Ho Chi Minh City has resumed construction of a project to prevent tidal flooding in the city, with total investment of VND10 trillion ($418 million).

Invested in by the Trung Nam Group, the project aims to curb flooding on an area of 570 sq km in the inner city area along the banks of the Saigon River that is home to 6.5 million people.

Six large sluice gates, river embankments totaling 8 km, drains, and three pumping stations are to be built.

Construction kicked off in 2016 and was scheduled for completion in 2018 and then 2020. It was postponed in August 2020, due to difficulties relating to capital disbursement and site clearance.

The investor has restarted construction of the Muong Chuoi sluice gate in Nha Be district, the biggest of the six to be built. Around 93 per cent has been completed.

Construction of the remaining sluice gates is scheduled to resume in June.

The project will be completed next February.