HCM City to offer more river routes

Under the plan, at least seven waterway tourism products will be developed along the Sai Gon, Dong Nai, Nha Be, Soai Rap and Long Tau rivers and Ben Nghe, Te, Tau Hu, and Lo Gom canals by 2020.

The number of tourists purchasing waterway tourism products is expected to reach 450,000 next year, with a growth rate of 15% a year on average.

As part of the plan, the first public river bus route in  Ho Chi Minh City began operation last week.

The 10.8-km Bach Dang- Linh Dong route, with 12 stops, starts at Bach Dang Wharf in District 1, and goes through districts Binh Thanh, Thu Duc, 1 and 2.

Bui Xuan Cuong, director of the city’s Department of Transport, said many waterway tourism routes would be developed in coming years, including routes from  Ho Chi Minh City to Binh Duong, and to Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta provinces.  

Greenlines DP Company will launch high-speech boats for a route from the  Ho Chi Minh City centre to Can Gio District on December 23, he said.

HCM City has 1,000 km of rivers and canals connecting the city with the neighbouring provinces of Binh Duong, Tay Ninh, Dong Nai, Long An and Ba Ria-Vung Tau and the Mekong delta provinces.