Big Changes Coming: HCM opens pedestrian squares and streets

Anyone who has seen the City Hall recently will have noticed construction hoarding between the Rex Hotel and the Eden Centre. The HCMC Department of Transport said this work is the first phase of the project, the section from Le Thanh Ton to Le Loi Streets, and is scheduled for completion in 2015 March.

The HCM Peoples Committee is converting Nguyen Hue Boulevard into a square for pedestrians by 2015 April. The national government gave it's approval earlier.

The second phase, from Le Loi Boulevard and Ton Duc Thang, on the river front, will get started early next month after the city government has chosen the contractor.

Upon completion, the entire Nguyen Hue Boulevard will become a pedestrian-only mall some 670 metres long and 64 metres wide. In addition to the upgrade of the boulevard and its pavements, the project includes rebuilding water supply and drainage, power supply and public lighting utilities and public restrooms. New trees will be planted.

The project is estimated to cost VND428 billion.

Further deterrents to traffic include abandoning planned parking lots under Nguyen Hue and Ton Duc Thang Streets but adding new parking  under Le Loi and Ham Nghi and near Quach Thi Trang roundabout/traffic circle in front of Ben Thanh Market.

Sounds exciting.....

jameskeep wrote:

Sounds exciting.....


No doubt plenty of room for " hero ' statues as well?

bluenz wrote:
jameskeep wrote:

Sounds exciting.....


No doubt plenty of room for " hero ' statues as well?


I am willing to bet the statues will outnumber the trees that will be planted.... :lol:

Sure it wasn't perfect.
But now it has to made into a what?
A pedestrian only centre.
http://www.thanhniennews.com/Uploaded/thuyhang/2014_10_08/lotrinh_JXCX_thumb.jpg?width=840

How long do tourists actually wander around promenades like this?
And in the city centre surrounded by the up market hotels.

Although it will be a great place for beggars and touts.All that nice clean pavement and gullible tourists.
Why go to HCM? Oh yeah walk around a promenade and look at the statues.

How about the hundreds of drug addicts roaming and sleepin on 23/9 park?

http://www.thanhniennews.com/society/as … 32152.html

Anything done to clean this up?
Read the story from the link above for information.

Oh, the above photo was obtained from the Thanh Nien News website.
This site is usually a day or two old with it's info,but it's always there.
Also try VNexpress for news in Vietnamese and more up to date reports.

jimbream wrote:

Sure it wasn't perfect.
But now it has to made into a what?
A pedestrian only centre.
[img align=c]http://www.thanhniennews.com/Uploaded/thuyhang/2014_10_08/lotrinh_JXCX_thumb.jpg?width=840[/url]

How long do tourists actually wander around promenades like this?
And in the city centre surrounded by the up market hotels.

Although it will be a great place for beggars and touts.All that nice clean pavement and gullible tourists.
Why go to HCM? Oh yeah walk around a promenade and look at the statues.

How about the hundreds of drug addicts roaming and sleepin on 23/9 park?

http://www.thanhniennews.com/society/as … 32152.html

Anything done to clean this up?
Read the story from the link above for information.

Oh, the above photo was obtained from the Thanh Nien News website.
This site is usually a day or two old with it's info,but it's always there.
Also try VNexpress for news in Vietnamese and more up to date reports.


That can't be VN, I don't see any m/b's???? ( or smoke ).

bluenz wrote:
jimbream wrote:

Sure it wasn't perfect.
But now it has to made into a what?
A pedestrian only centre.
[img align=c]http://www.thanhniennews.com/Uploaded/thuyhang/2014_10_08/lotrinh_JXCX_thumb.jpg?width=840[/url]

How long do tourists actually wander around promenades like this?
And in the city centre surrounded by the up market hotels.

Although it will be a great place for beggars and touts.All that nice clean pavement and gullible tourists.
Why go to HCM? Oh yeah walk around a promenade and look at the statues.

How about the hundreds of drug addicts roaming and sleepin on 23/9 park?

http://www.thanhniennews.com/society/as … 32152.html

Anything done to clean this up?
Read the story from the link above for information.

Oh, the above photo was obtained from the Thanh Nien News website.
This site is usually a day or two old with it's info,but it's always there.
Also try VNexpress for news in Vietnamese and more up to date reports.


That can't be VN, I don't see any m/b's???? ( or smoke ).


''European engineer's impression of beautiful downtown''
Disclaimer:
Engineer may or may not have been to said city.
Nor is it a guaranteed representation of eventual outcome.
Images of beggars,touts,cigarette/souvenir/drinks merchants,motorcycles,visible pollution,
crowds of loitering youths,stained walkways,cracked pavers,uneven surfaces,puddles of black water and litter
have been left out for the sake of aesthetics.