Local, 2 French nationals identified as suspects in Saigon River footbridge site vandalism

The city’s criminal police unit, working with Saigon Ward police, identified Nguyen Phuong B., 20, from Gia Dinh Ward, as one of the suspects.

B. admitted to spray-painting and slashing advertising boards at the construction site along Ton Duc Thang Street together with two French friends.

Construction teams had previously reported repeated damage to information boards and barriers, which were replaced several times only to be vandalized again.

Vietnam Nutifood Nutrition Food JSC (Nutifood), the sponsor of the footbridge project, filed a complaint, prompting police to investigate.

At the police station, B. confessed that he and his French friends painted graffiti on the metal sheets and later used a key to cut through the advertising boards when they were covered.

He claimed he met the French nationals casually on the street and had no further contact after the incident.

Authorities confirmed the two French suspects have already left Vietnam.

Police are now compiling evidence to pursue charges against B. for property damage under Vietnamese law.

The footbridge, with a price tag of nearly VND1 trillion (US$38 million), will connect Bach Dang Wharf in the city center with the Thu Thiem urban area.

Nutifood broke ground on the project in late March last year, with completion scheduled for September 2 this year.