(TITC) - On 4th August, the first Ho Chi Minh City River Festival 2023 officially opened at Thu Ngu Flagpole (District 1). This is the biggest tourism event ever in the city.
The first Ho Chi Minh City River Festival in 2023 is organised by the Department of Tourism in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Sports, with a series of unique cultural - entertainment - art - sports activities taking place on the riverside, combined with experience activities, rich and attractive tourism, aviation and commercial promotion programmes.
Leaders of Ho Chi Minh City perform the flag raising ceremony at Thu Ngu Flagpole in the opening ceremony (Photo: tcdulichtphcm.vn)
Coming to the festival, people and tourists can experience water tourism programmes; Experience the space "Ferries pass back and forth in the busy port" at Nhieu Loc canal - District 1, Binh Dong wharf - District 8 with activities recreating the lifestyle of the resident community of Saigon - Cho Lon - Gia Dinh - Ho Chi Minh City Illustrate through the periods and buy agricultural products and local specialties.
Residents and visitors can also immerse themselves in the exciting atmosphere of water sports activities with the Ho Chi Minh City Traditional Boat Racing Championship; parade activities on the Saigon River and culture and art space, folk games at Bach Dang Wharf, Lam Son Park…
Athletes excitedly compete at the Ho Chi Minh City Traditional Boat Racing Championship (Photo: tcdulichtphcm.vn)
Mr. Phan Van Mai, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee said, through more than 300 years of development of the city, along rivers and canals, harbours, market streets, craft villages, the river trade services have been formed and developed bustlingly, creating a unique feature of a riverside city, not only associated with alluvium but also a harmony between culture and economy, between tradition and modernity, between identity and integration.
The People's Committee organises the first Ho Chi Minh City River Festival in 2023 for aiming to preserve and promote cultural-historical values, to build typical products and events; to push the implementation of economic and tourism values from the river and sea resource system in the city; towards the brand positioning of a river city rich in cultural identity.
Mr. Phan Van Mai, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee speaking at the Opening Ceremony (Photo: tcdulichtphcm.vn)
The special highlight of the festival is the art programme "The river tells stories" which recreates the history of Saigon - Cho Lon - Gia Dinh - Ho Chi Minh City with a combination of art forms from folk to contemporary, from music, cinema, dance to light technology with modern performance technologies and the participation of nearly 700 folk actors and artists. The programme is expected to spread pride and love for the city as well as inspire travel and destination discovery, added Mr. Phan Van Mai.
Art programme "The river tells stories" (Photo: tcdulichtphcm.vn)
On this occasion, the city's tourism industry also announced water tourism products and tourism stimulus tours with the largest-scale stimulus package with the cooperation and coordination of 4 key units to serve and welcome international and domestic tourists.
Many water tourism products are announced on this occasion (Photo: tcdulichtphcm.vn)
The Department of Tourism announced 150 tour programmes, packages, promotional products, of more than 100 businesses with many gifts and preferential services for tourists when coming to experience and visit Ho Chi Minh City during the first River Festival and the peak of summer tourism in 2023.
The Department of Industry and Trade has announced hundreds of products to stimulate shopping with the most preferential prices ever in commercial centres; Department of Culture and Sports announced nearly 50 art programmes to reduce ticket prices and offer add-on services; Major airlines have launched super promotion packages to Ho Chi Minh City with shocking discounts during the summer. In addition, there are other attractive art programmes served free of charge to the people.
Visitors get off the boat to experience the river tour product (Photo: tcdulichtphcm.vn)
The festival take place in 3 days, from 4th to 6th August at the following locations: Sai Gon Port - Ship Passenger Port, Bach Dang Wharf Park, Lam Son Park, Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe Canal, Binh Dong Wharf, Suoi Tien tourist area and other tourist areas and destinations in the city of Thu Duc and in districts.
Tourism Information Technology Center