees and greenery and flanked by two waterways, with five distinct neighborhoods linked by a central park.

Toby Blunt, a senior partner at Foster + Partners, was quoted in the press release as saying: "The ambition and scale of the project is striking...This will be our first township in Vietnam, and we are excited to extend our footprint in the country."

According to Masterise, construction will take just 48 months, though it is not clear when work will begin or how much the massive project will cost.

Masterise is currently developing a number of major residential projects in Saigon, perhaps most noticeably the Ba Son area in District 1.

Foster + Partners was founded by famed British architect Norman Foster and is known for designing distinct buildings like the Hearst Tower in New York City and "The Gherkin" in London.

[Top image: a rendering of The Global City by Foster + Partners]

After Years of Delay, Operating Company of Saigon's 1st Metro Line Is Broke

2022-03-13T11:00:00+07:00

Years of delay, which has been further compounded by the extended pandemic, have depleted the funding for Saigon Metro's operator.

VnExpress reports that HCMC Urban Railway Company No. 1 (HURC1), the state-owned company which will operate the city's first metro line when it opens, has run out of money.

HURC1 was established in 2015 with charter capital of US$613,000 to buy office equipment. Since the company would not have any operating revenue until the Bến Thành-Suối Tiên line opens, Saigon would have to provide an operating budget from its own coffers.

This arrangement was made with the expectation that the metro line would open in 2018, but four years later, the route is still a long way off from being operational. Its budget has grown to US$1.89 billion, and while it is not clear how much has been spent to keep HURC1 running, the company currently has no funds.

One of its most important tasks is to train future metro train drivers, an activity it can't afford. It is estimated that HURC1 will need roughly 700 employees once the line opens, but at the moment it only has 15. It remains to be seen how this issue will be resolved, as the Ministry of Planning and Investment will not allow city officials to increase HURCI's charter capital to cover costs.

The Bến Thành-Suối Tiên metro line is roughly 90% complete, with a public opening expected in late 2023 after years of delays.

[Photo: A metro station under construction in 2017]

Four Designs for New Trần Hưng Đạo Bridge Up for Voting

2022-03-04T14:00:00+07:00

Throughout the month of March, Hanoians can see and vote on four design options for the new Trần Hưng Đạo Bridge before the city makes a final decision.

According to VnExpress, the city opened a design contest for the Trần Hưng Đạo Bridge in November last year, after the first proposed design drew controversy. Twenty designs were submitted, out of which the city chose three winners to be displayed, along with the original proposed design.

First Place: A Tribute to Eternal Prosperity

The first prize was awarded to design plan THD12, a steel arch bridge design. The arches are inspired by the infinity sign, a wish for never-ending wealth. Aside from vehicle lanes, the design also incorporates bicycle paths and sidewalks.

The Nguyễn Khoái interchange.

The Long Biên connection point.

Second Place: The Asian Dragon

The second prize goes to plan THD18, another steel arch design with permanent concrete abutments. This bridge has five arches, and the design team said that they modeled their arches after dragon motifs from the Trần Dynasty. The arches will also have an RGBW light system which can shine in multiplw colors at night.

Third Place: A Bridge of History

The third place belongs to design THD07, a cable-stayed bridge. This design has five towers, each carved with patterns from a different time of history: the Lý, Trần, Lê, Nguyễn dynasties, and the modern era. The bridge will have six lanes and an LED lighting system.

Proposed Design: Indochina Style

This is the original proposed design, which drew backlash last year. The designer attempted to combine contemporary culture and the ancient beauty of Hanoi. But the style has been criticized as a “forced imitation, lumping together elements of Middle Ages Europe.”

The estimated budget for Trần Hưng Đạo Bridge is around VND9 trillion. All of these potential designs are on display at 93 Đinh Tiên Hoàng Street, Hoàn Kiếm District.

[Photos via Zing News]

US Investors Reportedly Eye Disneyland, Universal Studios in Vietnam

2022-02-21T14:00:00+07:00

A group of American investors expressed interests in to building a Disneyland in Saigon, a Universal Studios in Hanoi and a SeaWorld in Khánh Hòa Province.

Tuoi Tre reports that Johnathan Hạnh Nguyễn, the chairman of Imex Pan Pacific Group (IPPG) and one of Vietnam's most influential businesspeople, told attendees of a recent event that American investors have proposed three high-profile amusement park projects in the country.

