“All procedures are being completed so that Thu Thiem ICA will sign the deal with DeSo by May next year at the request of the city government,” Trang Bao Son, Vice head of Thu Thiem ICA, said on Tuesday (16-12).

It is DeSo that had won first prize in the international design competition for the Central Plaza, Crescent Park and Saigon River Pedestrian Bridge in the new urban area on Thu Thiem Peninsula in District 2 opposite the city’s commercial district. The new town covers 770 hectares, including 130 hectares of Saigon River water surface. Son said the city would also take some excellent points from the designs by Switzerland’s Hager International AG as the second prize winner, and third place getter Hong Kong’s EDAWin to perfect the designs for the Central Plaza and the Crescent Park.

The 13-hectare Central Plaza will host key events of HCMC such as festivals, military parades, celebrations and national gatherings for over one million people at a time. The 12-hectare Crescent Park is expected to be the great waterfront park of the city with an extensive landscaped area, contemporary gardens, paths for promenading, kiosks and water taxi station serving the shuttle pedestrians and motorbikes between Me Linh Square and Thu Thiem. However, Son said, the city is considering organizing another competition in the near future to seek the best designer for the Saigon River Pedestrian Bridge because DeSo’s design for the bridge in the competition did not meet the requirements. According to Son, the bridge across the Saigon River will become an icon of the city, so the selection process is prudent. The bridge will connect the Central Plaza with the Saigon River bank in District 1.