Thong Nhat Stadium "suspended" due to procedures, will it be ready in time for the 2026 National Sports Festival?

(NLDO)- After nearly 95 years since its construction, Ho Chi Minh City authorities are rushing to complete the renovation of Thong Nhat Stadium this year.

On January 16, the Propaganda Department of the City Party Committee and the Department of Information and Communications of Ho Chi Minh City held a press conference to provide information on socio-economic issues in the city.

At the press conference, Mr. Dinh Tran Anh, Director of Project Management Board 2 under the Management Board of Investment and Construction of Civil and Industrial Works of Ho Chi Minh City, informed about the progress of the Thong Nhat Stadium renovation project. It is expected that the project completion time will be later than previously planned.

Thong Nhat Stadium - Ho Chi Minh City; Photo: Quoc An

According to Mr. Anh, the most difficult part of the project is adjusting the investment policy. Currently, the HCM City Civil and Industrial Construction Investment Project Management Board has coordinated with departments, branches, districts and towns to adjust the 1/500 planning.

"This is a time-consuming task. Therefore, the project will not be able to start construction on April 30 this year. It is expected that by November, the investment procedures will be completed to start the project," said Mr. Anh.

To serve the 2026 National Sports Festival, the running track, field, stands A, C, D will be completed before October 2026. Stand B will be completed by the end of 2026 and the entire project will be handed over to the Thong Nhat Stadium Management Board in early 2027.

According to the previous plan, the site of Thong Nhat Stadium was handed over for construction in January 2025. After 10 months of implementation, the project will be put into use in December 2025.

Mr. Anh said that Thong Nhat Stadium was built in 1931 and put into operation in 1933. In 2004, the stadium was repaired and renovated to serve the 2006 National Sports Congress. Up to now, the project has not been repaired or renovated again.

Blocks A, C, D have degraded over time, the functional rooms have also seriously degraded, affecting the living and training process of athletes. Block B is no longer able to withstand the load and will be discontinued from 2021.

As for the grass field, the drainage system of the field is no longer working effectively, the running track is peeling. Therefore, the Management Board of Investment and Construction Projects for Civil and Industrial Works has proposed that the city repair the entire field surface, and add a parking garage under the stands to serve the audience.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/san-thong-nhat-treo-vi-thu-tuc-lieu-co-kip-dai-hoi-the-thao-toan-quoc-nam-2026-196250116175612952.htm