Amiral Cruises for Presidents targets the high-end market segment with personalized programs that combine art performances with Vietnamese culture and cuisine.
Pham Ha, a representative of the cruise operator, said: “Our journey is inspired by President Ho Chi Minh’s historic voyage 115 years ago, when he departed from Nha Rong Wharf to seek a path for Vietnam’s national salvation. Every day, the cruise departs from Nha Rong Wharf for Cu Chi. In the evening, we offer sunset-viewing while dinning and enjoying our “River Show” of art performances. Under our plan through 2030, we will develop overnight cruises on the Saigon River and tours up the Mekong Delta to Cambodia.”
Ho Chi Minh City currently offers 60 river tours by water bus, speedboat, restaurant boat, luxury cruiser, or overnight vessel.
Nguyen Huu An, Deputy Head of the Tourism Resource Development Planning Division of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, said Ho Chi Minh City will continue investing in port infrastructure and expanding recreational spaces, the night-time economy, and riverside destinations to develop river tourism into a signature product.
“In Ho Chi Minh City’s master plan with a 100-year vision, the city has proposed developing riverside destinations to effectively utilize tourism resources. The city will increase investment in inland waterway ports and terminals to improve access for passenger vessels. The tourism sector has also proposed that the city develop international cruise ports, noting that tourist vessels still have to dock at cargo ports, which negatively affects visitors’ experience, perceptions, and the overall quality of tourism service,” said An.
Ho Chi Minh City has over 1,500 kilometers of rivers, canals, and waterways and has developed a wide variety of river tourism products, from short trips on the Saigon River to medium-distance routes connecting Can Gio, Cu Chi, and Vung Tau, and longer journeys to provinces in the Mekong Delta and Cambodia.
Visitors can explore many attractive destinations, including the Cu Chi Tunnels and traditional craft villages like Lai Thieu pottery village to experience local life and culture.