The event, held last Thursday, was organized by Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper and focused on potential ways to encourage further economic breakthroughs for both Saigon and Vietnam as a whole. During a presentation, Nguyễn said he has spoken to a group of American investors who want to build a Disneyland in Saigon, a Universal Studios in Hanoi and a SeaWorld in Khánh Hòa Province.

These proposals are part of a financial center master plan that Nguyễn has been working on since 2016, while an American consulting unit is expected to come up with a more detailed proposition for the three parks and the broader financial center. According to the news source, Nguyễn said that if approved, American investors would spend US$4 billion in Đà Nẵng and US$6 billion in Saigon for related projects, though it is not clear whether the amusement parks are included in this cost.

He added that the unnamed investors estimate that a Disneyland in Saigon and Universal Studios in Hanoi would draw in 25 million tourists each annually, while SeaWorld would attract 20 million people every year. An overall plan for the financial center and the amusement parks is expected to be completed for submission to the government in April.

Globally, there are five Disneyland properties, in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Anaheim and Paris. Universal Studios, meanwhile, is present in Hollywood, Orlando, Osaka, Singapore and Beijing.

SeaWorld currently has locations in San Diego, Orlando, San Antonio and Abu Dhabi, and has been criticized for years for their handling of animals, and especially their treatment of orcas following the release of the 2013 documentary Blackfish. Following that controversy, SeaWorld announced that they would eventually phase out orca shows, but as of 2020 they were still introducing new entertainment programs featuring the wondrous, highly intelligent animals.

[Photo: Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California/Brandi Alexandra via Unsplash]

PM Calls for Faster Progress on Long Thành International Airport

2022-02-07T16:12:23+07:00

During a visit to the site of the planned Long Thành International Airport in Dong Nai Province last week, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính expressed frustration with the slow progress of the project's necessary land clearance.

The Prime Minister shared his disappointment with several ministries, sectors and agencies involved in the progress of what will be the nation's largest international airport once completed, according to VnExpress. The aerodrome is expected to open in three stages, with the first phase beginning operations in 2025, but slow procedures are putting that timeframe into serious doubt.

Land clearance was set to be completed by this year, with entire communes already moved, but as of now, only 1,284 hectares have been cleared, with 525 hectares remaining to be taken care of. While acknowledging that this is a complicated project with many involved agencies and authorities that are working on numerous other projects, Chính stressed the need for greater resolve from the parties involved. "Related agencies must clearly discuss current progress and divide responsibilities in order to speed up the project. Those who can do it must be determined and implement it; those who can't, stand aside," he said, according to local media.

Chính further noted that groups involved needed to coordinate better and have stronger management to reduce corruption in various bidding processes for elements of the project. He tasked the head of the People’s Committee of Dong Nai with speeding up the ground clearance and ensuring the quality of resettlement areas.

Reuters had previously reported that former Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc explained at a groundbreaking event early last year: "The construction of the airport is an important step to boost public investment and reduce the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy."

When finished, the airport will have four runways and four terminals with a capacity of 100 million passengers and 5 million tons of cargo each year. The original budget was set at VND336.63 trillion (US$14.5 billion). The new airport is expected to largely serve international flights, while the wildly overburdened Tân Sơn Nhất 40 kilometers away will handle mostly domestic travelers.

A number of road and railway connections have been proposed for the new airport, but they remain on paper as well.

[Top image via Báo Điện tử Chính phủ]

Huge Tourism Complex Featuring Lotus-Shaped Island Proposed for Phú Quốc

2022-01-13T15:00:00+07:00

The most notable feature of Selavia, an "all-in-one" tourist destination, is a 180-hectare artificial island shaped like a lotus that will stretch into Phú Quốc's Đầm Bay and contain villas, boat docks, a massive pool and an outdoor recreation area.

TTC Group, a conglomerate with investments in real estate, energy, agriculture and hospitality, announced earlier this week that they are estimating total investment capital at over US$1.3 billion for the project that they are the main financiers of and contractors for.

Those with fond memories of the long-gone days when the island was a sleepy fishing village will be aghast at the sheer scope of the project. If built, Selavia will have 99 five-story commercial shophouses constituting a shopping and entertainment district with more than 100 brands, a 300-room hotel, 336 private villas, numerous restaurants and entertainment facilities spread over 290 hectares of land and sea, including the fabricated lotus island.

Image via Selavia.

While work has been ongoing behind the scenes for several years, the project was officially announced mid-2021, and TTC began issuing bonds to raise capital last fall. The entire complex will be completed in phases, with the shophouses set to be handed over to operators in fall 2022. No timeline for the lotus island's development has been given.

