HCMC – The HCMC government has issued an urgent directive to address delays in site clearance for the Xuyen Tam Canal renovation project, which carries a total investment of more than VND17.2 trillion, as slow resettlement housing handovers continue to weigh on progress.
The HCMC People’s Committee Office has released a notice summarizing the conclusions of Vice Chairman Hoang Nguyen Dinh at a meeting reviewing compensation, support and resettlement for the dredging, environmental improvement and infrastructure development of Xuyen Tam Canal, running from the Nhieu Loc–Thi Nghe Canal to the Vam Thuat River.
The city acknowledged the efforts of ward authorities, site clearance boards and relevant departments in coordinating the project. However, the site has yet to be handed over on schedule, missing the November 2025 deadline set by the city’s leadership.
The delay was attributed mainly to the late handover of resettlement and social homes, preventing affected households from relocating and directly hindering land clearance.
To remove bottlenecks, the city has instructed departments and localities to urgently review obstacles and step up implementation. The Department of Construction has been assigned to complete repairs to resettlement apartment buildings by March 30 so they can be handed over to residents. The department must also review the city’s entire resettlement housing stock and submit a report to the HCMC People’s Committee by January 15 to support future resettlement planning.
The Department of Agriculture and Environment has been tasked with closely monitoring progress and guiding local authorities in arranging temporary accommodation for households awaiting resettlement and social housing in line with regulations.
In addition, the HCMC Management Board of Civil and Industrial Construction Investment Projects has been told to speed up the social housing project at 4 Phan Chu Trinh Street in Binh Thanh Ward to help form a resettlement housing fund for the canal project.
The Xuyen Tam Canal project is one of HCMC’s key urban upgrading and environmental works, funded by the state budget and scheduled for implementation from 2023 to 2028.
The canal system spans nearly 8.9 kilometers across Binh Thanh, Gia Dinh, Binh Loi Trung and An Nhon wards, including a main canal of about 6.7 kilometers and three branches totaling more than 2.2 kilometers. More than 2,200 households along the canal are affected by the project.
