Ho Chi Minh City park project unfinished after 23 years
Thursday, August 08, 2024, 13:05 GMT+7
A project to develop a 37-hectare cultural park in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City has yet to reach completion after its construction was approved by authorities 23 years ago, leaving most of the park covered with wild plants and grasses.
The municipal administration gave the green light to the project in 2001, with a price tag of VND99 billion (US$3.9 million).
The park was initially set to become one of the biggest entertainment centers in the southern metropolis, featuring facilities such as an education zone and an art and cultural area featuring a 7,000-seat theater, an outdoor stage, and a water music component.
As planned, the finished park will be able to serve 10,000 visitors per day and three million visits per year.
After more than two decades, work on just a few of the amenities is complete, while the rest have fallen into disrepair.
According to Trong Nhan, a 25-year-old regular to the park, the project has proved a poor investment and has not become popular with local residents because it is not yet complete.
|
|
| The entrance to Go Vap Cultural Park, which opens from 4:00 am to 10:00 pm daily, is located at the end of Nguyen Van Luong Street in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre |
|
|
| Work on just a few components within the park has been completed, including a sports zone, a playground for kids, and a park management center. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre |
|
|
| A section of the park has been converted into pathways for visitors to stroll and exercise. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre |
|
|
| Trong Nhan (wearing glasses), a 25-year-old visitor to the park, said that the space has not received adequate investment, adding that more residents would likely visit it for sports and recreation if it was complete. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre |
|
|
| A group of residents enjoy themselves at the park. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre |
|
|
| Workers mow the lawn and handle general maintenance at the park every day. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre |
|
|
| The park has several large ponds adjacent to the Vam Thuat River. These areas are planned to include a sports area, a boat station, and a retention pond. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre |
|
|
| According to the plans, embankments and fences will be set up around a canal running through the park. However, the area is currently dominated by wild plants and has become a spot for fishing activities. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre |
|
|
| Residents shop for food, vegetables, and other items at a makeshift stall along a road leading to the park. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre |
|
|
| The park is considered 'the lungs' of Go Vap District. About one kilometer of internal roads has been covered with asphalt. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| A huge number of visitors go to the park early in the morning and late in the afternoon to do physical exercises. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre |
Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
