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Waterways and urban morphology of Saigon Hochiminh city case study of Xuyen Tam canal area in ward 1 and 2, Binh Thanh district

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Quy hoạch và phát triển kè bờ sông Sài Gòn và sông, kênh nội thành và các giải pháp  
để hoàn thành cơ bản kè sông Sài Gòn, sông và kênh nội thành vào năm 2025  
WATERWAYS AND URBAN MORPHOLOGY  
OF SAIGON HOCHIMINH CITY  
CASE STUDY OF XUYEN TAM CANAL AREA  
IN WARD 1 AND 2, BINH THANH DISTRICT  
Hanh Vu  
University of Architecture Hochiminh City,  
196 Pasteur District 1, Hochiminh City Vietnam  
E-Mail: hanh.vuthihong@uah.edu.vn  
ABSTRACT  
Saigon- Hochiminh City (HCMC) has a long history of water-based  
development, defined by entire system of water transport routes, water-based  
living culture and productivities. Today, due to the declines of water  
transport and water-related social economic activities, water-based  
settlements have degraded the qualities of their living and working  
environments, negatively contributing to images of the city with pollutions,  
slums and garbage filled.  
In order to upgrade the conditions, improve water landscape, attract  
investments and accumulate economic growth, city government, with  
financial and technical supports from national and international levels, has  
carried many projects on water upgrading and redevelopment. The general  
objectives have been recorded as (1) (completely or partly) evictions of  
water-based communities/households, (2) constructions or widening of water  
- side roads, and (3) renovations and developments in vacant areas acquired  
from land pulling and readjustment.  
However, the effectiveness of evictions and resettlements of large  
number of households, the incomprehensive and passive plans for spatial  
renovations and upgrading after road constructions, and the demolitions of  
lots of valuable buildings have been questioned.  
If only are the values of water - based characteristics convincingly  
identified, the responsive and sensitive solutions for these areas are  
reasonably appropriate. This paper develops a framework to analyze values  
of these settlements from various aspects of spaces based upon  
morphological approach: the physical, the behavioral and emotional  
characters. Then, taking a section of Xuyen Tam canal as a case study, this  
paper applies the framework to analyze and discuss its future spatial  
transformation.  
Key words: Saigon, Hochiminh city, HCMC, canal, values, character,  
physical, behavioral, spatial, emotional, identities, transformations, Xuyên  
Tâm.  
70  
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1. INTRODUCTION  
In Saigon-HCMC, areas along sides and on river/canals have been places and homes of many  
people. Thanks to the dense water network of natural and man-made water channels (together called  
canals here), water transport and diverse water-based working and living activities have become  
identifiable elements [1, 2]  
.
Over long transformations, water-based communities have got smaller and moved away from  
water whenever they can afford to leave [1,2,3,4]; canals are only place for whom having social  
economic constraints. The so-called messy, polluted and degraded canals and their communities have  
expanded to all canal areas in the city centre during 1960s – 1970s, and the situations returned to the  
waterways that receive less official attention and control during1975-1990s.  
To solve the problems of water, air and visual pollutions, the declines of social cultural  
environments, at the same time to attract more investments and stimulate economic growth, many  
canal upgrading projects have been carried out, commonly aiming at:  
- Evictions of houses on and along sides of water channels;  
- Water-side roads constructions;  
- Spatial renovation of areas along sides, spare lands for larger scale developments within  
debatable buffer zones.  
If these are appropriate, then the next task is to research and propose suitable spatial development  
models and resettlements for the evicted communities. However, according to a PhD research done in  
2010 (Vu, 2010), every water channels in Saigon HCMC has different roles and contributions to ‘the  
greats and falls’ of the city; among which belonging spatial elements such as roads, buildings, plants,  
and living cultures have been also differentiated. As a result, a prototype of either conservation or  
development applied in such areas has been always questionable. East-West highway (later Vo Van  
Kiet Boulevard) is an example. Clearly, the road construction and the clearance of canal housing have  
brought a new ‘civilized, modern clean and tidy image’ to the area [2,,3,5]. However, drawbacks  
remained such as the evictions of a large number of 20,000 households, controversial resettlements  
sites and policies, the disconcertment of spatial development in ‘post road construction’, and the  
removal and demolitions of many valuable architecture have been negative points of the project [2].  
