The HCMC Tourism Association has established the Vietnam Yacht Club in HCMC, whose first activities are aimed at helping with the development of river tourism in the city, the association’s chairman said.

Nguyen Huu Tho told the Daily that the club groups some 20 businessmen who are yacht owners and suppliers of yacht-related services in HCMC and some other provinces.

“We will join hands in activities to build wharfs and marinas for river tourism,” he said.

The club plans first activities seen as necessary for the development of river tourism such as collecting information about waterway transport rules, and preparing a map of stopover stations in HCMC for yachts among others.

According to Tho, conditions are becoming better for river tourism, especially after the city opened the first river tour route from Bach Dang Wharf in District 1 to the Ham Long Artisan Village in District 2.

The Saigon South Yacht Company, jointly established by Saigontourist Holding Company and other partners, is completing procedures for building a tourist wharf in Nha Be District, and is asking the city government for help in developing some stations to pick up passengers in Bach Dang Wharf.

He also cited a huge tourism project that got off the ground in Can Gio District on Monday as a positive sign for river tourism in the city.

“The huge tourism project Saigon SunBay in Can Gio District currently under progress is also a good sign for the city’s river tourism, making it possible to expand river tours to Can Gio seen as a good destination for tourists,” he said.

The municipal government is pining high hopes on developing river tourism in the city, and focusing more on developing river tours to Can Gio.

The city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has also lent a helping hand in this respect by proposing a plan to build three stops in Can Gio alongside the arrangement of tours from Bach Dang Wharf to tourist sites in the district by boat and car.

The department is preparing for some fact-finding trips in the coming time, and expects to open the first tour to Can Gio late this year.

Source: SGT