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| Construction crews are currently driving piles and building foundations for the walking path along the Huong River, from Toa Kham Wharf to the base of Dap Da (Stone Dam) |
Racing against time
We visited the construction site of the walking path along the Huong River, from Toa Kham Wharf to the base of Dap Da, in mid-April. At this point, construction units have been driving piles for constructing the foundation revetment. Cranes operated continuously, lifting iron and concrete piles, which were driven into the riverbank with pile-driving machines to create a solid base for the structure.
Mr. Nguyen Cong, a construction worker on site, shared: “Construction units and workers are doing their utmost to implement the basic steps in accordance with the project design.”
According to our observations, as soon as the piles are driven, the contractor immediately levels the ground in that section. So far, piling and grading have progressed about 20 - 30 meters along the banks of the Huong River. The sight of the crews at work has drawn the curiosity of residents and tourists alike, who pause to watch the operation.
Mr. Duong Quang Hien, Director of the Green Park Center of Thuan Hoa District (Hue City), the project's investor, shared that this riverside path is a combined pedestrian and bicycle path that stretches 460 meters and is 6 meters wide, complete with water supply, drainage, and lighting infrastructure. The project carries an investment of more than 35 billion VND and is slated for completion within three years.
Once completed, this path will connect with the walking path along the Nhu Y River, the section from Dap Da to Van Duong Bridge (Hue City), which stretches more than 1.6 kilometers, also 6 meters wide, with a total investment exceeding 267 billion VND.
Based on our inquiries, this route is basically complete, with only a few minor works remaining before it can be brought into operation. The pathway along the route has been finished with tile paving, but many sections still need to be concreted and widened to make walking more convenient for residents and visitors.
Currently, several sections of the path are being covered with tarps for concrete pouring to expand the walkway. Sand trucks and concrete mixers have been mobilized to speed up progress. Simultaneously, handrails are being installed along parts of the path that lacked them.
Moving upriver to the southern riverside path from Da Vien Bridge to Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street, in Phuong Duc Ward, machinery and materials have been gathered on-site. Construction crews are concentrating their manpower on dredging silt, driving piles, and installing steel gabions to build the foundation.
Mr. Bach Vinh, the site manager from Hue Urban Environment and Construction JSC, said: “Taking advantage of the dry weather, we’ve increased manpower and equipment to ensure timely progress.”
A fully connected path
The walking path along the Huong River, from Da Vien Bridge to Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street, has a total length of nearly 2km. It starts at the Bui Thi Xuan Park walking street and ends at the intersection of Bui Thi Xuan and Huyen Tran Cong Chua streets. The project is divided into two sections.
Section 1 runs parallel to the riverbank, with a length of approximately 1,863 meters and a roadbed width of 10.5 meters. This includes a 3-meter-wide pedestrian walkway (adjacent to residential houses), a 2-meter-wide median strip, a 3.5-meter-wide bicycle lane, and a 2-meter-wide riverside sidewalk, which will be covered with grass to create green space.
Section 2, the connector road leading to Bui Thi Xuan Street (running perpendicular to the Perfume River), is about 74.5 meters long with a roadbed width of 12 meters. Of that, the carriageway is 6 meters wide, and the sidewalks on each side are 3 meters wide and will be planted with a range of trees.
“We are accelerating the progress and striving to complete the project by October 2025,” said Mr. Hoang Thien, Director of the Project Management Board for Investment and Construction of the Thuan Hoa District, the project's investor.
Some opinions suggest that construction faces obstructions from certain households. However, when we met Mr. Le Van Duy, owner of Song Huong Quan Restaurant (address: 3/238 Bui Thi Xuan Street, Phuong Duc Ward), he confirmed: “The section of the walking path in front of my restaurant, near the foot of Nguyen Hoang Bridge, has already completed site clearance and construction, and it does not affect my property. However, my family has been affected by nearly 300 square meters of land for another government project. We fully comply with the State’s policies and are currently completing the necessary procedures to hand over the land to the construction units.”
According to Mr. Bui Ngoc Chanh, Deputy Director in charge of the Land Development Center of Thuan Hoa District, there are 121 households influenced by the riverside walking path (southern side) from Da Vien Bridge to Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street. The 600-meter section from Nguyen Hoang Bridge to Lon (Go-under) Bridge has completed site clearance and was handed over to the investor on February 28th, 2025. Remaining issues in site clearance are being addressed through coordination among district departments to ensure project progress.
As of now, most land clearance and construction barriers have been basically resolved. The project is expected to be completed on schedule this October, promising seamless connectivity and adding a new highlight to the riverbanks, an ideal check‑in spot for both domestic and international visitors toHue