Rivers in Sai Gon of a The long-lasting symbol vibrant city

Referring to Saigon, people often think of high-rise buildings and ancient French architectural works. However, it is the system of rivers and canals that impresses every visitor coming to this city.

Each name of these canals is as simple and rustic as the soul of the Saigon people, namely Ben Nghe River, Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal, Lo Gom Canal, Ong Do Canal, Nuoc Den Canal, Te Canal, etc. The dense system of canals and rivers not only surrounds but is located right in the heart of the city. Such a system lay the foundation for traffic to transport rice and other agricultural products and goods from the Mekong Delta to the Saigon port. Along with the river system are countless bridges and wharves, forming trading activities taking place in market wharves, riverside market streets, riverside villages, etc.

In 1679, Lord Nguyen Phuc Tan chose Ben Nghe to set up a garrison because of its convenient location. Since then, the administrative headquarters of Gia Dinh such as Control Palace (1732), Bat Quai Citadel (1790), Phung Citadel (1835), and Governor General of Indochina (1869) sprang up in Ben Nghe area. Ben Nghe used to be the administrative center, while the commercial center was densely populated in Cho Lon.

After that, Cho Lon and Saigon merged into Saigon - Cho Lon. The city is expanded by overcoming low-lying terrain, gradually converting waterways into roads. Therefore, Saigon was really built on an area of interlaced canals with the filling of canals and raising roads.

Two major rivers are passing through Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City, namely Dong Nai River and Saigon River. Dong Nai River is the second largest river in the South, only after the Mekong River. The Saigon River joins the Dong Nai River and flows into the sea. Because it passes through many localities, the Saigon River has many different names.

For instance, From Tay Ninh to Thu Dau Mot - Binh Duong, it is called Nga Cai River. From Binh Duong to Thanh Da is Thu Khuc River, and from Thanh Da to Dong Nai River is called Saigon River or Ben Nghe River. The Saigon River flows into the heart of the city, combined with a series of internal waterways, creating a continuous waterway system, forming “Saigon the market”.

The canals are tributaries of the Saigon River. The remaining canals are Doi Canal - Te Canal, Tau Hu Canal - Ben Nghe, Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe, Lo Gom, Tham Luong, Cau Bong, Thanh Da...

More than 100 years ago, people in Saigon traveled mainly by boat. As motor vehicles evolved, modes of travel also changed. The canals were filled up to make roads. Cau Sau Canal was converted into Ham Nghi Boulevard, Cho Vai Canal disappeared to make way for Nguyen Hue Street, and Cay Cam Canal was replaced by Le Thanh Ton Street.

On New Year’s Day, Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City is brilliant with the red color of couplets, red envelopes. Saigon has many colorful flower wharves on the river, stretching from Cho Lon to Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe canal. The old Binh Dong Wharf (Tran Van Kieu Street, from District 6 to District 8 today) is a place on the wharf, under a typical Saigon boat, where rice trade from the West to the city, convenient waterways, is by historical evidence of 320 years of development Saigon - Cho Lon. The intersection of the East and the Southwest through the import and export of rice, agricultural products, and flower markets when spring comes, “playing the main role” in this interference is the Double Canal, which turns into a beautiful river of flowers between city heart.

In 1771, Lord Nguyen Cuu Dam dug the Rut Ngua canal, creating a waterway between the West and Saigon. Rat Ngua Canal connects Tau Hu Canal, Te Canal, and Ben Nghe Canal leading to the Saigon River; opening a trade route between Saigon - Gia Dinh - Dong Nai. After that, the French allowed to dredge the Tau Hu canal connecting with the Doi canal; Dig a wider Te canal connecting to the Saigon River, through the Saigon port for large ships to export rice, salt, and agricultural products.

Rivers and canals have created the shape of Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City. The waterways and meridians spread throughout the country and the world. Large and small ports were formed, markets on the wharf under boats also developed, and residents from all over the world flocked, creating the Saigon River culture. Natural canals and canals combine large and small rivers to intersect, creating an urban-rural cross-cultural flow.