Speaking at a Tuesday meeting on developing waterway tourism in HCM City during the 2023-2025 period, Thang suggested water taxi services on the Saigon River should be piloted to provide more travel options.

"With some nine million motorbikes and nearly a million cars, we're facing more congestion and polluted air on HCM City streets," Thang said. "We should take advantage of the city's dense system of rivers and canals to develop waterway transportation, including water taxis operating using solar energy. This service will both help bring more choice and reduce air pollution."

HCM City now has 101 waterway routes with a total length of nearly 1,000 kilometres running through four main rivers of Saigon, Dong Nai, Long Tau, and Soai Rap connecting some neighbouring provinces of Binh Duong, Tay Ninh, Dong Nai, Long An, Tien Giang, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

There have been nearly 50 tours operated by nearly 20 travel agencies on local rivers.

The HCM City Tourism Department targets to serve 500,000 tourists on the Saigon River by 2025.

Source: Dtinews