Ho Chi Minh City has asked for the central government’s permission to simplify bidding rules to draw investors into canal cleanup projects that involve the removal of thousands of shanty houses.
Le Van Khoa, the city's vice chairman, said at a meeting with the Construction Ministry on Thursday that there are about 20,000 substandard shanty houses along the city's canals, and they pose a threat to the people living there and cause pollution along the waterways.
The city announced plans to clean up its canals last year but said the projects will take many years and billions of dollars to complete, while investors have been discouraged by low returns.
Khoa said the city needs the government’s approval to simplify bidding procedures to draw investors back following recent interest.
The Saigon Housing and Infrastructure Investment JSC has offered to invest nearly VND9.3 trillion ($417 million) to clean up and remove houses along parts of the Doi Canal in District 8, he said. Half of the slum houses in the city are in District 8.
A company from Hanoi also said it wanted to spend more than VND5 trillion ($224.2 million) on the Xuyen Tam Canal in Binh Thanh District.
HCMC started removing shanty houses from its canals in 1993 and has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on the mission.
It plans to bring all the stinky, dirty canals back to life, like it has done successfully with the Nhieu Loc – Thi Nghe Canal, which runs roughly eight kilometers through seven districts.
The city spent around a decade and more than $390 million, including funding from the World Bank, to revive the canal.
No plan has been announced on where the residents will be relocated to. Earlier, affected residents living along the Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe were moved into social housing projects.
Related news:
Từ vựng liên quan
Tin tức liên quan

Vietnamese military chefs in International Army Games finals
news | 326526619Traditional Russian dishes cooked by Vietnam’s armed forces chefs won them a final berth at the International Army Games Friday.

Domestic investors face capital challenge for North-South Expressway project
news | 325656621Several domestic investors interested in working on the North-South Expressway say banks are reluctant to loan the capital needed.

Vietnamese Kim murder suspect in good health – embassy officials
news | 317416601Vietnamese embassy officials checked on her during a consular visit on Wednesday.

Climate fund targets $2.5 billion in clean energy investment for SE Asia
news | 18456695A new fund backed by philanthropic donors is aiming to trigger $2.5 billion of clean energy investment in Southeast Asia and aid the region’s green recovery after the coronavirus.

Five Chinese arrested for filming, broadcasting porn with Vietnamese minors
news | 21526671Five Chinese and a Vietnamese were arrested in Da Nang on Monday for filming and broadcasting intercourse and other sexual activities with Vietnamese minors.

Mourinho to clash with Ranieri at Old Trafford charity match
sports | 326326598Jose Mourinho's next managerial role has been revealed with the Portuguese leading 'England' against Claudio Ranieri's 'Rest of the World' side as the former Chelsea bosses clash at Old Trafford on June 5 in a charity match for UNICEF.

Vietnamese tech firm FPT reports rising revenue of over $500 million
companies | 315306612Software giant FPT reached consolidated revenue of VND11.52 trillion (more than $516 million) in the first four months of the year, of which retail and software exports continued to be the highlights.

Phu Quoc resort among best new names to visit in 2022
places | 385506611Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post has included Regent Resort on popular tourist island Phu Quoc in southern Vietnam among the best new hotel openings of this year.

Vietnam airport operator misses out on retail business opportunities
business | 309816598The ACV made just $1 per passenger from retail services last year, far behind regional operators.

Mai Linh Taxi appoints Australian CEO
companies | 321376593Mai Linh Group, a major taxi operator in Vietnam, has appointed Rahn Wood, an Australian national, as its new CEO.