Saigontourist Holding Company, the country’s leading tourism services provider, has put into service five new tourist boats and rolled out a variety of fresh river tours, which take in popular destinations in the city and neighboring provinces.

Saigontourist launches new river tours taking in popular destinations in HCMC and neighboring provinces - PHOTO: COURTESY OF SAIGONTOURIST

The tours, designed by Binh Quoi Tourist Village in conjunction with Saigontourist Travel Service Co., an arm of Saigontourist Holding Company, offer a range of options for passengers.

Tan Cang-Thanh Da Binh Quoi Peninsula tour

The boat will pick up tourists at 4 p.m. at Tan Cang tourist site. The tour is available on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays and scheduled to finish at 8 p.m.

Along the way visitors can admire the peaceful landscape of Thanh Da Peninsula, which is only eight kilometers from the city center but its atmosphere is different from the noisy city life in the downtown area. In addition, tourists will be brought to Binh Quoi Tourist Village where they can taste specialties of southern Vietnam and listen to don ca tai tu (southern folk music).

Tickets are priced at VND750,000 per adult and VND560,000 for kids aged between three and 10, including a shuttle bus to and from hotels in the downtown area and dinner buffet ticket. It is free for children under three years old.

Tan Cang-Ben Dinh Tunnels tour

The tour departing at 7:30 a.m. and ending at 2 p.m. is available every weekday, allowing tourists to witness the beautiful scenery along the Saigon River. When reaching Ben Dinh Tunnels in the outlying district of Cu Chi, it would be an amazing experience for travelers to explore the 250-kilometer-long tunnel system after watching a short documentary about the tunnel system.

The tour price costs VND1.899 million per adult and VND1.424 million for kids from three to ten years old, inclusive of shuttle bus transfer to and from hotels in the downtown area, tour guide, refreshment, lunch, fruit, drinks, towel and entrance tickets. Children aged less than three can join the tour at no charge.

Tan Cang-Long Phuoc Garden tour

The departure time is 8 a.m. from Tuesday to Sunday. The itinerary will take tourists to Buu Long Pagoda with its distinctive and unique architecture of Thailand and Sy Hoang’s ao dai museum to gain a better understanding of the history of ao dai (traditional Vietnamese long dress) which is attached to the image of Vietnamese women and seen as a symbol of national beauty and pride.

One of the highlights of the tour is Long Phuoc Garden, which covers hundreds of hectares in HCMC’s District 9 where nature enthusiasts can enjoy a family meal featuring local specialties and fresh fruits at the garden.

Tickets cost VND1.52 million per adult while kids aged between three and ten pay VND1.14 million per child, inclusive of services as mentioned in the tour earlier. It is free for kids under three years old.

The tour is slated to end at 4 p.m.   

Tan Cang-Vam Sat eco-tourism site

The tour departs at 7 a.m. and finishes at 3:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Joining the tour, guests can take a close look at Vam Sat eco-tourism site, which was acknowledged as the world’s most sustainable ecological site by the World Tourism Organization (WTO).

Furthermore, Dam Doi (Bat Lagoon) with its picturesque landscape is also included in the itinerary. Especially, climbing to Tang Bong Tower which is 26 meters high in the heart of Vam Sat tourist site to take a panoramic view of Can Gio mangrove forest is really a fantastic experience for visitors.

Tickets are priced at VND2.145 million per adult and VND1.61 million per child, inclusive of services as mentioned in the tour earlier. It is free for kids under three years old.

SGT