The lotus shape will surprise no one given the nation's penchant for proposing projects resembling the budding flower, such as the Bitexco Financial Tower, Long Thanh International Airport and a Hanoi cultural house. It also pops up on countless logos, including for Vietnam Airlines and Saigon's metro system. Orchid enthusiasts and tamarind stans will have to continue waiting.

While constructing artificial islands is nothing new, Selavia's calls to mind the most famous ones in Dubai: The Palm Islands, The World and The Universe. Those have fallen into various states of disrepair and stalled progress thanks to financial bubbles bursting and climate change. As Phú Quốc experiences a building boom, it is currently dealing with a massive garbage problem, flooding caused in part by rapid and unmitigated construction, and waters polluted with untreated waste thanks to inadequate infrastructure.

This article originally stated that the investment capital for the project was US$13.2 million. We regret the error.

[Top photo via VnExpress]

Saigon's Infamous 'Ghost Tower' Has a New Developer

2021-12-09T17:00:00+07:00

Saigon's most notorious ghost tower appears to have a new lease on life.

After the building has languished unfinished and exposed to the elements for a decade, Zing reports that the skyscraper where Ton Duc Thang and Ham Nghi meet has been renamed the IFC One Saigon and has a new owner, Viva Land.

Work on the building began all the way back in 2008, when it was called Saigon M&C Building. Construction stalled in 2010, and the structure has sat incomplete ever since, despite various sales and auctions to different real estate developers.

A rendering of the tower's new fate. Image via Viva Land.

The news source adds that Viva Land is a relative newcomer to the city, though it is developing four other prominent projects around town, and their website lists offices in Singapore and Hanoi, in addition to Saigon. The site also features a rendering of the finished IFC One tower.

The project is currently 80% complete, and it is not clear whether its years of exposure to rain have had a structural impact. Currently, construction workers are preparing the area around the base of the building for further work, but a timeline for completion has not been announced.

Thanh Nien further reports that when the tower was first announced in 2008, it was expected to be one of Saigon's most prestigious addresses, featuring 180 luxury apartments and high-end office space.

Given the limited information available regarding what to expect from the rebranded building, Saigoneers will just have to keep an eye out for progress when driving down Ton Duc Thang.

Transport Ministry Hopes to Begin Building Hanoi-Saigon High-Speed Rail in 2028

2021-11-03T15:00:00+07:00

We'll believe it when we see it.

VnExpress reports that the Ministry of Transport aims to begin construction of the proposed high-speed rail line connecting Saigon and Hanoi in 2028. The immensely ambitious project is still awaiting approval from the National Assembly and the Politburo.

If approved, work would begin later this decade on the sections from Hanoi to Vinh and Saigon to Nha Trang, with those two projects expected to cost US$4.9 billion.

The planned high-speed line would eventually stretch 1,545 kilometers, with trains reaching maximum speeds of 320km/h. Once completed, this route would service passengers, while the old national rail line would only be used for cargo movement.

A high-speed route linking Vietnam's two biggest cities has been under discussion since at least 2018, but its feasibility has been questioned given the ubiquity of fast, inexpensive air travel in the country and the enormous cost of the project, which could run as high as US$60 billion.

It is not known when the high-speed rail project will be taken up by the National Assembly or the Politburo for potential approval.

In traditional railway news, the transport ministry has also proposed a US$96 million project to upgrade the line between Lao Cai Station and China's Hekou North Station. Currently, goods being transported between China and Vietnam must be offloaded and moved onto another train, since the two countries use different gauges on their rail lines.

This upgrade would bring the line on Vietnam's side to the same gauge, thus improving transport efficiency and reducing costs.

[Photo: A high-speed train in Japan/Rikky Sama via Unplash]

Da Lat Forges Ahead on 10-Story Hotel Atop Governor's Palace Hill

2021-10-27T08:00:00+07:00

The ten-story luxury complex proposed to replace the historic Dinh Tỉnh Trưởng (Provincial Governor's Palace) will include hotels, conference halls, commercial areas, restaurants and botanical gardens as part of Lam Dong's ambitious tourism plans.

This week, the provincial Department of Construction submitted a document to the Lam Dong People's Committee to collect opinions from the Vietnam Architects Association regarding the design plan selected from several options they had been considering. Last year, the Lam Dong Department of Construction held a public exhibition from August 14 to September 14 to seek public opinion on three brand-new blueprints of what the đồi Dinh area could look like after redevelopment.

