South Korea’s Jeju tourism authority will assist Vietnam’s southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City in developing river tourism next years, said an official. The Jeju tourism authority is experienced in developing ecotourism projects which are relating to river tourism. Therefore, the agency’s advices will be useful for the local tourism, Nguyen Bao Anh from the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said. A delegation from Jeju has arrived in the city to study the river route from District 1 to Can Gio District. The move would also help enhance local management experience and promote tourism. “It is estimated that results of the study and the authority’s proposals will be sent to Ho Chi Minh City in June and serve as a base for the city to develop river tourism products in the coming time,” Anh said. The department is currently also preparing a plan of exchanging staff with the Jeju tourism authority, Anh attributed. Developing river tourism is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s key plans with Can Gio District as a focal point. The city has opened a short-distance river tour from Bach Dang Wharf in District 1 to Ham Long Artisan Village in District 2 and then the Bach Dang-Can Gio route. It has also considered opening other river routes from the city to neighboring provinces of Dong Nai and Binh Duong. The department has also set up a plan to study a river route connecting the city with the Mekong Delta and Cambodia. The survey trip will be made late this year. To facilitate the development of river tourism in the city, the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association has established the Vietnam Yacht Club. (The Saigon Times Daily April 19)
