Domestic and foreign tourists to Ho Chi Minh City will have exciting experience discovering the beauty of local scenery as state-owned tour operator Saigontourist launched seven new waterway tours on September 28.

State-owned tour operator Saigontourist launched seven new waterway tours on September 28.

At the launching ceremony, Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Bui Ta Hoang Vu said that the move is significant to enhance the glamour and competitiveness of the city’s tourism.

He stressed that with a crisscross canal system, Ho Chi Minh City boasts huge potentials to develop waterway tourism, thus it is necessary to develop tourism products based on available advantages.

The new waterway tours are expected to help promote the city’s image as a friendly, attractive and safe destination, he added.

The tours include one to mangrove forest in the suburban Can Gio district, one to the Cu Chi tunnel and another exploring the lower course of Sai Gon river, all starting from Tan Cang tourism site. 

Prices for the tours range from 750,000 VND (33 USD) to 2.1 million VND (92.4 USD), including light meal, lunch, local fruit, bottled water, tour guide, entrance fees and pick-up costs.

Five high-speed canoes with designed capacity of 25 passengers each will be used in the waterway tours.

Saigontourist director Tran Hung Viet said that waterway tourism is in the company’s development strategy. Along with new boats and canoes as well as new tours, the company has invested in a line-up of wharfs and stops like those in Tan Cang tourism site and Binh Quoi 2 tourism site.

VNA