A mockup rendering of the project via EAI.

Eventually, the plan by France-based Espace Architecture International (EAI) led by Thierry Van De Wyngaert was picked for further discussion. Named "L'Hotel du Printemps" (The Hotel of Spring), this is the most daring of the three final options in terms of relocating Dinh Tỉnh Trưởng. It will raise the existing historical mansion 28 meters from its original location, in an attempt, they claim, to forefront the city's history and cultural heritage in the face of urban development. The other two only opt to build new structures around the old building.

A mockup rendering of the project via EAI.

The plans to revamp the Đồi Dinh area, first unveiled for public and expert feedback last year, have been met with criticism. Many claim that such large and modern structures are incongruent with Da Lat's peaceful, historic and nature-filled aesthetic. Dr. Nguyễn Mộng Sinh, former chairman of the Lam Dong Union of Science and Technology Associations, said: "Da Lat currently has a lot of tension regarding traffic and waste management; widespread concretization causes frequent flooding when it rains. Don’t complicate the situation with commercial complexes and malls."

Dinh Tỉnh Trưởng served as the residence for governors after its construction by the French in 1910. The three-story mansion was used to house the Lam Dong Museum from 1984 until 1996, when the museum was moved. It was subsequently abandoned and began to fall into a state of disrepair. Over the years, plans to restore it never came to fruition.

The current Dinh Tinh Truong. Photo via Zing.

The overhaul of Dinh tỉnh trưởng comes as part of the city's larger attempts to become a domestic and international tourism mecca as visitor numbers swell. Numerous other plans are being discussed or have been completed, including replacing the historic downtown theatre, building a golf course, as well as massive villa and hotel complexes and shopping malls. Da Lat already suffers from traffic woes as well as environmental concerns including greenhouse gas-caused climate change.

[Top image via EAI]

New Bridge Project Sparks Controversy Over 'Confusing' Indochina Design

2021-10-11T13:00:00+07:00

Tran Hung Dao Bridge, an upcoming project across the Red River, has recently received mixed reviews around its Indochina-inspired design.

According to Vietnam News, the future bridge is supposed to be a combination of contemporary culture and ancient beauty, starting from Tran Hung Dao Street (Hoan Kiem District) and linking Nguyen Van Linh Street (Long Bien District) with a total of six lanes for vehicles.

TEDI, the company behind the bridge’s design, wanted to encapsulate the idea of the flow of time, for the bridge is a link between the historical areas to the south of the Red River and the more recent ones in the north. The 5.5 kilometer-long bridge is also named after General Trần Hưng Đạo, one of the greatest military strategists in Vietnamese history.

However, the current bridge design, titled “Xứ Đông Dương” (The Land of Indochina), has been badly criticized by many professional architects. Trần Huy Ánh, a standing commissioner of the Hanoi Association of Architects, told Tuoi Tre that while other new bridges across the Red River have 11 meters of clearance over the river, the Tran Hung Dao Bridge is very low, just 4.75 meters above the water, making it difficult for ships and rafts to pass through.

In a statement sent to the Hanoi’s People Committee, the Vietnam Architects Association said that the bridge’s design does not resemble the Indochina style but a “forced imitation, lumping together elements of Middle Ages Europe.” The statement goes on to say that if the designers want to borrow from colonial architecture, they should only follow the core spirit of stability, poise and elegance.

Responding to the critical opinions, Director Nguyễn Trúc Anh of the Hanoi Department of Planning and Architecture said that this design is not the final approved version, but only a possible option. In the near future, the city will consider organizing an exhibition and collecting comments from citizens to either improve the current design or submit new ones.

[Image via VnExpress]

Major Upgrade Approved for Con Dao Airport

2021-08-19T11:06:26+07:00

Yay?

VnExpress reports that a major upgrade for Con Dao Airport has been approved by the Ministry of Transport.

Under the plan, the small airport's capacity will increase from 400,000 passengers per year to 2 million people annually by 2030. This will entail widening the current runway from 30 to 45 meters, allowing for jet aircraft such as the A319neo and A320neo to land at the facility, which can currently only handle turboprop planes.

Meanwhile, several taxiways will be built to connect with the expanded runway, along with a new apron which will accommodate eight aircraft, a new air traffic control tower and new beacon and lighting systems.

Currently, Con Dao Airport does not operate at night since there is no runway lighting system.

