Main span of Saigon River pedestrian bridge officially joined

Former State President Nguyen Minh Triet, former National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, former secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen, chairman of the municipal People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc, deputy secretary of the municipal Party Committee Van Thi Bach Tuyet and vice-chairman of the municipal People's Committee Hoang Nguyen Dinh attended the joining ceremony.

The project is sponsored by Nutifood with steel arches fabricated and installed by Dai Dung Corporation.

After several hours of work, the main steel arch span was moved into position between the TC01 and TC02 piers and successfully joined. The next step is to weld the connection points to secure the structure.

The operation began at around 4:30 am, when a barge carrying the approximately 3,400-tonne steel arch was moved toward the designated position.

The successful joining marks an important milestone in the construction of the bridge, which is expected to be substantially completed by the end of 2026, adding a new public space and destination for residents and tourists.

Work began before dawn under a carefully planned schedule based on tidal conditions.

Engineers monitored hydrological data over several months and compared it with records from previous years to identify a period of slack water, when the water level remains relatively stable and currents weaken, making it easier to position the steel structure.

This window lasts only around three hours, requiring critical operations to be closely coordinated to make the most of favorable tidal conditions.

During the operation, the barge carrying the bridge arch was rotated sideways and maneuvered between the two piers. Anchoring cables, winches and adjustments to the barge's ballast water were coordinated to keep the structure in position against the current.

Engineers had to ensure that the connection points aligned with the design specifications, with deviations controlled to within millimeters.

Before the joining, tugboats had pushed the barge close to the bridge piers on both banks. Construction teams continued making fine adjustments, calibrating equipment and checking technical parameters to prepare for the operation.

Hundreds of engineers, technical staff and workers gathered at the observation and control station, coordinating their work throughout the process.

At exactly 8:00 am, ship horns sounded to mark the successful joining of the bridge's main span, while fireworks were set off over the Saigon River to celebrate the milestone.

The barge carrying the steel arch and its supporting framework for the nipa palm leaf-shaped pedestrian bridge arrived at Bach Dang Wharf in downtown Ho Chi Minh City at around 3:00 pm on Monday after a two-day, 124-kilometer journey.

Construction of the pedestrian bridge began in late March 2025. The pedestrian bridge was designed to connect Ben Bach Dang Park in central Ho Chi Minh City with the riverside park in Thu Thiem.

With a total investment of some VND1 trillion (US$38.6 million), the bridge is 720 meters long and 6-11 meters wide.

Its main span features a 187-meter-long steel arch design inspired by the nipa palm leaf, a familiar plant native to southern Vietnam.

The structure was assembled and load-tested at Dai Dung Corporation’s factory in Vung Tau before being transported by barge to the construction site.