Binh My – A New Perspective from the Field Trip

The team of experts from the Institute for Smart City and Management (ISCM), led by Assoc. Prof. Trinh Tu Anh, conducted a field survey in Binh My Commune, Ho Chi Minh City. The trip focused on the riverfront corridor, local canals, and two proposed riverside park projects. Through the survey, the team recorded multiple layers of values interwoven between heritage, culture, ecology, and community, opening up new approaches for sustainable development as well as river tourism connectivity between the northern and southern banks of the Saigon River.

The close bond between river, village, communal house, and people has formed a continuous spiritual–cultural axis of the waterway, reflecting the history of reclamation, settlement, and protection of riverside villages. These values are embodied in significant landmarks such as Nguyen Dynasty communal houses, traditional festivals, wartime tunnel architecture, and martial arts practices, all of which shape the unique identity of Binh My within the urban cultural flow.

During the survey, the two canals—Cay Diep and Dua—were highlighted as ecological focal points, suggesting the potential for community-based tourism products following the route “from canal to communal house,” linking riverside villages with spaces of worship and community activities. The riverside land strip is also envisioned to become a Creative Park and a Cinema Park, taking advantage of natural light and the rural–riverine landscape. With its location on the southern bank of the Saigon River, Binh My faces directly toward Thu Dau Mot on the northern bank, creating a distinctive axis of visual, cultural, and tourism connection.

The Binh My Creative Park is positioned with a core function of connecting infrastructure, community activities, and creativity, serving local residents on a regular basis. Planned activities include workshops, exhibitions, events, environmental education, walking spaces, and riverside sports. These initiatives are expected to bring practical benefits such as increasing livelihoods, expanding public spaces, improving landscapes, and enhancing quality of life.

On October 31, 2025, UNESCO officially recognized Ho Chi Minh City as a Creative City in the field of cinema, making it the first locality in Southeast Asia to achieve this title. In this context, the Binh My Cinema Park stands out with its advantage of being close to the HTV film studio, making it suitable to develop into an open-air film studio. The park can host diverse activities such as martial arts performances, outdoor film screenings, filmmaking workshops, and photography sessions. These activities not only create distinctive tourism products and generate significant direct revenue but also contribute to positioning the local cultural–artistic brand on the global creative map.

Both projects aim to increase socio-economic benefits, expand public spaces, and promote sustainable riverside tourism. However, the Creative Park focuses on community and everyday infrastructure, while the Cinema Park emphasizes cultural industries, distinctive products, and commercialization.

Community governance is reflected in the commune’s increased investment in infrastructure, enhancing its capacity to organize public spaces and essential services. Although the current economy leans toward industry, Binh My continues to prioritize ensuring urban agriculture for Ho Chi Minh City, supplying local food and specialty products. Preservation is carried out by safeguarding tangible heritage such as communal houses, architecture, and river corridors, as well as intangible heritage like festivals and community memory. Activation is achieved through events, creative spaces, educational programs, and heritage interpretation. Value creation transforms heritage into economic capacity, livelihoods, and local branding.

As part of the trip, the survey team, together with experts, representatives of the Binh My Business Association, local authorities, and residents, engaged in discussions about the two canals—Cay Diep and Dua—as well as the riverside park project. Survey activities took place along the river corridor of Binh My Commune, closely linked with communal house spaces and the distinctive cultural landscape of the area.

The field trip opened a new perspective on Binh My as a space where heritage and creativity intersect. The axis of “River – Village – Communal House – People” is not only a story of identity but also a foundation for sustainable development strategies: from community infrastructure and urban agriculture to cultural industries. The dual positioning of the Creative Park and Cinema Park serves as a lever to preserve, activate, and elevate local values, while connecting Binh My with the urban heritage across the river in Thu Dau Mot, thereby shaping a rich and experiential river tourism route.

Content and photos: ISCM