HCM CITY — Fancy river cruises and helicopter rides over the city are among several tourism products being prepared by HCM City to serve local and international visitors during the upcoming summer holidays.

Nguyễn Thị Ánh Hoa, director of the municipal Department of Tourism, told local media city tours by road, air, water and metro are on the anvil.

The department is working with its partners and tourism agencies to develop cruise tours along the Sai Gòn River.

The “Cruise on Sai Gòn River” will run from Bạch Đằng Wharf in District 1 to Đen Đỏ Cape in District 7, crossing Thủ Thiem 2 and Bình Lợi bridges in Bình Thạnh District and Phu Mỹ Bridge in District 7.

Luxury yachts carrying10-25 passengers will be deployed for the tours that will last three hours and cost VNĐ5-10 million (US$217-435) per passenger, including tapas and drinks.

Hoa said the cruise tour has the potential to become a very attractive tourism product for the city.

Last week, the department coordinated with Military Hospital 175 and the Southern Vietnam Helicopter Company (VNH South) to launch the “Contemplate HCM City from above” tour.

Although it carries a hefty price tag of VNĐ4 million ($174) for a 40-minute tour, it was fully booked during the recent four-day (April 30 – May 3) holiday.

More than 200 passengers registered for the helicopter tours during the holiday, most of them city residents. Some had their whole family enjoy the tour.

The copter tour and luxury cruises are not aimed merely at renewing the city’s tourism products, but to expand their customer base, targeting the high-income segment in particular, Le Trương Hiền Hòa, the department's deputy director said.

Other tourism products that have been created include cycling, trekking and camping tours in ecotourism areas.

Private or customised tours have been finding increasing favour among tourists.

Thanks to several new products, the city’s tourism industry earned more than VNĐ1.6 trillion ($69.7 million) during the recently concluded holiday.

Hoa said that apart from new products, the city would continue to promote MICE tourism and improve infrastructure and services for large groups. — VNS