A ferry linking HCM City’s outlying districts of Nha Be and Can Gio

They are scheduled to start later this year,according to the HCM City Department of Transport.

It will take some 15 minutes for the 43.35mferries, which can carry 350 passengers, 150 motorbikes and 20 cars, for the15km trip.

Nguyn Van My, Chairman of Lua Viet Tours, said theferry service would facilitate cargo transport between the two destinationsbesides offering commuters another option.

The new service will help boost tourism by bringingtravellers to Can Gio, a district with many beautiful sights in HCM City, hesaid.

Not only highways but even the HCM City – LongThanh – Dau Giay Expressway is overloaded, especially during weekends andholidays.

The new ferry boats would offer a convenient meansof travel for locals and visitors going between HCM City and Vung Tau, My said.

But to make it a success, authorities must connectthe service with other services, he said, pointing out there is currently notransport link between HCM City and the Tac Suat Ferry terminal.

Thus it is not accessible to people travelling fromHCM City to Vung Tau. There are hydrofoil services between HCM City and VungTau, and these would be a competitor to the new ferry service.

Tran Song Hai, CEO of the HCM City-based GreenlinesDP Technology Co Ltd, the operator of the hydrofoil services, said the ferryservices would be convenient for transporting passengers and cargo between thetwo cities.

There is huge demand for travelling between HCM City and Vung Tau.

Many people ask the hydrofoil operators to allow them to bring motorbikes while traders want to transport seafood and poultry, but both requests are rejected because the hydrofoils are only meant to serve tourism.

The new ferries can accommodate these demands, Hai said.