HCMC to clean up Saigon River’s downtown stretch

To cost VND8.5 billion (US$360,000) over six months, it will see boats equipped with conveyor belts and shovels to collect trash and water hyacinth from the water in Districts 1 and 4, load it on a barge and tow it to a temporary collection area on Pham The Hien Street in District 8.

The garbage will then be taken by truck to the city’s main landfill, Da Phuoc in neighboring Binh Chanh District.

The sanitary workers will work two shifts of seven hours daily.

The city Department of Transport expects them to collect 20-30 tons of garbage in one shift and remove 1,800 tons from the river in the next six months.

Districts 1 and 4 are home to many iconic landmarks like Nha Rong Wharf, Bach Dang Wharf Park and Ba Son Bridge connecting District 1 with Thu Duc City that attract lots of visitors.

The Saigon River is 256 km long, including 80 km in HCMC.

Besides enabling cargo transport and tourism services, it is also the main source of water for the city of 13 million.