2. FRAMEWORK TO ANALYZE SPATIAL IDENTITIES OF SPACES  
In any human settlement, aspects of spaces include (1) physical attribute, (2) activities and (3)  
meanings (Relph (1976), Bentley (2012), Vu (2012, 2017) :  
- Physical attributes/forms): include (1) natural elements such as terrain, topography, water  
surface, water channels, trees and plants, etc), (2) the built fabric such as spatial forms, architecture,  
road/street, amenities and facilities to serve human’s needs. These elements are perceived by people  
using human’s senses; resulted in what is called ‘cognitive dimension of space’;  
- Activities: including (mostly) human activities and of other creatures on earth. These  
activities occur in different time, at different spaces and with different routines/manners; however are  
divided into two categories: passive activities and active activities. All activities occurring in one  
space create ‘behavioral dimension’ of that space. Some activities happen regularly in one space in a  
long enough time soon likely become identifiable elements of that space.  
- From those two above spatial dimensions, meanings of physical attributes and activities are  
formed, transferred through time and spaces, create ‘emotional dimension’ of space. With different  
individuals participating into this perceiving procedure, this has important meanings, experiences,  
elements that connect themselves to surrounding environments. This is also base to develop methods  
to evaluate quality of space, by different perceivers who take part in the transformations of spaces.  
71  
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Fig 1: Elements/Dimensions of space [2,3,6,7]  
3. RESULTS  
3.1 Spatial identities: Values – based Assessment  
Values given to each dimension of space are relatively quantified from a field survey where  
opinions of whom involve in the transformation of water-based settlements are gathered based upon  
the framework developed above. And depending on the purpose of the research, different scales of  
spatial analysis are focused; in many cases, ranging from:  
- Locations of typical settlements in a specific area/city/region;  
- Distribution of water-based buildings including housing and public facilities; and  
relationship with water and road/land;  
- Characteristics of housing including structure, spatial organization, façade, interior, and  
furniture, etc.  
While morphological approach helps understand physical dimension of space, narrative approach  
allows understandings of how physical forms relate to social cultural and economic patterns of each  
settlement/ house.  
3.2 Canals and spatial identities of Saigon HCMC – an analytical example  
A research in 2010 [2,3] figured out 05 different water classes of which the location of each class  
in distance relationship with the city center was not necessarily important (see map with 5 classes in  
Figure 3 below). Instead, human settlements and their living culture attached have influenced the  
ways people perceived spaces; therefore, their behavioral and emotional dimensions of spaces  
consequently affected. Yet, it is evidenced that water in Saigon HCMC has played crucial impacts on  
the three dimensions of city space/form, from the existence of dense water network, countless bridges,  
and many road names starting with water- related figures such as Port/Dock/Quay (Bến) (i.e Bến Bình  
Đông, Bến Ba Đình (District 8), Bến Chương Dương (District 1), Bến Nhà Rồng, Bến Vân Đồn (Dist  
4), Bến Hàm Tử (District 6)), to layers of houses on and along Saigon river, and canals in the city.  
72  
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Fig 2: Classifications of canals according to ‘values’ – a case of Saigon HCMC [2,3]  
(Although waternetwork is hierachical like road/street network, individual values and its contributions to the  
identities of relating areas are not necessarily accordingly)  
According to the research on the roles of canals and identities of Saigon HCMC[2] the perceptions are  
as following:  
- Regardless of ethnic backgrounds, gender, age, and social political roles, majority of people  
were aware and appreciate the important roles of canals in the identities of Saigon HCMC,  
contributing to not only physical but also behavioral and emotional attributes of Saigon HCMC’s  
image. (Fig 4)  
- Housing along canals and open spaces along have been crucial elements of urban morphology  
generally and waterfront landscape in particularly; however, in certain periods especially currently  
have not fulfilled the roles and played negative impacts on both the historic values and future  
potentials.  
- Social aspects such as living culture, jobs, behaviors, personal distinctive characteristics,  
surprisingly, have not been affected by water. People who live long enough in this land can easily  
adapt to constantly changing living conditions.  
- The local people easily accept upgrading solutions as long as they bring green, clean and  
beautiful living environment, facilitating variety of social cultural activities along canals (the physical  
and the behavioral dimensions). However, the emotional dimension of space is achieved if only do  
they feel familiar with both.  
Physical forms  
Functions and activities  
- Shapes, sizes, and distributions of  
water channels;  
- Relationships with other urban  
morphological elements:  
+ Street network  
+ Public spaces  
+ Architecture: buildings,  
infrastructure  
-
Water transport: freight and  
passengers  
-
Urban water manipulator and  
drainage system  
-
Economic activities on and  
along water  
Identities  
-
Daily and festival  
recreational activities  
+ Other physical spatial attributes  
Meanings and experiences  
Historic and cultural values  
Familiar and friendliness  
Satisfaction  
Fig 3: Framework to analyze how waterways help diversify the identities of urban landscape of Saigon  
HCMC [2]  
73  
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4. WHICH DIRECTION FOR THE FUTURE OF WATERWAYS IN SAIGON HCMC?  
