Ho Chi Minh City's nipa palm-inspired pedestrian bridge sets it apart from Singapore, Bangkok

The 720-m bridge, which connects Bach Dang Wharf in the city center with Thu Thiem peninsula, was successfully joined on Oct. 21 after more than a year of construction. It is expected to open to the public during the 2027 Lunar New Year holiday next February.

An artist's rendering of the completed pedestrian bridge across the Saigon River. Photo courtesy of the design team

Its centerpiece is a 187-m span featuring three interconnected steel arches shaped like nipa palm leaves, flanked by curved access ramps on both riverbanks.

Takashi Niwa, chief architect of the design proposal and representative of the Chodai–Takashi Niwa Architects and Chodai Kisojiban Vietnam consortium, said the concept emerged during a 2019 design competition.

The project brief posed several challenges. The city wanted a striking new landmark on the downtown waterfront that also provided sufficient vertical clearance for large vessels, suitable gradients for emergency rescue vehicles, and a roof to shield pedestrians from the sun.

Moving beyond basic structural engineering, the architects wanted the bridge to capture what sets Ho Chi Minh City apart from other tropical metropolises like Singapore and Bangkok.

They ultimately drew inspiration from southern Vietnam's winding waterways and iconic nipa palm groves, culminating in a design they named the "Saigon Leaf."

Ho Chi Minh City authorities approved the proposal in 2023.

A close-up of the nipa palm leaf-shaped steel arch on the pedestrian bridge across the Saigon River after the main span was joined on the morning of Oct. 22, 2026. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Tung

The nipa palm leaf motif is expressed through interconnected steel arches that form a three-dimensional roof structure. This arch design minimizes the number of piers in the river, placing the main supports near the riverbanks. The layout provides a navigation channel 80 m wide with 10 m of vertical clearance.

When evaluating the proposal, the city's selection council praised the layout for widening the navigation channel, reducing the risk of vessel collisions, and keeping the deck open for broader pedestrian views. The council noted that the leaf-shaped roof was distinctive, simple, and well-suited to a modern urban setting.

The designers also focused heavily on the public spaces at both ends of the bridge. Gently sloping ramps create a continuous, curved route from Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street and Bach Dang Wharf Park across the river to Thu Thiem.

On the Bach Dang Wharf side, a large spiral staircase sits above a public deck surrounding a fountain.

Niwa noted that the staircase serves as a prominent architectural feature while shielding the space below from the elements. Its form is intended to spark curiosity and encourage exploration.

Given its prime location near Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street, Ba Son Bridge, and other major downtown landmarks, the bridge was specifically designed to support a vibrant nightlife.

To enhance this experience, the architectural team partnered with Japanese lighting designer Kato Hisaki to create an illumination scheme that integrates the structure with the surrounding urban landscape.

"These elements may not be strictly necessary for the function of a pedestrian bridge, but we believe they are essential to making this a comfortable destination for recreation, relaxation and community activities," Niwa said.

The pedestrian bridge across the Saigon River after the main span was joined on the morning of Oct. 22, 2026. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Tung

The project, which carries a total investment of nearly VND1 trillion (US$39.5 million), is funded by food company NutiFood. Construction began in March 2025.

The main span was fabricated and assembled at a factory in Vung Tau. It was then towed via a sea route to Bach Dang Wharf for installation.

Dang Xuan Hai, construction manager for contractor Dat Phuong, explained that because the main span lacks supporting piers in the middle of the river, the two riverside piers—TC1 and TC2—must bear thousands of tons of steel and pedestrian load.

This required massive, submerged foundations. The TC2 foundation on the Thu Thiem side spans nearly 1,800 square meters, exceeding the foundations of many cable-stayed bridges. At high tide, the bases sit about eight meters below the water's surface, which complicated construction amid strong river currents.

Nguyen Huu Hoang, project director at NutiFood, confirmed the bridge is now about 90% complete. Following the joining of the main span, crews will finalize technical inspections and finish the deck, railings, lighting, and landscaping ahead of February opening.

Location of the pedestrian bridge across the Saigon River. Graphic by VnExpress/Hoang Khanh