The aerodrome was built by the French during the colonial area and upgraded in 2003 for regular commercial use.

According to the news source, in 2019, 400,000 tourists visited Con Dao, up by 37% from 2018. Even in 2020, amid the pandemic, the airport handled 4.1% more passengers than the previous year - 447,750 in total. The expansion is expected to facilitate tourism growth in the archipelago, which is also home to key biodiversity and sea turtle nesting sites.

[Top photo via Nguoi Lao Dong.]

Hanoi to Spend VND500bn in New Plan to Renovate Old Apartment Buildings

2021-07-30T13:00:00+07:00

Between 2021 and 2025, Hanoi plans to spend VND500 billion (US$28.1 million) on inspecting and assessing the quality of old apartment buildings in the city.

Zing reports that the Hanoi People's Committee recently issued a plan to renovate many old apartment buildings in the city. The first priority is forming a Construction Department that will then carry out a master plan to inspect and categorize old apartments according to the criteria in Decree 69/2021.

The estimated budget for the inspection phase is approximately VND500 billion. Post-inspection period, the city will then develop and issue plans to renovate or rebuild as needed. In the rebuilding phase, there will be three ways of choosing investors: the owners pick for themselves, selection via auction, or the State will carry out the project with its budget.

As of 2020, there were over 1,500 old apartment buildings, mostly built between 1960 and 1994, in the capital. Units in these complexes can be as small as 30 square meters, housing 5–6 people in some cases. It is expected that the inspection will include 200–300 more buildings as it progresses.

HCMC Proposes Rail Link Between Tan Son Nhat, Long Thanh Airports

2021-06-21T13:00:00+07:00

This is part of the city's suggestions for the Vietnam Railway Authority's railway development plan for 2021-2030.

The Saigon Times reports that Ho Chi Minh City's government has proposed a study of the feasibility of connecting Tan Son Nhat International Airport with the planned Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai Province.

According to the proposal, this rail line would run from the existing airport along Pham Van Dong Street to the Trang Bom-Hoa Hung railway in Thu Duc City, and then connect to the planned Thu Thiem-Long Thanh light railway system.

City officials have also asked for the Ministry of Transport to study ways to link metro line 4b to Tan Son Nhat's two existing terminals and planned third terminal. However, extending this line would reportedly be difficult, and may require the creation of a new metro route that isn't currently included in Ho Chi Minh City's urban plan.

No estimated costs for these projects have been announced.

Meanwhile, road connectivity between the two airports is expected to be increased as well. The HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway will be expanded, while a new provincial road 25C will be developed over a length of 14 kilometers. HCMC and Dong Nai Province are also working to begin construction of the Cat Lai Bridge, which would replace the ferry of the same name and reduce travel time between the two localities.

The first phase of Long Thanh is scheduled for completion in 2025, but the project has been plagued by delays and rising costs.

[Top photo for illustration purposes only via Pxhere]

Hanoi Puts Finishing Touches to Get First Metro Line Running by End of April

2021-04-20T10:00:00+07:00

Fingers crossed!

VnExpress reports that the Cat Linh-Ha Dong Metro Line is expected to open to the public by the end of this month after years of delays.

Nguyễn Văn Thể, the Minister of Transport, told the news source that the ministry and the Hanoi People's Committee are making final adjustments based on recommendations from Apave-Certifier-Tricc, the French safety consultancy group hired to perform final safety checks on the route.

China Railways Sixth Group, the contractor that built the line, began handing over the project to local officials on March 31, a process that may take up to three weeks. As of this writing, there isn't an exact date for a potential opening, though some news sources reported that the city is aiming for an April 30 start.

As city residents await their first-ever metro ride, more details regarding its operations have also been released. It will run from 5am to 11pm daily, with trains arriving every six minutes and fares starting at VND7,000. During rush hours, trains will reach stations every two or three minutes.

While VND7,000 is the minimum fare for a trip, the cost for riding the whole route will be VND15,000, and a one-month pass will cost VND200,000. A ride from Cat Linh station to Ha Dong station through the line's 12 stations will take 25 minutes. For the first 15 days after the official launch, Hanoians can ride the metro for free, the management team announced.

Signs and other information will be in both Vietnamese and English, while each station includes an elevator for handicapped access. ATMs and food stalls will eventually be added to the stations, while city officials are also relocating 26 bus stops in order to improve connectivity between the metro and public buses.

[Photo via Asset.vn]