Good news for travelers who want to explore the waterways around Saigon and people who are already tired of sitting on buses. New boat routes linking the city with its outlying district of Can Gio, its neighbor Vung Tau City and the nearby province of Ben Tre are now in service. Private company Greenlines DP launched boat trips between the resort town of Vung Tau and Ben Tre Province in the Mekong Delta two days ago, and will start a Ho Chi Minh City-Can Gio-Vung Tau route on February 10. Can Gio is famous for its fresh seafood while Vung Tau is known for its beaches. Ben Tre is ideal for countryside lovers thanks to its fruit orchards and inland waterways. Tickets can be found on the company’s website and cost VND290,000 ($12.7) for the Vung Tau-Ben Tre service and VND250,000 for the other route. Passengers can be picked up and dropped off at Bach Dang Wharf in HCMC’s District 1, Tac Xuat Wharf in Can Gio, Ho May Wharf in Vung Tau and Rach Mieu Wharf in Ben Tre. All the docks are located near major roads, making it easy for passengers to catch a bus or taxi. The boats can seat from 50 to 132 passengers, and are equipped with air conditioners, toilets, wifi, televisions, electrical sockets and bars. HCMC is looking to make use of its inland waterways to ease traffic congestion and develop tourism. The first route has been open for two months, cruising 10.8 kilometers… [Read full story]
HCM CITY — After a month of implementation, Sài Gòn river buses carry just some 1,000 passengers a day, too little to be considered an alternative to reduce traffic congestion as was expected. The river bus route covers 10.8 km from Bạch Đằng Wharf in District 1 to Linh Đông Station in Thủ Đức District, passing through District 2 and Bình Thạnh District. Lao Động (Labour) newspaper reported that passengers were mostly older people who wanted to see HCM City from a different perspective. “It is exciting to enjoy the trip, feeling the breeze on the river while staying away…... [read more]
Hanoi Times - The annual overnight wine cruise presented by Emeraude Classic Cruises will be held on May 24-25 at Ha LongBay in the northern province of Quang Ninh. The black-tie event will be hosted aboard the Emeraude cruise ship, which is a reproduction of a 19th-century paddle wheel Steamer. Attendees will enjoy a gourmet dinner, live jazz, wine tasting and the beauty of HalongBay's peaceful waters and limestone formations. "People want a cruise experience that matches the beauty of the bay," said Kurt Walter, general manager of Emeraude Classic Cruises. "It's much easier to appreciate the vistas when you're…... [read more]
Yachts set sail for Hong Kong to Nha Trang race this week (13-10-2008) HCM CITY — More than 100 sailors from mainland China, Hong Kong, New Zealand and the UK will take part in a yacht race from Hong Kong to Nha Trang Bay this week. The "VinaCapital Hong Kong to Viet Nam Yacht Race 2008," set for October 15 to 21, will include 10 boats, said Saigontourist deputy general director Vu Duy Vu. Co-organised by Hong Kong Royal Yacht Club, Saigontourist and VinaCapital, the event will show off three kinds of boats. They include the high speed Keelboat I,…... [read more]
Talking Shop (06-03-2008) Vinalines sets sail for open waters Viet Nam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) is carrying out a carefully devised plan to transform itself into a maritime corporation by 2010. Viet Nam News reporter Viet Thang sat down with Vinalines general director Mai Van Phuc to talk about how the company intends to achieve its goal. After pledging to complete its restructuring by 2007, Vinalines is still yet to do so. Why? In order to become a maritime holdings group, we must first shift our operations to parent and subsidiary companies. To do so, we have to re-organise our…... [read more]
Two US destroyers capable of tracking and intercepting missiles set sail from the Republic of Korea (RoK) on March 30, days ahead of the expected launch of a Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) rocket. The USS McCain and the USS Chafee left from the port of Busan, a US military spokesman said. He refused to divulge their destination, but the RoK’s news reports cited unnamed officials as saying the US ships will monitor the DPRK’s rocket launch set for April 4-8. The DPRK says it will send a communications satellite into orbit, but regional powers suspect the DPRK is…... [read more]
