Compass Travel Vietnam
Concrete “mushrooms” in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City
Located in the heart of the most modern and vibrant city of Ho Chi Minh City, the old water towers with the age of half a century have become a familiar and close image to the people here.
For tourists from far away to Ho Chi Minh City, the giant mushroom-shaped water towers with a contemplative look evoke a lot of curiosity and strangeness. For people living in the city, the image of these water towers and water towers has long been a familiar feature. However, not everyone knows well about the uses and reasons why the works of an old Saigon still exist in the heart of a vibrant city.
The aquarium near the intersection of Hoang Dieu – Nguyen Tat Thanh (District 4) has stopped working, located inside a workshop belonging to Ben Thanh Water Supply Joint Stock Company.
According to the longtime security guard in charge of the workshop, this water tower has been untouched for a long time. Currently, the work still retains the iron stairs to go to the top but has rusted and deteriorated.
Another large water tower is located at the Clean Water Transmission Enterprise (District 3) and is the tallest building in the area.
Built before 1975, the water stations in Ho Chi Minh City are responsible for storing water and regulating the pressure of domestic water for each large residential cluster. With the capacity of each water station from 1,200m3 to 8,500m3, according to the design, the water supply for people is guaranteed, even if the water stations do not use electricity.
At the intersection of Le Dai Hanh – 3/2 Street (District 11), another large water tower is nestled in the middle of a bustling residential area. People living in the area said that this water tower was located here before the surrounding dense population cluster was formed.
The water tower is located on the campus of the Cultural House in District 5. The only entrance to inspect and observe the items inside the water tower is the iron staircase system leading from the ground to the top.
After more than 60 years since it was erected, the roof of the water tower still retains its solid appearance, showing no signs of deterioration. However, the system of stairs was damaged, rusted after a long period of exposure to sunlight, and was not maintained.
Mr. Le Minh Duc (70 years old, living in Vien Dong apartment building, district 5) said that after 1975, when his family moved here, the water tower existed. According to the people of previous generations, the water tower was built to supply water to the apartment building and surrounding areas.
However, after completing construction and starting operation, the water tower had a leak. The repair, which lasted until 1975, was not completed, so the water tower was abandoned.
“The water tower has deteriorated, which can be dangerous for people. I hope the authorities will carry out maintenance, repair or, better yet, demolish it to have other working land”, Mr. Duc shared. .
Not far away, the water tower located on Pham Phu Thu Street (District 6) became a garbage collection area among old buildings. Right at the foot of the water tower, temporary houses of households were erected to take the citadel of the work as a fulcrum.
Every afternoon, the area at the foot of the tower is a common place for workers living nearby, the large yard is used as a playing field for volleyball and ironball.
Mr. Tran Minh Hieu (53 years old) said, since he was young, the water tower has been located there. Before the residential area was formed, around the water tower were only fields of land and vegetable fields. The elderly man said that, instead of dismantling, the authorities can consider renovating and repairing so that they can turn the water pillars into attractions, entertainment or a relic for the younger generation to come to. .
“We often call this the Binh Tien water tank. When we were young, the brothers still made an appointment to come here to play ball and volleyball every afternoon, until we were old, we still made an appointment. This water tower was for us. is a treasure trove of memories,” said Mr. Hieu.
In addition to 7 large mushroom-shaped water towers, Ho Chi Minh City also has 6 small water towers with a capacity of 50m3 – 150m3. Small water towers were built with the original purpose of serving water sources for apartment buildings with a low number of households.
In the picture is the water tower in Ngo Gia Tu apartment building (District 10).
At present, the water stations are in a state of disrepair. Some are located in companies and factories, some are located in the middle of residential areas.
With reinforced concrete structure, thick foundation, many times larger than the surface area of the tower, the demolition of these works is not easy. Especially when residential clusters and constructions have been formed, surrounding the water stations, the dismantling will affect the surrounding area.
These old water towers, over half a century of existence, contain more or less close feelings, a familiar image to the people of Ho Chi Minh City.
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Concrete “mushrooms” in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City
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