It’s interesting that major cities and developed urban areas around the world all have the presence of rivers like the Seine in Paris, the Han River in Seoul, the Hudson River in New York,… In Vietnam, in the beautiful city named after Uncle Ho, it’s no different. Throughout its history, the Saigon River has witnessed countless changes in this bustling city. Therefore, it can be said that the river is the source that creates the city. This further confirms the accurate assessment of expert Nguyen Thanh Tuan in an article in the Saigon Economic Journal about positioning the river as the foundation for the development of Ho Chi Minh City.

Expert Nguyen Thanh Tuan has highlighted the impressive figures contributed by the Saigon River to the trade and transportation of international maritime routes to and from Ho Chi Minh City. In 2022, international trade activities with import and export turnover reached $49.5 billion and $66.2 billion, respectively. The rapid urbanization along with international integration opens up countless advantages for the development of the Southeast and Mekong Delta regions, where the trade through the seaports of Ho Chi Minh City plays a crucial role.

Despite its vibrancy, the Saigon River still has plenty of room for development. AVSE Global expert has identified 5 core issues that need solutions, including:

1️⃣ Issues in the development of infrastructure (transportation, industry, logistics, information technology).

2️⃣ Ensuring balanced development of the riverbank ecosystem, biodiversity.

3️⃣ Water flow, climate change adaptation (sea level rise).

4️⃣ Inclusive growth development.

5️⃣ Developing a green, sustainable economy.

In the context of new development, the Saigon River needs to be elevated to truly become an icon associated with green and sustainable development. The expert has outlined 6 key content to guide and plan the development of the Saigon River economic corridor, including:

1️⃣ Cultural heritage.

2️⃣ Commerce and entertainment.

3️⃣ Entrepreneurship – Innovation.

4️⃣ Transportation center and logistics connection.

5️⃣ Sustainable water ecosystems.

6️⃣ Creating green spaces for urban areas.

Source: Kinh Te Sai Gon