The Vietnamese Ministry of Finance has issued a decision allowing Ho Chi Minh City to manage and maintain a watchtower on the riverbank in Thu Duc City as well as two spans of the old Binh Loi Railway Bridge connecting Thu Duc and Binh Thanh District.

Constructed in 1902, the 276-meter railway bridge consisted of six spans to cross the Saigon River.

The two spans, now maintained by the city, measure 22.9 and 40.9 meters in length. Along with the watchtower, they were previously under the management of the Ministry of Transport.

The Ministry of Finance has asked the Ministry of Transport to instruct relevant units to hand over the spans and watchtower, while the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee is requested to receive and preserve these facilities in accordance with the law.

This preservation is considered for the railway sector's research activities and tourism. 

Earlier, the municipal government and the Ministry of Transport had proposed the Ministry of Finance allow the city to keep the two spans and the watchtower intact for preservation.

Both hold historical and cultural significance and feature the establishment and development of the southern metropolis as well as Vietnam’s railway sector.

The old Binh Loi Railway Bridge wrapped up its 117 years of helping trains travel on Vietnam’s lifeline north-to-south railway system across the Saigon River on September 14, 2019 as the new Binh Loi Railway Bridge was put into operation on the same day.

The old railway bridge was not dismantled until 2020 mainly due to boats being unable to travel underneath.

The new Binh Loi Railway Bridge, whose construction started in 2015, is located 12 meters away from the old one.

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