An overview of the signing ceremony (Photo: vietnamnet.vn)
A document to this effect was signed in Ho Chi Minh City on February 19 to undertake the project titled “Mekong Lover”, a milestone in the river tourism industry.
The project is expected to open up a wealth of opportunities for the tourism industry as Vietnam \strives to accelerate domestic cruise ship development in line with international standards.
Addressing the ceremony, Dang Bao Hieu, chairman of Focus Travel Group,one of the four signatories to the document, emphasised that this is the first time a cruise ship has been designed, constructed, and operated by Vietnamese enterprises, that helps to boost the position of the country’s shipbuilding industry in the region.
Mekong Lover is not only a means of transportation, but is also a culturally-imprinted resort space as the design on the ship has been inspired by the Indochinese architectural style and reminiscences of ancient villas in Saigon, Hanoi, and Phnom Penh, Hieu noted.
With a total investment of US$4 million, the cruise ship boasts a design capacity of 32 cabins, all of which are equipped with private balconies, whilst an infinity pool helps visitors to relax in the cool water and watch the sunset on the Mekong River.
According to the investor, the majority of the international cruise ships on the Mekong River often spend a lot of time in Cambodia and Vietnam is a key transit point.
However, with the Mekong Lover cruise ship taking shape, the stay in Vietnam will be extended, thereby giving visitors the opportunity to gain greater insights into the culture and landscapes of the southwest region.
"We expect that the new project will help tourists visit popular tourist destinations and further explore local life, from traditional craft villages, floating markets to local delicacies,” said Hieu.
Tourists will also have the opportunity to enjoy various of traditional Vietnamese art forms, including Khmer dance, and don ca tai tu (southern folk songs) as they learn more about the cultural values of this land, he stressed.
