The Binh Dong Wharf area precinct, once celebrated as a vibrant river port connecting historic Saigon to the Mekong Delta, has gradually lost its identity amid rapid urbanisation. To restore its distinctive character as a water-based city and to adapt to rising water levels, this project proposes a comprehensive, phased redevelopment grounded in strategic urban planning, pedestrian activation, and amphibious infrastructure:
Phase 1: Strategic Zoning and Sidewalk Expansion
Redevelopment begins by targeting underused and deteriorated sites—such as former industrial compounds and ageing canal-front residences—either for sensitive renovation or selective demolition and reconstruction, thereby establishing new mixed-use functions. Alongside these initiatives, pedestrian sidewalks are widened and extended to improve accessibility, create a coherent public realm, and prepare the ground plane for future water-adaptive elements.
Phase 2: Pedestrian Commercial Spine
Building on the expanded sidewalks, the project will introduce a dedicated pedestrian boulevard, complete with new cross-street footbridges to link the Tau Hu and Doi canals. Along Nguyen Che Nghia Street, existing shophouses and kiosks will be reimagined into well-defined retail spaces, supported by modular kiosk areas and scheduled activities. This “water promenade” will cater to everyday shopping and seasonal celebrations, providing adaptable spaces for food markets, craft fairs, and evening street performances.
Phase 3: Amphibious Connectivity and Floating Public Realm
To reconnect the community with the water, a series of floating platforms and boat docks will be installed along the canal's edge. These HDPE pontoons are designed for quick assembly and disassembly, rising and falling with the tides to ensure they remain usable. Under normal conditions, they will serve as community plazas and docking points; during major festivals or high-water events, individual floats can be linked together to form larger floating squares, which can double as performance stages.
Spatial Organisation: Three Distinct Sub-Zones:
Binh Dong Wharf: The primary festival and trade hub, featuring upgraded waterfront sidewalks, modular floating pontoons for markets and cultural events (e.g., flower fairs, traditional music performances), and main docking facilities for small vessels.
Nguyen Che Nghia Commercial Street: The pedestrianised artery between Tau Hu and Doi canals, reorganised into logical kiosk clusters and supported by unified street furniture and lighting, creates a flexible “festival street” and food-destination corridor.
Doi–Ngang Canal Junction Park: A secondary, future public park location where smaller private boats land. Designed as a tiered, permeable green space, this park incorporates flood-resilient landscapes and rain gardens to manage peak river levels up to +4.5m, ensuring both recreational value and climate adaptation.
Implementation Timeline and Impact
Over a 12-year horizon, the project unfolds in three phases—each phase delivering key infrastructure and activating one of the three sub-zones. By restoring waterborne commerce, enlivening public streets, and introducing amphibious community spaces, the Binh Dong Wharf area will revitalise local economic activity, enhance tourism potential, and rebalance employment opportunities. Simultaneously, expanded green and porous landscapes will bolster flood resilience, improving quality of life for existing residents and future generations in the face of rising water levels and urban pressures.
