In Ho Chi Minh City, authorities held ceremonies for the launch and inauguration of 16 projects in transport, technical infrastructure and social housing, aimed at improving urban conditions and residents’ quality of life.
Among the key projects launched was a social housing project under the urban renewal scheme in the Ma Lang and Ga – Gao market areas in the former District 1. The project has a preliminary investment of nearly VND16.37 trillion (US$627 million) and will provide 2,253 resettlement apartments, scheduled for completion and handover in 2029.
In the 3.77 ha Ma Lang area, a school complex and a resettlement housing complex will be built, including a social housing apartment building of about 38 floors with 1,400 apartments and 93 low-rise houses. In the 4,350sq.m Ga – Gao market area, a 35-storey social housing building with 760 apartments will be constructed.
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An artist’s impression of the housing project at the Ga – Gao market area in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo courtesy of the investor |
The two areas are densely populated parts of central Ho Chi Minh City, where many houses have deteriorated and infrastructure remains inadequate. Narrow alleys also pose challenges for firefighting and rescue operations.
The Ma Lang project will affect about 1,070 properties, involving 1,459 households and 4,693 people, while the Ga – Gao Market project will affect around 252 houses, involving 192 households and 744 people.
The city also launched a VND7.21 trillion water environment improvement project in the area of former Binh Duong Province, including a package to increase the capacity of the Thuan An wastewater treatment plant by 20,000 cu.m per day.
A VND510 billion project to build a new Block C at Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital was also launched to improve facilities and support the hospital’s development of specialised medical services.
Five other social housing projects were launched, with investments ranging from VND307 billion to VND64.05 trillion.
Three school projects were also inaugurated and put into use, including the newly built and renovated Vo Truong Toan High School, the upgraded Tran Van Giau High School and the renovated Marie Curie High School.
New industrial infrastructure in Da Nang
In Da Nang, Nam Thang Binh Industrial Park Infrastructure Investment JSC launched three projects with a combined investment of VND1.1 trillion: a ready-built factory complex, a wastewater treatment plant and the second phase of technical infrastructure at Subzone B of Nam Thang Binh Industrial Park.
The ready-built factory complex covers about 18 ha with an investment of VND670 billion. The VND160 billion wastewater treatment plant will have a capacity of 4,200 cu.m per day, while the second-phase technical infrastructure covers about 29.5 ha with an investment of VND268 billion.
The three projects are designed to connect production space, technical infrastructure and environmental treatment facilities, helping shorten investment preparation time and enable businesses to put factories into operation sooner.
Vice Chairman of the Da Nang City People’s Committee Phan Thai Binh said modern industrial infrastructure and high-tech, environmentally friendly investment are key to achieving sustained double-digit economic growth.
He urged the investor to accelerate construction, ensure high standards for quality, safety and environmental protection, and attract investors using modern, low-emission technologies while prioritising local recruitment and vocational training.
The city pledged to work closely with investors to ensure effective resettlement, vocational training and job conversion, with living conditions at new residential areas maintained at or above previous levels.
Hanoi breaks ground on two railway projects
The Hanoi authorities on Aug. 28 broke ground on two major national railway projects and launched or inaugurated 17 key works, marking a major step in reorganising the capital’s railway network, strengthening inter-regional connectivity and easing infrastructure bottlenecks.
The two key national railway projects are the Ngoc Hoi-Kim Son section of the Eastern Ring Railway project and the relocation of the Phu Xuyen-Ngoc Hoi section of the Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City railway. They are expected to reorganise the railway hub in southern Hanoi, strengthen regional connectivity and increase passenger, freight and logistics capacity.
The Eastern Ring Railway project’s Ngoc Hoi-Kim Son section has a preliminary investment of VND27.75 trillion ($1.06 billion). Its main 31.3 km section from the Thuong Tin area to Kim Son, together with connecting branches, will be built as an electrified double-track railway with a 1,435 mm gauge and a maximum design speed of 120 km per hour. It will serve both passenger and freight trains and is scheduled for completion in December 2028.
Once operational, the line will connect the Ngoc Hoi hub with the northern railway network, helping form an inter-regional freight transport corridor, ease pressure on radial railway routes and reduce the need for freight trains to enter central Hanoi. It is also expected to shorten transport times, lower logistics costs and support greener transport.
Meanwhile, the 26.5 km railway relocation project, plus a 3 km connecting section from Ngoc Hoi to the Bac Hong–Van Dien railway, will be built as a single-track railway with a 1,000 mm gauge and a maximum design speed of 100 km per hour. It is scheduled to be completed by March 31, 2027.
It will include three new stations – Ngoc Hoi as a passenger hub, Thuong Tin as a freight hub and Phu Xuyen as a passing station. Ngoc Hoi and Thuong Tin stations will facilitate connections between railway lines with different gauges.
The two projects will connect at the planned Ngoc Hoi railway complex, covering about 260 ha and designed to integrate national and urban railway stations, train yards and depots. The complex is expected to serve as a major interchange between railway lines and other modes of transport.
Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Vu Dai Thang said the projects are important to gradually reorganising the national railway network through Hanoi while ensuring consistency with the city’s transport infrastructure and urban development plans.
He stressed that the large and technically complex projects require close coordination among central and local agencies from the planning and investment preparation stages through land clearance and construction. Project owners must ensure feasible schedules, adequate resources and responsibility for quality and progress.
The same day, the municipal authorities also organized the groundbreaking or inauguration of 54 projects and works worth VND401.2 trillion as part of activities to celebrate the 81st anniversary of National Day.
Among them, 17 representative projects —11 completed or technically opened to traffic and six newly launched – focus on transport, railways, water supply and drainage, urban development and reconstruction, and the renovation of the West Lake area.