Photo reportage
Thu Thiem Tunnel Officially Opens to Traffic

Thu Thiem Tunnel running under the Sai Gon River before the opening to traffic ceremony.

Thu Thiem Tunnel running under the Sai Gon River before the opening to traffic ceremony.

Leaders of the Party and State attend the opening ceremony of Thu Thiem Tunnel and the entire East-West Highway.

Leaders of the Party and State attend the opening ceremony of Thu Thiem Tunnel and the entire East-West Highway.

State President Truong Tan Sang awards the Labour Medal, 2nd and 3rd class, to the people and teams who obtained excellent achievements in the construction of the work.

State President Truong Tan Sang awards the Labour Medal, 2nd and 3rd class, to the people and teams who obtained excellent achievements in the construction of the work.

The inauguration and opening ceremony.

The inauguration and opening ceremony.

Thu Thiem Tunnel officially opens to traffic.

Thu Thiem Tunnel officially opens to traffic.

Means of transport in Thu Thiem Tunnel.

Means of transport in Thu Thiem Tunnel.

Modern buildings above Thu Thiem Tunnel.

Modern buildings above Thu Thiem Tunnel.

Thu Thiem Tunnel links with the East-West Highway.

Thu Thiem Tunnel links with the East-West Highway.

The East-West Highway is 22km long, about 100m wide with 14 lanes.

The East-West Highway is 22km long, about 100m wide with 14 lanes.

People in Ho Chi Minh City at the opening ceremony.

People in Ho Chi Minh City at the opening ceremony.

  • Thu Thiem Tunnel running under the Sai Gon River before the opening to traffic ceremony.
  • Leaders of the Party and State attend the opening ceremony of Thu Thiem Tunnel and the entire East-West Highway.
  • State President Truong Tan Sang awards the Labour Medal, 2nd and 3rd class, to the people and teams who obtained excellent achievements in the construction of the work.
  • The inauguration and opening ceremony.
  • Thu Thiem Tunnel officially opens to traffic.
  • Means of transport in Thu Thiem Tunnel.
  • Modern buildings above Thu Thiem Tunnel.
  • Thu Thiem Tunnel links with the East-West Highway.
  • The East-West Highway is 22km long, about 100m wide with 14 lanes.
  • People in Ho Chi Minh City at the opening ceremony.

On November 20, 2011, the opening to traffic ceremony of Thu Thiem Tunnel and the East-West Highway was held in Ho Chi Minh City. After the ceremony, Thu Thiem Tunnel, the first tunnel running under the river in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, and the East-West Highway (Vo Van Kiet Highway at present) officially opened to traffic, solving the traffic jams in inner Ho Chi Minh City.
It is a key work in the urban traffic infrastructure system of Ho Chi Minh City. The East-West Highway is 22km long, 42-100m wide and it has 8-14 lanes. Thu Thiem Tunnel running under the Sai Gon River is 1,490m long and 33m wide with 6 lanes and has two doors for getting out of danger. It is the most important section of the East-West Highway.
The highway was built with total capital of 16,000 billion VND (762 million USD), of which 65% came from the Japanese Government’s ODA and 35% came from the city’s budget.
Story: Nguyen Vu Thanh Dat - Photos: Nguyen Luan