Saigon River Pedestrian Bridge: When Will It Open? Arch Closure Set for 21 October 2026, Linking District 1 With Thu Thiem
Short answer: the pedestrian bridge across the Saigon River — linking Bach Dang Wharf park (Saigon ward, former District 1) with the central square and riverside park of Thu Thiem new urban area (An Khanh ward) — is scheduled for arch closure on 21 October 2026. In the early hours of 16 October, the steel arch and its support frame, 3,400 tonnes in total, were loaded onto a barge at Dong Xuyen port for the trip to the Saigon River (Vietnam Government News, 12 and 16 October 2026). Deck, railings and landscaping follow closure; no opening date has been announced.
Realtique’s reading of the record: the earlier target of opening around 2 September 2026, reported in May, has slipped, but the project is about 90% complete. Below: the timeline, where the bridge lands and how long it is, the 124 km tow, and what a walkable link to District 1 changes for people living in or buying in Thu Thiem.
Saigon River Pedestrian Bridge — As of 17 October 2026
Table of Contents
When Will the Saigon River Pedestrian Bridge Open? The Timeline
The next milestone is arch closure on 21 October 2026 — a planned date that depends on tides and water levels on the Saigon River. Published milestones so far:
| Date | Milestone | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Mar 2025 | Groundbreaking at Bach Dang Wharf park | Done |
| 11 May 2026 | First concrete pour for main pier cap TC2 | Done |
| 12 Oct 2026 | Load test of the 3,400-tonne assembly; project about 90% complete | Done |
| 2:15 am, 16 Oct 2026 | Arch loaded onto the barge at Dong Xuyen port | Done |
| 18–19 Oct 2026 | Barge departs and reaches its mooring on the Saigon River | Planned |
| 21 Oct 2026 | Arch closure | Planned |
| After closure | Deck finishing, railings, landscaping, amenities | Opening date not announced |
In May 2026 the press reported a target of completing the bridge in September, around National Day on 2 September. That has slipped: in October the sponsor put progress at about 90%, and reports now give only the closure date, not an opening date. We will update this page when one is announced.
Load-out of the 3,400-tonne arch at Dong Xuyen port, night of 15–16 Oct 2026 — Photo: chinhphu.vn/LT (Vietnam Government News)
Where Does the Bridge Land, and How Long Is It?
The bridge links Bach Dang Wharf park (Saigon ward, former District 1) with the central square and riverside park of Thu Thiem new urban area (An Khanh ward); on the Thu Thiem side it lands near the junction of Nguyen Thien Thanh and N14 streets. Key figures from published project information:
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total length | about 720 m |
| Main span | 187 m steel arch, shaped after a water-coconut leaf |
| Deck width | 6–11 m |
| Navigation clearance | 80 m wide, 10 m high |
| Extras | spiral stairs, stairs, lifts, water feature, pump station |
| Funding | nearly VND 1,000 billion, privately funded by Nutifood |
Contractors include Construction Corporation No. 1 (CC1, approaches), Dat Phuong Group (main piers and abutments) and Dai Dung (arch fabrication and assembly).
Graphic: Realtique · Data: project information published by Dan Viet (12 May 2026) and Vietnam Government News (Oct 2026)
The 124 km Journey of a 3,400-Tonne Arch
The arch was assembled whole at a yard in Dong Xuyen port (Rach Dua ward, formerly Vung Tau) and is travelling to Ho Chi Minh City by water:
- Load test (12 Oct): about 30 self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) lifted the assembly 40 cm for 24 hours to check deflection and stiffness — results met design values.
- Load-out (night of 15–16 Oct): the 156 m long, 20 m+ high assembly (about 1,400 t of bridge plus 2,000 t of frame) rolled onto a 14,000-tonne barge and was set on 50 supports; done at 2:15 am on 16 Oct.
- Tow: about 124 km via Ganh Rai Bay and the Dinh, Thi Vai, Long Tau and Nha Be rivers into the Saigon River, moving in daylight only.
