VietNamNet Bridge – The HCMC Department of Planning and Architecture on Thursday unveiled the planning, scale 1:2000, for the existing 930-hectare downtown area, in which the center is divided into five functional zones.

Zone 1 is designed as the central business district of HCMC, serving trade, hospitality and administration. It lies within District 1 and covers 92.3 hectares.

Making use of the underground metro stations in this zone, underground space, including underground walkways, shopping malls and car parks, will be developed along Le Loi and Nguyen Hue boulevards. These major streets will be gradually transformed into a shopping zone and probably an auto-free zone in the future.

Zone 2 will be home to cultural and historical sites, spreading over Le Duan Boulevard. It also lies within District 1, with an area of 212.2 hectares.

Zone 2 currently has a low construction density, so the plan keeps it open and airy with green space running along Le Duan Boulevard from the Reunification Palace to the Saigon Zoo. On the other hand, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street will have a high-density development.

Zone 3 is a multi-functional area along the basin of the Saigon River, covering 274.8 hectares. It stretches from Saigon Bridge to Tan Thuan Bridge, spanning three districts - Binh Thanh, 1 and District 4.

Cultural, entertainment and public spaces will be formed in Zone 3. This area will also feature landmarks at the traffic hubs between the existing center and Thu Thiem New Urban Area.

Zone 4 is the existing residential area with many French colonial villas. It covers parts of District 1 and District 3, stretching over 232.3 hectares.

To preserve the French-style villas, development in this area will be restricted.

Zone 5 is adjacent to Zone 1 to the south, assisting the central business district in commercial-financial development. It covers parts of districts 1 and 4 with an area of 117.5 hectares.

High-rise buildings will be developed near Ben Thanh metro station, along Ham Nghi Boulevard, Ben Nghe Canal and the extended part of Nguyen Thai Hoc Street connected to District 4. The buildings around Ben Thanh metro station will have a maximum height of 200 meters.

Under the plan, green space in downtown HCMC will be increased. Notably, in addition to the existing transport system and the planned metro lines, the city will develop bus rapid transits running from Ben Thanh to District 4 and trams running along the Saigon River.

Ho Quang Toan, deputy director of the HCMC Department of Planning and Architecture, said: “Implementation of the plan will start with infrastructure projects to facilitate the development of urban space.”

Source: SGT