4.1 Current directions  
In many canal upgrading projects, it is commonly seen as followings:  
- The removal/eviction of water-related communities due to new developments: this is  
questionable since many research have shown the demolishment of many historic valuable buildings  
and landscape architecture, the eviction of more than 20,000 canal households; the new chaotic spatial  
development and the ongoing drawbacks of resettlement policies/program  
- Waterside road(s) construction: Roads along water channels with high-speed vehicles tend to  
disconnect the water from surrounding activities; a linear park next to the water hardly accommodates  
variety of social and cultural activities for local people in daily lives. In addition, from the perspective  
of commuters using waterways, this stereotype is not so interesting too.  
- Changes of water- based buildings/architecture due to new demanded land uses and  
renovation/new development:  
Conservations of ‘heritage buildings’: since ‘heritage buildings’ normally listed under  
different administrative agencies (national, provincial, and local levels), the lists miss quite a  
lot, especially since they only focus on public uses and physical aspects of buildings;  
Renovation: This tendency is applied mainly to areas with private properties that hardly  
withdraw and readjust land uses or be combined plots. These are commonly seen in the  
waterside architecture, not ‘floating’ architecture or settlements;  
New development: applied to big land plots, possible to withdraw and readjust land uses,  
potential for new investments and tourism-related development.  
In reality, architecture development tends to go in after waterside road construction, resulted  
in chaotic images with odd shapes and size plots, controversial architecture styles, height, and  
densities.  
4.2 Value- based assessment and an example for a canal section rehabilitation  
As spatial characters of areas along sides and nearby water channels are more or less affected by  
that water course, the value-based analysis should not be statically limited in any distances from the  
water edges or buffer zones. The surveyed areas should consider the comprehensive site that  
specifically defined and amended throughout the survey, historically and currently. For that reason,  
the following example chose the area of Xuyen Tam canal in Binh Thanh District.  
From a wetland located in the edge of the citadel and later out skirt of a modern colonial city,  
disguising the Gia Dinh of Viet people from the French colonists and their allies, this place has  
significant water landscape values dated back to 1690-1860 (natural blue and green spaces, Le Van  
Duyet temples, the citadel gate, the port-boat market). Later, with its first roads and tramway, it is  
crucial for the city transportation, connecting the core center to the North-East areas (1860-1960),  
following settlements with colonial architectural stereotypes; the water edges somehow still remain  
wild. During 1960-1975, this area was one of the busiest locations for commercial and trading  
activities, following diverse social cultural footprints evidenced via architecture and public spaces that  
are somehow relating to water (1975- today); the built fabric along the canals is obviously considered  
less valuable.  
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The deduction  
of greenery and  
water areas  
(green color);  
vice verse the  
built fabric got  
denser over  
time (blue and  
yellow color)  
TODAY  
Devalued  
compared to  
similar  
strategic  
Commercial hub then Social  
cultural belongings  
Natural water landscape values  
Circulation network-  
tramway  
Fig 4: Canal helps identify morphological patterns at Xuyen Tam canal Section [8]  
Fig 5: Public buildings and public spaces as attractors of the areas; however, seem not very relevant to (Xuyen  
Tam) canal close by [8]  
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The current situation  
Fig 6: Images show issues of flood, pollution, degrade of waterways, disconnected insecure small alleys, yet  
]
potentials of the water elements to sold problems and enrich social cultural characters [8  
Physical forms  
Functions and activities  
-
Urban water manipulator and drainage  
-
Historic axes: tramway, and Dinh Tien Hoang  
Reasonably free from heavy load traffic  
Public buildings are well served the local communities  
Existing blue and green system  
system;  
-
and along water;  
-
Social cultural and economic activities on  
-
-
-
Daily and festival recreational activities.  