- River closures on the Saigon River on 19 October and from 2 am to 6 pm on 21 and 22 October (HCMC Department of Construction notice, as reported).
The arch, inspired by the water-coconut leaf, at the Dong Xuyen yard before load testing on 12 Oct 2026 — Photo: chinhphu.vn/LT (Vietnam Government News)
What Changes for Thu Thiem?
Today, getting from central District 1 to Thu Thiem means the Saigon River tunnel or the Thu Thiem and Thu Thiem 2 bridges — a car or motorbike trip. The footbridge adds a direct walking route from Bach Dang Wharf to central Thu Thiem. For the apartment market, three things are worth watching:
- District 1 feels closer for residents and tenants in towers near the Thu Thiem riverfront — buyers who usually weigh Thu Thiem against District 1 and Thao Dien.
- Another public landmark for central Thu Thiem, home to projects such as The Metropole Thu Thiem and Empire City and to the planned central station (see TOD and the Thu Thiem mega station).
- Foot traffic and visitors could lift demand for retail space and serviced apartments around the Thu Thiem landing.
We are not putting a price figure on this: the bridge is not open, there is no before-and-after transaction data, and the benefit depends on each tower’s distance to the landing. When viewing a unit, walk the actual route from the lobby to the bridge.
Buying in Thu Thiem as a Foreigner: Three Checks
Better infrastructure makes Thu Thiem more attractive, but the rules for foreign buyers do not change:
- The project must be open to foreigners and the tower must still have room under the 30% per-building quota — get it confirmed in writing before paying a deposit (see the 30% quota explained).
- The quota ledger must be clean: in October 2026 The Metropole’s developer was fined for late reporting of 272 foreign sales (details).
- Ownership term for foreign individuals is up to 50 years, renewable; overseas Vietnamese who keep Vietnamese nationality buy as citizens.
For the wider district, see our Thu Thiem foreign buyer’s guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the Saigon River pedestrian bridge open?
Arch closure is planned for 21 October 2026, depending on river conditions. Deck, railings and landscaping follow; no opening date has been announced. An earlier target of around 2 September 2026 has slipped.
Where does the Saigon River pedestrian bridge start and end?
It runs from Bach Dang Wharf park (Saigon ward, former District 1) to the central square and riverside park of Thu Thiem new urban area (An Khanh ward), landing near Nguyen Thien Thanh and N14 streets.
How long is the bridge and who paid for it?
About 720 m in total, with a 187 m steel arch main span shaped like a water-coconut leaf and a 6–11 m deck. It cost nearly VND 1,000 billion and is privately funded by Nutifood.
Will the pedestrian bridge raise apartment prices in Thu Thiem?
There is no data yet: the bridge is not open and the effect depends on each tower’s distance to the landing. The clearest change is a direct walking link to former District 1 for residents and tenants in central Thu Thiem.
Can foreigners buy apartments near the bridge in Thu Thiem?
Yes, if the project is on the list open to foreigners and the tower has room under the 30% quota. Foreign individuals can own for up to 50 years, renewable. Get the remaining quota confirmed in writing before paying a deposit.
⚠️ Note: Tow and closure dates are plans announced by the sponsor and authorities via Vietnam Government News and the press (October 2026) and may shift with river conditions. No opening date has been announced. Length and width come from project information published in May 2026. Market effects are Realtique’s assessment, not a price forecast. This is not investment advice.
Considering an apartment in Thu Thiem?
Send Realtique the project and tower you have in mind. We map the real walk to the footbridge and metro, confirm the foreign quota left, and benchmark prices against District 1 and Thao Dien so you can decide on evidence.
📞 Hotline: +84 866 810 689
Grace Le
Grace Le helps expatriate buyers and tenants compare Thu Thiem with District 1 and Thao Dien — measuring real walking routes to new links, confirming foreign quota tower by tower, and staying with clients until the certificate is in their name.
