HCM City agencies have unveiled plans to promote waterway transport on the 975km of riverways in the city, according to the city’s Department of Transport.For the last decade, the city has focused on land transport in an aim to tackle traffic congestion, especially at the entrances to the city and its ports. Cát Lái River Port in HCM City’s District 9. — VNS File Photo A number of projects to expand road networks were completed, but did not ease traffic congestion, especially at the northwest gateway and the entry to Cát Lái Port, transport experts said.Bùi Xuân Cường, director of the Department of Transport, said the city last year built 106km of roads and 21 bridges.Võ Kim Cương, former deputy architect of HCM City, said that rapid urbanisation was one of the main causes behind the overloaded streets.The inappropriate locations of ports have also caused pressure to existing road networks.Cương … [Read more...] about HCM City maps out plans for water transport expansion
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HCM City maps out earthquake, tsunami response plan
The HCMC government has approved a plan for earthquake and tsunami responses in the city, in which the force to be mobilized in case of disasters consists of nearly 30,000 people.Additionally, hundreds of vehicles such as motorboats, pontoon boats, ferries, barges, tugboats and rescue boats will be allocated to all districts and mobilized when disasters occur. Furthermore, earthquakes and tsunamis will be promptly covered by the mass media. According to the municipal government, HCMC is located in the Saigon River fault zone, with a type of fault able to cause earthquakes of up to 5.5 on the Richter scale and level-7 vibrations in the city and the neighboring areas. Although the possibility of earthquakes is low, the effect of aftershocks on old high-rise buildings, structures with weak footings and poor-quality construction works is worth considering. There is even a chance of tsunamis happening if epicenters lie in adjacent waters. So far, there has been no epicenter in the city. … [Read more...] about HCM City maps out earthquake, tsunami response plan
HCM City to pilot bike-sharing programme
Vice Chairman of HCM City People's Committee Tran Vinh Tuyen has asked the Department of Transport to build a pilot bicycle-sharing programme in the city's centre. A bicycle rental location in China Tuyen said at a meeting with the department on December 22 that the bicycle-sharing programme would not need huge investment, would be easy to expand and can be managed via the internet. More importantly, the programme could help reduce private vehicles, congestion and pollution in the city.In order to rent a bicycle, mobile phone users need to download an app, search for a bicycle rental location on the map and unlock a bike using a QR code. The bike-sharing model has been implemented in 200 cities around the world and is popular. Chengdu City in China has 8 million population, of which 3 million participate in a bike-sharing programme."Bicycle is a good solution and would be good for people to use for exercise," the city's vice chairman said. "People from the suburbs can use public … [Read more...] about HCM City to pilot bike-sharing programme
HCM City yacht club opens to develop domestic river tourism
The HCM City Tourism Association has established the Viet Nam Yacht Club in HCM City, the first activities of which are aimed at helping to develop river tourism in the city, according to the association's chairman Nguyen Huu Tho. The first activities of the club, which groups some 20 yachts owners from HCM City and neighbouring provinces, are necessary for the development of river tourism, including collecting information about waterway transportation rules and preparing a map of stopovers in HCM City for yachts. Tho said the opening of the first river tour route from Bach Dang Wharf in District 1 to Ham Long Artisan Village in District 2 has helped pave the way for river tourism in HCM City. Source: VNS … [Read more...] about HCM City yacht club opens to develop domestic river tourism
Open-air book fair marks ethnic cultures in HCM City
(Cinet)- An open-air book fair themed " Book and 54 Ethnic Groups" will be held in HCM City to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) from February 7-13 on three downtown streets including Mac Thi Buoi, Nguyen Hue and Ngo Duc Ke. This year, the fair, organised by the city's Department of Information and Communications, would consist of some rare books, images and documents on Viet Nam's 54 ethnic groups as well as its seas and islands. Another highlight of the event will display of maps and other documents on Vietnam’s sovereignty over its national waters and islands that includes over 200 titles and 1,000 books selected by the National Border Committee and the GeneralScienceLibrary City. Twelve domestic publishing houses, distributors and libraries will present 20,000 copies on economics, culture, literature and many other subjects.Children's books and electronic books are hoped to be a huge draw this year. An exhibition called Sach Thieu Nhi Xua – Nay (Children's Books … [Read more...] about Open-air book fair marks ethnic cultures in HCM City