Deadline extended for long-delayed Safari Park

photo source: Dantri

Previous to last week’s decision to defer the deadline, Thang had ordered the 11-year delayed project to be started in June this year.

Thang and a group of National Assembly-nominated candidates met with Cu Chi district voters to talk about their plan to develop the district after being elected. Voters raised a number of outstanding difficulties relating to the delayed project.

“Due to this project, for almost 12 years, we [local people] have not been able to repair our homes when they fall into disrepair, not to mention the fact that such a large area of land has been left unused,” said a local resident.

Thang asked the local authorities and the developer to advance the project and begin construction by the end of this year at the latest.

“This project will help attract tourists to Cu Chi, and in improving the socio-economic situation in the district,” Thang said, adding that the implementation of this project would come as a great relief to locals and would provide jobs both in the construction and operation of the safari park.

Located 50 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi is home to the famous system of tunnels used by Vietnamese during the long-running war against the US. This network of tunnels is remarkably well preserved and attracts millions of tourists every year. In 2013, CNN named the tunnel system one of the 12 most-visited underground constructions in the world.

Initially, the Saigon Safari Park project was approved in June 2004, and was due to be funded by Saigon Zoo Company and designed by Singapore’s Bernard Harrison & Friends. In 2012, Bernard Harrison & Friends withdrew from the project due to its long delays. Another sticking point was that the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee claimed that the designer’s fee was nearly twice that allowed by the Ministry of Construction. Also, land clearance and compensation was progressing at a snail’s pace. The project was recently re-invested by Saigon Zoo, Saigon Tourism Corporation, and Ben Thanh Limited. The new consortium planned to invest an initial sum of VND300 billion ($13.6 million) to finalise some essential aspects of the project’s first phase.

Once finished, Saigon Safari Park is expected to become Vietnam’s largest ecotourism facility. The park will focus on wildlife conservation and the breeding of rare plants and animals. It will consist of an open zoo, a night safari, a butterfly garden, a botanical collection, a natural museum, a flora and fauna research centre, and a picnic site, as well as other supporting facilities.