Domestic and foreign tourists to Ho Chi Minh City will have exciting experience discovering the beauty of local scenery as tour operator Saigontourist launched seven new waterway tours on September 28.
State-owned tour operator Saigontourist launched seven new waterway tours on September 28.(Photo: tienphong.vn)
HCM City (VNA) – Domestic and foreign tourists to Ho Chi MinhCity will have exciting experience discovering the beauty of local scenery as state-ownedtour operator Saigontourist launched seven new waterway tours on September 28.
At the launching ceremony, Director of the municipal Department of Tourism BuiTa Hoang Vu said that the move is significant to enhance the glamour andcompetitiveness of the city’s tourism.
He stressed that with a crisscross canal system, Ho Chi Minh City boasts hugepotentials to develop waterway tourism, thus it is necessary to develop tourismproducts based on available advantages.
The new waterway tours are expected to help promote the city’s image as afriendly, attractive and safe destination, he added.
The tours include one to mangrove forest in the suburban Can Gio district, oneto 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, entrancefees and pick-up costs.
Five high-speed canoes with designed capacity of 25 passengers each will beused in the waterway tours.
Saigontourist director Tran Hung Viet said that waterway tourism is in thecompany’s development strategy. Along with new boats and canoes as well as newtours, the company has invested in a line-up of wharfs and stops like those inTan Cang tourism site and Binh Quoi 2 tourism site.-VNA
For over a decade the pace of tourism development in HCM City has been rather slow due to limited products in terms of places of interest and cultural and entertainment activities for tourists.
Ho Chi Minh City plans to launch the first river bus transport service in June connecting Bach Dang Wharf in District 1 with Thu Duc district, and a second route in September from Bach Dang Wharf to District 8.
The first river-bus transport service was launched technically in Ho Chi Minh City on August 21, looking to ease traffic congestion on roads and meet travel demands of local people.
Meeting, Incentive, Convention and Exhibition (MICE) tourism should become a staple of Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism sector, as the lucrative business brings added value and contributes to the city’s sustainable development, experts said.
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Data from Booking.com reveals that during the peak summer vacation in June and July, beach trips continue to be a top priority for Vietnamese travellers.
The northern midland province of Phu Tho has carried out all-round measures to improve tourism infrastructure, services, and offerings, elevating visitor experience and reinforcing the province’s unique cultural identity.
Hanoi has directed lodging providers and tourist destinations to bolster preparations in staffing, service quality, security, and sanitation. Community-based lodging platforms such as Airbnb are also being promoted strongly to expand housing supply during the holiday period.
State-owned tour operator Saigontourist launched seven new waterway tours on September 28.(Photo: tienphong.vn) 