-
Low rise architecture = potentials for vertical development,  
greenery and open spaces  
Identities  
Meanings and experiences  
Historic and cultural memorial values about  
tramways, historic architecture  
Familiar and friendliness  
Satisfaction on living environment  
Fig 7: Morphological values of a canal section of Xuyen Tam, Ward 1- 2, Binh Thanh District [8]  
Project’s Objectives  
- Improve environmental  
qualities  
- Attractions for local uses  
and visitors  
- Maximize Public transport  
- Revitalize historic values:  
local attractiveness  
- Urban voids for public uses  
- Green spaces network  
connected with waterfront and  
significant attractors  
- Increase life’s qualities  
- Improve living environment  
76  
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MARKET/  
ATTRACTOR  
FOOD SHOPS  
TRAMWAY STATION  
MAIN SQUARE  
TOURIST  
SERVICES  
HUB  
WATERFRONT  
SQUARE  
BOAT  
STATION  
THE INNER BLUE: NOT  
NECESSARILY REAL BLUE BUT  
OPEN DRAINAGE  
TRAMWAY  
SHOPS/CAFÉ  
TRAMWAY STATION  
LOW-MIDDLE RISE  
APPARTMENTS  
Fig 8: Proposed Landuse Plan for the research area [8]  
INNER CANAL (ALIKE) AT BUI HUU NGHIA STREET SECTION WITH TRAMWAY, OPEN WATERFRONT (LEFT) AND TOURIST  
SMALL ALLEY  
ORIENTED SHOPHOUSES ALONG CANAL (RIGHT)  
Fig 9: Proposed Street Sections with water (alike) element for the research area [8]  
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LEGENDS:  
1. LE VAN DUYET TEMPLE  
2. BA CHIEU MARKET  
3. GIA DINH CHURCH  
4. CULTURAL AND TOURIST CENTRE  
5. SHOP HOUSES  
6. LOW-MIDDLE RISE APARTMENT  
7. LOCAL GARDEN/PARK  
8. INNER CANAL PARK  
9. UNDERGOUND PARKING LOT  
10. TRAMWAY STATION  
Fig 10: Proposed Master Plan for the research area [8]  
78  
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WATER TAXI STATION AND TOURIST ORIENTED  
LEGENDS:  
INNER CANAL (ALIKE) PARK)  
1. LE VAN DUYET  
TEMPLE  
2. BA CHIEU MARKET  
3. GIA DINH CHURCH  
4. CULTURAL AND  
TOURIST CENTRE  
5. SHOP HOUSES  
TYPICAL SACTION OF BUI HUU NGHIA STREET WITH REACTIVATED TRAMWAY  
Fig 11: Proposed water-based public space and tourist attraction in the research area [8]  
5. CONCLUSIONS  
REFERENCES  
Solutions on upgrading and development of  
the waterfront and water - based settlements in  
Saigon, HCMC need to have more  
comprehensive approach to ensure the protection  
of distinctive values and benefits to all,  
according to case-to-case basic. In order to  
enable those values to be identified and  
maximized, in-depth analytical understandings  
and the program to balance different demands for  
living, public good and environmental protection  
are critical from different stakeholders. While the  
overall water network need strategic and holistic  
approach, to the small and less historically  
significant channels like Xuyen Tam,  
local/community - based solutions might be more  
useful, starting from increasing public awareness  
and their behavior toward waterways.  
[1] Vu and Duong, 2017, Water-based Housing Morphologies in  
Mekong Delta, Vietnam, Conference paper: Environmental  
solutions in Building construction and properties development,  
MGSU and UAH, Hochiminh City.  
[2] Vu, Thi Hong Hanh, 2016, (Canal-based Houses in Hochiminh  
City, Issues of Identifications and Respondents to the water-based  
Distinctive Urban Spatial Values (Nhà ở trên kênh rạch tp HCM,  
vấn đề nhận diện và đề xuất hướng phát triển đặc trưng không gian  
kiến trúc cảnh quan đô thị), Conference paper, Houses along canal  
in HCMC, HCMC People Committee and HCMC Architects  
Association, HCMC, 11/2016  
[3] Vu, Thi Hong Hanh, 2010, Canals and identities of Saigon  
HCMC, PhD thesis, Oxford Brookes University, UK  
[4] Dương, Q.V, 2016, Đặc trưng nhà ở dọc sông rạch vùng Đồng  
Bằng Sông Cửu Long (Distinctive Housing on and along Water in  
Mekong Delta), Master Dissertation, University of Architecture  
HCMC  
[5] HCMC People Committee, 2010, East-West highway Project,  
Report, HCMC  
[6] Relp, E, 1976, Place and Placeless, London: Pion, UK  
[7] Bentley, I, 2012, Responsive Urban design, short course, UAH,  
HCM  
[8] Vu and MA24 students, 2018, Urban morphology Studio  
project, Course Module, MA Program, UAH, Hochiminh City  
79  
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