Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe Canal: 'The Seine River' in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City has been transforming strongly, parallel to that journey is the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal, from a heavily polluted water stream, it has now "revived" and brought green living space to millions of city residents.

Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe Canal is nearly 10 km long, flowing through many wards in the center and then pouring into the Saigon River. It used to be the largest and most beautiful canal in old Saigon. Over time, the influx of people and the discharge of a lot of garbage have caused the canal to become heavily polluted.

Ms. Vu Thi Mai Huong, residing in Thanh My Tay ward, recalls: “I have lived in this city for 50 years. Before, the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal was very polluted, the stench wafted throughout the neighborhood, everyone was afraid to pass by. Along the canal were rows of cramped, makeshift, shabby houses. When my friends asked me where I lived, many times I did not dare to tell the truth, embarrassed because I lived near such a dirty canal.”

Not only affecting the landscape, the polluted canal also directly impacts public health. Mr. Nguyen Van Trieu, living in Ben Thanh ward, shared: “Back then, children around this area were always sick, especially with respiratory diseases. People were very miserable, always hoping that the government would have a solution to improve it, because living in that situation forever was hard to bear.”

Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe Canal has become a symbol of development of Ho Chi Minh City.

Now, Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal has become an attractive destination, attracting international visitors to Ho Chi Minh City.

After many years of renovation and environmental treatment, Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal now has a new look with clear water and clean and beautiful embankments on both sides. The walking path along the canal has become a space for people to relax and exercise.

Many people consider Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe the most beautiful canal in Ho Chi Minh City. The two roads along the canal named Hoang Sa and Truong Sa also show the attachment of the city's people to their homeland's sea and islands.

A cool corner of Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal in the heart of the city.

The first pedestrian bridge on this canal is located between Dien Bien Phu Bridge and Thi Nghe Bridge, about 100m long, more than 2m wide, and will be put into use from July 2024.

Ms. Huong was moved: “I really did not think that one day Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal would revive so strongly. Now the water is cleaner, the air is fresher, there are walkways on both banks, and there is a park for exercising. Every afternoon, I often come here to walk, chat with friends, it feels very pleasant.”

When the canal was revived, the urban appearance also changed. The roads along the canal now became the main traffic axis, extending from Tan Son Hoa, Tan Son Nhat, Nhieu Loc, Xuan Hoa, Thanh My Tay, Ben Thanh wards... Along the canal, green parks were formed, becoming community living spaces for tens of thousands of people.

The clean and beautiful canal brings a new look to Ho Chi Minh City.

Mr. Trieu added: “I have lived here for more than 40 years, witnessing every step of change. Now every morning I go to the canal bank to exercise and breathe fresh air. In the past, the canal was polluted, no one wanted to come near it. Now it is completely different, fish can live in the water, and there are more birds. People are very happy and excited.”

Not only providing a fresh living environment, the canal renovation project also contributes to increasing land value, promoting business and service activities. Many shops, cafes, and restaurants have sprung up along the canal, creating more entertainment and relaxation space for residents and tourists. The landscape along the canal also attracts many young people to take photos and visit.

People relax and exercise along the canal every morning at Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal.

In particular, the international community has also recognized Ho Chi Minh City’s efforts in “reviving” this canal. Many environmental experts believe that the Nhieu Loc – Thi Nghe canal environmental improvement project not only improves the quality of life, but also demonstrates the city’s determination to develop sustainable urban areas, balancing growth and environmental protection.

Ms. Huong recalled: “My friend came back from abroad, took a walk around the canal and joked that the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal is now no different from the "French Seine River" in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. I was very happy to hear that. The good news is that along with the revival of the canal, community awareness has also been significantly raised. People around the area actively maintain hygiene, limit littering, and regularly remind each other to join hands to protect the environment.”

Green trees shade the road along the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal.

Ms. Huong expressed her wish: “I just hope that the City will continue to promote so that everyone is more aware and does not litter. Only then will the canal be truly clean and beautiful for a long time. In addition, I also hope that the city will invest in more entertainment venues along the canal to serve the people.”

Mr. Trieu was excited: “Thanks to the attention of the State, this canal has completely changed, bringing practical benefits to people's lives. I believe that Ho Chi Minh City will develop even more so that our people can live in an increasingly better environment.”

Now, Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal has become a place for entertainment and exercise for people in Ho Chi Minh City.

An economic expert said that Ho Chi Minh City needs to have a long-term development plan so that the canal is not only a place for sightseeing and walking but also becomes an attractive waterway tourism route, a cultural and culinary stop along the canal. If well exploited, Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal can become a unique tourism product, creating more revenue for the city.

The renovation of Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal is not only a change in landscape, but also a change in awareness and quality of life of hundreds of thousands of city residents, becoming a new symbol of a dynamic, modern city, and also showing the efforts of the Ho Chi Minh City government in improving the environment.

Photo series, clip: An Hieu/News and People newspaper

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/doi-song-van-hoa/kenh-nhieu-loc-thi-nghe-dong-song-seine-giua-long-tp-ho-chi-minh-20250829152154038.htm