Two high-speed boats linking central Ho Chi Minh City with Mekong Delta provinces Tien Giang and Ben Tre are proposed to debut as a tourism boost.
The HCMC Department of Transport plans to launch the boats along a route exceeding 100 kilometers, initially from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., in the third quarter of this year.
The route will begin at either Bach Dang Wharf in District 1 or Nha Rong Port in District 4 and cover 110 kilometers and 120 kilometers to Tien Giang and Ben Tre, respectively.
The boats will either cruise along the Sai Gon, Nha Be, Soai Rap, and Vam Co rivers, or the Nuoc Man canal and Can Giuoc River before meeting the Cho Gao canal and Tien River to dock at Tien Giang and Ben Tre ports or wharfs.
They will have a capacity of 75 to 150 people and travel directly from HCMC to Tien Giang and Ben Tre and back without stopping to pick up or drop off passengers along the route.
Ticket prices will be set through discussions with the operator.
HCMC, Tien Giang and Ben Tre authorities are working to survey and reach concensus on the project.
A high-speed boat will also be deployed from HCMC to Con Dao, a district archipelago off the coast of Vung Tau, in addition to the two routes.
Con Dao, comprising 16 pristine islands, has a diverse marine ecosystem and rich history, making it one of the top destinations for local and foreign tourists. The islands are home to jails dating back to the French colonial and Vietnam war periods.
Waterway transportation lines are projected to relieve traffic congestion on roads and boost local tourism.
Just south of HCMC, Tien Giang province is a popular destination for both business and leisure. A coastal province, Ben Tre is on the cusp of becoming a busy tourist destination. The province is home to a network of rivers, canals, and waterfronts that provide plenty of picturesque scenes for wanderlust travelers.