Work resumes on HCMC's $33M convention center after decade-long delay

Initially launched in 2013 and planned for completion by 2015, the project stalled at 80% completion in 2019 due to disputes over material quality between the project manager and the contractor. A new contractor was selected earlier this year to complete the remaining work.

The final phase includes installing glass walls, façades, support frames, partitions, railings, ceilings, and decorative metal panels.

The 5-story exhibition center, spanning 18,000 square meters along the Saigon River, aims to showcase HCMC's architecture and urban planning initiatives. It will also serve as a venue for events and discussions among experts, investors, and tourists.

Designed with two slanted triangular structures and a steel framework, the center was envisioned as a symbolic landmark for Thu Thiem New Urban Area. However, prolonged delays stemmed from the previous contractor's inability to meet material specifications and the technical incompatibility of proposed materials with the project's design.

In March 2023, the city terminated the contract with the former contractor. Management of the project, initially overseen by the HCMC Department of Planning, was transferred to the Management Board of Industrial and Civil Engineering Construction and Investment Projects in early 2022 to expedite progress.

The center, funded by the state budget, is a key part of HCMC's efforts to establish Thu Thiem as a modern urban hub.