Ho Chi Minh City now has its first double-decker river buses.

Ho Chi Minh City's river bus service has been upgraded into a new tourism product, allowing visitors to enjoy the city's riverside scenery on double-decker boats.

The new waterway tourism product "Saigon River Sightseeing" was launched for residents and tourists in Ho Chi Minh City at the end of December. This is an upgraded tourism product from the Saigon Waterbus river bus, with differences in the river route, services, and an expanded second deck space on the boat.

Mr. Nguyen Kim Toan, Director of Thuong Nhat Company, the owner of the river bus and double-decker river bus service, said that the "Saigon River Sightseeing" waterway tourism product takes tourists on a scenic cruise on the Saigon River through central areas. From Nha Rong Wharf, the boat passes major landmarks such as Nha Rong Wharf, Bitexco Tower, Landmark Tower, Ba Son Bridge (Thu Thiem 2 Bridge), and other famous locations along the Saigon River. The boat stops at Thu Thiem Waterway Station in Thu Duc City for tourists to enjoy the scenery before dropping them off at Bach Dang Wharf.

The current operating frequency is 6-10 trips per day, each lasting 45-50 minutes. The current fare ranges from 179,000 VND to 339,000 VND depending on the class of seat, and includes the train journey, passenger insurance, and a choice of drinks on board.

Double-decker boats take tourists on a scenic cruise along the Saigon River in the late afternoon.

"The journey not only allows visitors to admire the beauty of the river, but also lets them listen to the river tell stories—stories about the 300-year history of the Saigon River, with its bustling waterways and bustling activity," said Mr. Kim Toan.

Ms. Kim Lien, a resident of Ho Chi Minh City, shared that she often takes the river bus with her family on weekends. Hearing that the city had a double-decker bus, she booked a ticket to try it out on December 24th. Ms. Lien said that the second deck area is different from regular river buses, and the services on board are more diverse, with a tour guide introducing the destinations the boat passes through. The ticket price is much more expensive than a regular river bus, but it's commensurate with the service received and cheaper than a dinner cruise.

Mr. Kim Toan stated that all the port and ship systems are considered "hardware," shaping urban architectural planning and also defining the services around the port. When a port opens, many surrounding services benefit.

"The Saigon WaterGo product, or Saigon River Sightseeing tour, introduced this time is 'software,' which will be continuously updated and developed to meet the ever-increasing needs of domestic and international tourists," Mr. Toan said.

Bich Phuong

Source link