To awake the potential of Saigon River

Saigon River is one of the most important waterways in the agricultural economy, has been exploited by traders to maximize the advantages of traveling, transporting and exchanging goods. In recent years, leaders of Binh Duong province have repeatedly proposed inter-provincial and inter-regional cooperation in exploiting important advantages of Saigon River. At current, the potential and advantages of Saigon River are awoken, especially when the historic Binh Loi Railway Bridge is elevated for convenient and easy water transport.

Planning for the long term

Saigon River is 256 km long, originating from Loc Ninh district, Binh Phuoc province, passing through Binh Phuoc, Binh Duong and Ho Chi Minh City to the sea. Saigon River is associated with famous historical and revolutionary sites such as Cu Chi Tunnels, Iron Triangle, Lai Thieu Orchards... Saigon River is also a strategic waterway in economic development, convenient transportation of goods from neighboring provinces to industrial parks, ports for export and vice versa.

An Son container port is on an area of 30 ha, capable of receiving ships with a tonnage of up to 2,200 tons.  

Maximizing the advantages of Saigon River, Binh Duong Province planned the route along the river starting from Lai Thieu Ward, Thuan An Township to Dau Tieng District to facilitate economic development as well as serve as a dyke blocking floods at high tides; Further adaptation to climate change, sea level rise 50 years later.

At present, the route along Saigon River has gradually formed, besides An Son port, which is a general port with specialized warehouses with the ability to receive ships up to 2,200 tons. In this area, many modern restaurants and residential complexes have been built up, such as Phu Thinh Villa, Tiamo restaurant. In addition, the urban development plan of Thu Dau Mot to meet development needs of Binh Duong and share pressure on the road traffic system. In Bach Dang park (TDM City) was planned with waterway stations from Binh Duong to Ho Chi Minh City and vice versa, along with yacht, speed boat, parachute services. On the upstream side, An Dien, Rach Bap and riverside urban areas were designed and planned in line with the regional and international development momentum.

To awake the potential

To bring into full play the potential and great advantages of Saigon River, by the end of 2015, Ministry of Transport and People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and People's Committee of Binh Duong province carried out the groundbreaking ceremony of a project of renovation and upgrading the static height (up to 8 m) of Binh Loi Railway bridge, combining with dredging and expanding Saigon River channel from Binh Loi Railway bridge to Ben Suc port (Dau Tieng district, Binh Duong province), total length of 71km. This project is invested by Ministry of Transport in the form of BOT with the total capital of VND1,302 billion; of which Ho Chi Minh City supported VND156.3 billion for land clearance and resettlement, Binh Duong province provides interest-free loan of VND300 billion, commercial loan VND674 billion, the rest is equity owned by Do Thi Xanh Company (GUD) and STD Vietnam Construction and Investment JSC.

In 2018, Binh Duong province Department of Transportation continues to accelerate the implementation of the Government’s Resolution 19 / NQ-CP on tasks and solutions to improve business environment, improve competitiveness and Decision 318 / QD-TTg of the Prime Minister approving the development strategy of transport services up to 2020 with orientation to 2030 to develop the transport market in the direction of multimodal transport, connection and information technology application to reduce costs, facilitate traffic and freight. In the management of transport service, there was a prominent solution of "tightening the management of transport business activities and enhancing the control of transport mean capacity", Department of Transport is cooperating with Ho Chi Minh City to open two passenger transport routes on Saigon River. This plan initially has got effect of awakening the potential of Saigon River, and is appreciated by investors.

Tran Thanh Liem, Vice Chairman of provincial People's Committee, said that in August or October 2018, Binh Loi Railway bridge would be dismantled and lifted up to 8 meters, facilitating large container loading traffic. Therefore, vehicle management and registration, management of stations and wharves must be paid attention to comply well with regulations. Currently, the north-south traffic axis of the province has done very well, but the east-west axis still has many congestion points, such as 7A is very good for goods and vehicles to ports along Saigon River but vehicles cannot pass Ben Cat town. It is expected that, when Binh Loi Railway bridge is dismantled, there would be many enterprises and investors coming and learn about investment projects along the river according to the plan approved by Binh Duong province.

Reported by Duy Chi – Translated by Ngoc Huynh

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