Barrier along Bach Dang Wharf Park in downtown Ho Chi Minh City to be removed by April 30, 2026

The bridge is expected to be finished by April 30, 2026.

Construction on the new footbridge has been underway for the past three months at Bach Dang Wharf Park, located in Saigon Ward. 

A metal barrier about five meters tall and 250 meters long currently stretches from Cong Truong Me Linh Street to Nguyen Hue Street, enclosing part of the park to allow space for the construction work.

Although the fence still permits pedestrian access through much of the area, many residents have voiced concern about the timeline for restoring the park to its original state.

"I fully support the project because of its unique design, which I think will become a new highlight for the city center," said a reader named H.T. 

"But I am still wondering when the fence will be taken down so the public space can be returned."

According to Ho Chi Minh City-based Nutifood Nutrition Food Joint Stock Company, the project's investor, the temporary fencing was approved by the Department of Construction.

The new pedestrian bridge will span the Saigon River, connecting Bach Dang Wharf Park with the riverside park in the Thu Thiem New Urban Area. 

The project has a total cost of VND1 trillion, or US$39 million.

Construction officially began in March and is expected to be completed by late April 2026.

However, officials acknowledged the project is already running about two months behind schedule due to delays in land clearance, particularly the presence of Wharf Number 2, which currently blocks the bridge's planned downtown approach.

The Department of Construction has submitted a formal request to the municipal administration asking for Wharf Number 2 to be dismantled. 

The request also includes relocating two special-use facilities within the park to clear the remaining construction area.

During a working session this week with the My Thuan Project Management Board, which is providing oversight and consulting for the bridge, contractors confirmed the project is approximately 20 percent complete.

Officials from the management board said they are coordinating with other city departments to address the remaining issues and speed up construction in order to meet the target deadline.

Once complete, the footbridge will be 261 meters long and between six and eleven meters wide. Its central span will measure 187 meters. 

The bridge design takes inspiration from the nipa palm leaf, a symbol of southern Vietnam's river culture.