Binh Dong Wharf - Reclaiming the Spirit of the River City

University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh city

Project idea

Reimagining Ben Binh Dong: Restoring a Water-Based Urban Identity in Ho Chi Minh City

Once upon a time, Ben Binh Dong was a bustling symbol of water-based urban life, acting as a crucial commercial link between Saigon—back when it was the southern capital—and the Mekong Delta. But as the city grew rapidly, its unique charm faded, and it became just another ordinary residential area. Now, as Ho Chi Minh City aims to reinvent itself as a resilient river city—where historical culture meets modern technology—revitalising Ben Binh Dong into a vibrant hub of water-based activity is a key part of this urban evolution.

To bring this vision to life, our design focuses on three main goals:
1. Re-establishing Canal-Based Commerce
By restoring waterway logistics and reinforcing canal-side trading activity, the project aims to revive the nostalgic scene of "trading on the wharf, docking under boats", which was once a defining feature of old Saigon.
2. Activating a Commercial Pedestrian Corridor
The project introduces a vibrant commercial street that supports local economic development and responds to the area's density and dynamic festival culture—turning everyday circulation into a platform for community and cultural exchange.
3. Creating Public Green and Permeable Spaces
A network of public green spaces is designed to foster social connectivity while integrating absorbent vegetated zones along the canal edge. These areas not only enhance climate resilience through water infiltration but also provide much-needed breathing space for the community.

This design initiative aims to not only revive Ben Binh Dong as a water-focused district but also to set it up as a progressive example of adaptive urban living in the face of rising water levels and ecological challenges.

Project description

The Binh Dong Wharf area precinct, once celebrated as a vibrant river port connecting historic Saigon to the Mekong Delta, has gradually lost its identity amid rapid urbanisation. To restore its distinctive character as a water-based city and to adapt to rising water levels, this project proposes a comprehensive, phased redevelopment grounded in strategic urban planning, pedestrian activation, and amphibious infrastructure:
Phase 1: Strategic Zoning and Sidewalk Expansion
Redevelopment begins by targeting underused and deteriorated sites—such as former industrial compounds and ageing canal-front residences—either for sensitive renovation or selective demolition and reconstruction, thereby establishing new mixed-use functions. Alongside these initiatives, pedestrian sidewalks are widened and extended to improve accessibility, create a coherent public realm, and prepare the ground plane for future water-adaptive elements.
Phase 2: Pedestrian Commercial Spine
Building on the expanded sidewalks, the project will introduce a dedicated pedestrian boulevard, complete with new cross-street footbridges to link the Tau Hu and Doi canals. Along Nguyen Che Nghia Street, existing shophouses and kiosks will be reimagined into well-defined retail spaces, supported by modular kiosk areas and scheduled activities. This “water promenade” will cater to everyday shopping and seasonal celebrations, providing adaptable spaces for food markets, craft fairs, and evening street performances.
Phase 3: Amphibious Connectivity and Floating Public Realm
To reconnect the community with the water, a series of floating platforms and boat docks will be installed along the canal's edge. These HDPE pontoons are designed for quick assembly and disassembly, rising and falling with the tides to ensure they remain usable. Under normal conditions, they will serve as community plazas and docking points; during major festivals or high-water events, individual floats can be linked together to form larger floating squares, which can double as performance stages.

Spatial Organisation: Three Distinct Sub-Zones:
Binh Dong Wharf: The primary festival and trade hub, featuring upgraded waterfront sidewalks, modular floating pontoons for markets and cultural events (e.g., flower fairs, traditional music performances), and main docking facilities for small vessels.
Nguyen Che Nghia Commercial Street: The pedestrianised artery between Tau Hu and Doi canals, reorganised into logical kiosk clusters and supported by unified street furniture and lighting, creates a flexible “festival street” and food-destination corridor.
Doi–Ngang Canal Junction Park: A secondary, future public park location where smaller private boats land. Designed as a tiered, permeable green space, this park incorporates flood-resilient landscapes and rain gardens to manage peak river levels up to +4.5m, ensuring both recreational value and climate adaptation.

Implementation Timeline and Impact
Over a 12-year horizon, the project unfolds in three phases—each phase delivering key infrastructure and activating one of the three sub-zones. By restoring waterborne commerce, enlivening public streets, and introducing amphibious community spaces, the Binh Dong Wharf area will revitalise local economic activity, enhance tourism potential, and rebalance employment opportunities. Simultaneously, expanded green and porous landscapes will bolster flood resilience, improving quality of life for existing residents and future generations in the face of rising water levels and urban pressures.

Technical information

Project Area: 25.6 hectares, located in District 8, Ho Chi Minh City — a place once known as a vibrant water-based urban settlement.
Floating Stage and Plaza System
At Binh Dong Wharf, a modular floating platform system is proposed to accommodate event spaces and public plazas. Each module consists of an equilateral triangle (4000mm per side, 500mm thick), constructed from HDPE and connected via floatation pins. These floating components can rise with tidal fluctuations and are designed for multifunctional community use.
Tiered River Parks and Elevated Walkways
Linear parks along both riverbanks are designed with tiered topography, allowing public activity even during high water levels (up to +4.5m). MDF wooden skywalks span across these terraces, offering elevated circulation routes. A central park lies between the two riverfront parks, featuring a Möbius loop structure. This symbolic and spatial element connects the front urban cultural space with the rear canal-edge zone and serves as a bridge between the Doi and Ngang canals.