The existing expanded center of HCMC includes the entire core part of District 1 and parts of District 3, District 4 and Binh Thanh District, covering some 930 hectares, according to the scheme.

The city center is bordered by the Saigon River to the east, and Dinh Tien Hoang, Vo Thi Sau and Cach Mang Thang Tam streets in District 3 to the west. Nguyen Huu Canh Street and Thi Nghe Canal mark the northern border, while the southern one is formed by Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Cong Quynh, Nguyen Cu Trinh, Nguyen Thai Hoc streets and Ong Lanh Bridge in District 1 and Vinh Phuoc, Hoang Dieu and Nguyen Tat Thanh streets in District 4.

According to the design approved by the HCMC Department of Zoning and Architecture, the downtown area is divided into five sub-areas.

They are the central business district, the historical-cultural area along Le Duan Boulevard, and the west bank of the Saigon River from Saigon Bridge to Tan Thuan Bridge. Included will also be the villa area in District 3 and part of District 1, and neighboring areas to the central business quarter in districts 1 and 4.

The scheme suggested many architectural solutions for downtown HCMC in the future, such as building underground structures from Ben Thank Market to the City Opera House, setting up parks on the west bank of the Saigon River, and developing high-rise buildings at the inner-city ports along the Saigon River.

However, the Japanese designer said the city needs to conserve more than 200 buildings of historical significance, apart from the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, Ben Thanh Market, Children’s Hospital 2 and the French villa area.

Saigon Zoo, Tao Dan Park, April 30 Park and September 23 Park are seen as valuable green spaces of historical significance. Therefore, historical parks and long-standing trees will be conserved to retain memories of an ancient city.

A senior leader from the architecture department said the most precious thing of an urban area is its development history. "The city center has lost many architectural structures of historical value, but effort for conservation is never too late," said the source.