Ho Chi Minh City now has more than 17,000 households living in slums and the cost of relocating them has been put at VND12.4 trillion ($576.7 million) over the next five years.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, the slums are primarily along canals and the number of households may even be higher given that its survey did not include 67 canals in Districts 7, 8, and 12.

A relocation program for households living in slums in the city has been implemented since 1993, with nearly 35,600 households having been relocated in 12 districts.

Over the next five years the City plans to relocate 11,600 more households in slums throughout the city.

After relocation the canals, like Nhieu Loc Canal, will be renovated and cleaned and become green areas or have new houses built for resettlement. The City had previously spoke of cutting the budget for such efforts or attracting private investment but due to delays in issuing policies to support investors such measures were put on hold.