Under a draft strategy to develop waterway tourism in HCM City in 2013-15 and orientations to 2020, made by relevant departments and organs in the city, some VND 11 trillion will be financed to upgrade waterway transport infrastructure to turn waterway tourism a spearhead of the sector.

Of the sum, about VND 1 trillion is from the city’s budget and the rest is mobilized from various sectors.

Under this draft, the city plans to raise the annual average growth rate of waterway tourism by 20 per cent, and increase annual turnover by 30 per cent. By 2020, waterway tourism will be a key tourism product. To get this done, the city needs to upgrade and build 90 wharfs and roads leading to scenic spots, develop 65 tourist sites at districts and build 3 community tourism sites in Cu Chi, Can Gio and 9 precincts.

7 waterway tours are expected to be introduced in HCM City this May. Those tours will depart from Bach Dang Wharf, district 1 to tourist sites in Binh Quoi, Cu Chi and Long Phuoc garden house. Besides, the city will host various cultural, sports and tourism events every year at Bach Dang Wharf, Nha Rong Wharf and Mong Bridge, and develop aquatic sports in the above mentioned precincts.

The Municipal People’s Committee has assigned Saigon Tourist Corporation to study a waterway tourism route from the city centre to old pagodas in districts 5 and 6 and to Ben Nghe and Tau Hu Canals to western provinces.

HCM City has a strategic position for waterway tourism development with the advantage of around 1,000 kms of rivers, canals and irrigation ditches. Furthermore, its centre can link to other places from four directions and the city has a direct links to all key economic zones in the region.

Source: Vnexpress

Translated by Ngoc Bich