Saigontourist launches new river tours

Saigontourist Holding Company, the country’s leading tourism services provider, on September 28 put into operation five new tourist boats and launched seven new river tours at Tan Cang tourist site in Binh Thanh District, HCMC, offering a new option for visitors to discover popular destinations in the city and neighboring areas.

With a luxurious design the five new modern motor boats can accommodate 25 passengers each and travel at a maximum speed of 50 km per hour. 

Tran Hung Viet, general director of Saigontourist, said in a statement that river tourism has been an integral part of Saigontourist’s development strategy in recent years and that the city government has assigned Saigontourist to find ways to boost river tourism services in the city.

Three member companies under Saigontourist – Saigontourist Travel Service Co., Binh Quoi Tourist Village and Vam Sat Tourist Site – have joined forces to develop these river tours, Viet noted.

Apart from the new boats and tours, Saigontourist is investing in modern wharfs at Tan Cang and Binh Quoi 2 tourist sites, and Saigon South tourism wharf in District 7 will also go up later.

Saigontourist will focus on promoting these new river tourism services by distributing multilingual brochures to tourists and travel agencies in the city. Tourist information booths can also be found at travel firms, hotels and restaurants under Saigontourist, Viet noted. 

Especially, the company will present its river tours at international travel fairs including Top Resa in France in September, ITB in Singapore in October and WTM in the UK in November, he added.

Following are the seven newly-launched river tours.

Tan Cang-Binh Duong-Ben Dinh tour

The tour departs at Tan Cang tourist site at 7 a.m. and ends at 3:20 p.m. every weekday, taking in some popular destinations such as Ba Son, Thanh Da Canal Bridge, Binh Loi Bridge, Lai Thieu Bridge, Tran Van Ho’s ancient house in the southern province of Binh Duong, Thien Hau Lady Pagoda, Thu Dau Mot Market, Phu Cuong Church, Ben Cat Intersection, Ben Dinh Tunnel and Hai Thanh Koi Garden ecotourism site.

Tickets are priced at VND2.1 million per adult and VND1.58 million per child, including tax and service fee. These prices are applicable to tours for at least six passengers.

Tan Cang-Binh Duong-Hai Thanh Koi Garden ecotourism site tour

Departing at 7 a.m. at Tan Cang tourist site, the tour will allow tourists to explore Thanh Da Bridge, Binh Loi Bridge, Lai Thieu Bridge, Tran Van Ho’s ancient house in the southern province of Binh Duong, Thien Hau Lady Pagoda, Thu Dau Mot Market and Phu Cuong Church. Upon arrival at Hai Thanh Koi Garden ecotourism site, visitors will have the opportunity to visit Koi fish stream, crocodile farm and seasonal fruit farm, and enjoy other services.

The ticket costs VND1.66 million per adult and VND1.245 million per child, including tax and service fee. The prices are applicable to tours with six passengers or above.

The tour ends at 3.30 p.m.

Mangrove Forest-Tan Cang-Can Thanh tour

The boat will pick up tourists at 7 a.m. at Tan Cang tourist site. The tour is available on weekdays and scheduled to finish at 4.40 p.m., giving visitors enough time to see Phu My Bridge, Den Do (Red Light) Intersection, Nha Be Intersection, Yen Quan House, Tam Thon Hiep Village, Nga Bay River, Thieng Lieng Islet and Ha Thanh River.
The boat will stop at Hoa Hiep Port in Can Thanh Town, Can Gio District. From there, tourists can take a bus tour around Can Thanh Town to inspect local residents’ daily activities.

Then, the boat will sail to Monkey Island, Dan Xay Bridge, Binh Khanh Ferry, Phu Xuan, Rach Dia, Rach Ong, Te Canal, Tan Thuan, and Khanh Hoi.  

The ticket price is VND2.04 million per adult and VND1.53 million per child, including tax and service fee. The price is only for tours with at least six passengers taking part.

Tan Cang- Thanh Da Binh Quoi Peninsula tour

The tour is available on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays with the departure time at 4 p.m. Tourists can admire the landscapes along the Saigon River and Thanh Da Binh Quoi Peninsula.

The boat will depart from Tan Cang tourist site, taking in some tourist spots including Binh Quoi 1 and Binh Quoi 2 tourist sites and Rach Chiec Intersection.

Tickets are priced at VND750,000 per adult and VND560,000 per child, inclusive of tax and service fee. The prices are for tours with at least six passengers attending.

Tan Cang-Ben Dinh Tunnel tour

The tour departing at 7:30 a.m. and ending at 2 p.m. is available every weekday. Tourists will be brought to Thanh Da Binh Quoi Peninsula, Binh Loi Bridge, Lai Thieu pottery craft village in Binh Duong and Ben Dinh Tunnel in Cu Chi. The tour price is VND1.899 million per adult and VND1.424 million per child, including tax and service fee, and applicable to tours with at least six passengers joining.

Tan Cang-Long Phuoc tour

The departure time is 8 a.m. from Tuesday to Sunday. The itinerary includes the upstream of the Dong Nai River, the Saigon River, Den Do (Red Light) intersection, Cat Lai Port, Coconut Garden, Long Thanh Bridge, Buu Long Pagoda, Long Phuoc garden and Sy Hoang’s ao dai museum. Tickets cost VND1.52 million per adult and VND1.14 million per child, with tax and service fee included. The prices are for tours with six passengers or more participating.

Tan Cang-Vam Sat tour

The tour departs at 7 a.m. and finishes at 3:30 p.m. on weekdays. Guests can get a glimpse of sites such as the Saigon River, Te Canal, the Rach Dia River, Phu My Hung urban town, Phu Xuan Market, An Thoi Dong, Ly Nhon and Vam Sat ecotourism site. Tickets are priced at VND2.145 million per adult and VND1.61 million per child, including tax and service fee. The prices are applicable to tours with six passengers or more attending.

Tour prices also include boat ticket, snack, lunch, fruit, beverage, admission fee and shuttle bus transfer.  

For booking, contact the River Tourism Center at A100 Ung Van Khiem Street, Binh Thanh District, HCMC. Tel: 028 35125139. Hotline: 0908611138 or 0909284554. Email: binhquoirivertour@gmail.com.

SGT