Cruising by Vietnam’s shores, Ho Chi Minh City

In 1996 Saigontourist made a breakthrough when joining hands with Malaysia-based Star Cruise, one of the world’s leading cruise lines, to arrange sea voyages to bring tourists from around the world to Vietnam. In 1996 Saigontourist made a breakthrough when joining hands with Malaysia-based Star Cruise, one of the world’s leading cruise lines, to arrange sea voyages to bring tourists from around the world to Vietnam. On September 7, 1999, the five-star SuperStar Leo carrying 3,000 tourists docked at Saigon Port, marking a milestone in the cooperation between the two companies and opening a promising path for the development of Vietnam’s tourism industry. Since then Star Cruise’s ships arrive at Vietnam’s ports, including Halong, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City, every week giving travelers on board a glimpse of various sights and sounds of many parts of the country. In total some 300,000 people a year on average visit Vietnam by ship, making up more than 10% of all foreign tourist arrivals. Vo Anh Tai, director of Saigontourist Travel Service Co., an affiliate of Saigontourist, says his company has so far this month received 850 Australians and Europeans from different cruise lines. The company welcomed Arion with 250 Australians at Saigon Port on March 7. Three hundred Germans arrived on March 16 with Germany’s Europa cruise line, as did 300 Europeans with Columbus, another German line. “This is one of our major markets,” Tai says. “We always focus on satisfying the requirements of all visitors taking cruise voyages, aiming to lure them back to Vietnam many times.” Tai says when reaching Vietnam, foreigners usually choose three activities – visiting beautiful places, enjoying specialties and shopping. Arranged tours for cruise visitors normally take them to destinations near the harbor where their ships are docking, such as Ho Chi Minh City, My Tho, Danang, Hoi An, Hue and Halong. In Ho Chi Minh City tourists like to make excursions to the Cu Chi Tunnels, the Reunification Palace, the Thien Hau Pagoda and the Notre Dame Cathedral near the Central Post Office. Foreigners are also keen on the eco-tour to the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang and tours to Vietnam’s World Heritage Sites, such as the former feudal capital of Hue, the historic town of Hoi An, the My Son Tower Complex, Phong Nha-Ke Bang Cave and Halong Bay. Vietnamese cuisine is another area that foreign tourists like to discover. “Such dishes as banh cuon (steamed rolls made of rice flour), pho (noodle soup), bun bo (vermicelli with beef) and hu tieu (noodles with seasoned and sauté beef or pork) always attract us,” Shoko, a Japanese visitor, says. Shopping in Vietnam is also a pleasure for many tourists. They usually take home handicrafts, souvenirs, ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) and non la (conical palm hat) to recall their trips to this tropical country. To offer some of the fun of a voyage by sea also to Vietnamese, Saigontourist organizes cruises to Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia.