Saigon’s Largest Canal Clean-Up: From Trash-Ridden to Crystal Clear in 20 Years
Nhieu Loc – Thi Nghe Canal’s transformation is one of the most influential changes in Saigon (HCMC).
Before 1975, the Nhieu Loc – Thi Nghe Canal stretching to five districts (Tân Bình, 3, Phú Nhuận, Bình Thạnh and 1) was the primary channel for untreated effluents since all the slums on either side of the banks dumped all kinds of waste into the canal.
There was a large number of people from different towns in Vietnam moving to Saigon (HCMC) to earn their living. As they found it difficult to either rent or buy a proper house, they decided to build their own small living places by the canal with all industrial debris, boxes, cartons, thatch, etc.
Slums then became the main settlements for those people eke out a living. The residents were surrounded by the canal; hence, they relied on it as their only source of water for cooking, washing, bathing, and other basic needs. The lack of potable water together with a high exposure to sewage resulted in a tremendous increase in people suffering from waterborne diseases amongst the population.
After the North and South Vietnam were integrated into one, the People’s Committee of HCMC addressed the issue to implement a renovation project with the aim of changing the lives of 50,000 households in the area and fixing the image of the urban city center.
The Ministry of Transport in HCMC implemented phase I of the 250 million investment project named the HCMC Environmental Sanitation Project thanks to the World Bank’s financial assistance from 2001 to 2010. The phase II of the project with USD 450 million financed by the Word Bank concentrates on wastewater treatment through the kick-start of Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), the interceptor under the canal, and the reinforcement for the banks of the canal.
This transformation is one of the most significant changes in Vietnam. Nhieu Loc – Thi Nghe Canal, which used to be the dirtiest canal in Saigon, is now the most beautiful canal of the city.
This canal has become a tourist attraction in the recent years. The canal is not only where you can relax but also where you can take a short cruise across the canal.
To see more photos, check the open album below or go to Flickr:
Photo Album Flickr
(Please use the left/right arrows to navigate in the files of the open album)
Words by Chi Le
Photos by Lam Cao
The canal clean-up indeed worked wonders. It’s a magical transformation, especially for a canal which had long been known for its dirtiness. I hope there will be more positive changes like this in the future.
It is so sad that they used to dump so much trash into the canal. I am so glad that so many came together to clean it up and restore it to it’s natural beauty.
It looks so beautiful now, no wonder the tourists now flock there. A brilliant job was done to clear it up.
Oh, So beautiful, I haven’t know this, Great post. Thanks for sharing.