Needed-to-be-tapped potential

At the recent “Developing river tourism in Vietnam - Orientations and Solutions” conference in September, Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Director of the Institute for Tourism Development Research, noted that river tourism can enrich the diversity of tourism types and products, allowing visitors to experience natural beauty, ecosystems, and cultural heritage along riverbanks. This type of tourism could also encourage investments in infrastructure like docks, wharves, and surrounding facilities.

Upon mentioning river tourism, many people have normally noted such destinations as the Nho Que River in Ha Giang, the Saigon River in Ho Chi Minh City, and the Perfume River in Hue, as these rivers have long been focal points for river tourism and have left an impression in the tourism industry. However, compared to the potential across Vietnam, particularly in Hue, the development of river tourism has been slow and has not kept pace with the available resources.

Hue alone boasts a dense network of rivers, with six main rivers totalling 563 kilometers: the Perfume River, Ta Trach, Huu Trach, Bo, Loi Nong (also known as An Cuu), and O Lau rivers. Besides providing water for daily use and agricultural production, these rivers are cultural icons, serving as an inspiration for poets, musicians, and artists through art works.

Experience boating and fishing on Nhu Y river

In 2022, in Episode 8 of the popular reality show “2 Days 1 Night”, with the theme of “Heritage race in Hue”, renowned artists enjoyed a boat trip on the gentle and peaceful Perfume River, immersing themselves in relaxing moments under the poetic sunset. The show drew countless comments from viewers praising the tranquil beauty of Hue's river and expressing a desire to experience this river tourism themselves.

Despite its renowned beauty, river tourism in Hue remains underserved and underdeveloped. Besides the Perfume River - one of the few rivers offering river tourism services in Hue - other rivers in Hue lack river-based tourism products and services. Even on the Perfume River, tourism offerings are limited, with visitors mainly enjoying boat rides with traditional Hue Singing performances, afternoon tea on the river, or paddle-boating.

Another river is expected to develop tourism after recent cleanup and bank improvements is Ngu Ha River. In 2018, a group of Hue businesses and tourism officials conducted a survey to explore a potential tour from the Perfume River through Ngu Ha and back via Dong Ba River. Despite the initial thoughts, plans remain on hold.

The An Cuu and Dong Ba rivers, located in central Hue, also boast vibrant landscapes and rich local life along the banks. According to experts, sightseeing boat tours along these rivers could provide tourists with unique experiences. For example, a tour on Dong Ba River could start at Toa Kham dock or the old Dong Ba boat dock, leading visitors to Bao Vinh Old Quarter or Thanh Tien paper flower village. Investing in and planning such tours could diversify Hue’s tourism products.

Long-term orientation for river tourism development

At the “Developing river tourism in Vietnam - Orientations and Solutions” conference, experts emphasized that realizing the full potential of river tourism requires not only a comprehensive understanding of its important role but also well-planned strategies and policies. In addition, there is a need for policies to develop river tourism, investment in technical facilities and quality human resources. In addition, it is necessary to invest in infrastructure development, enhance traffic safety in inland waterway tourist transport activities; improve service quality, and streamline management and planning.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Phuc, Director of the Department of Tourism, Hue has already initiated projects to upgrade docks linking to tourist attractions to expand the development and improve the quality of tourism products on the Perfume River. The People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue Province has directed the Hue City People’s Committee, the Department of Transport, the Department of Tourism, and relevant businesses to explore new types of tourist boats to replace the old dragon boats and to open experience tours connecting the Perfume River and Ngu Ha River. Infrastructure and service integration planning is also underway to facilitate better river tourism service delivery.

In addition to these ongoing initiatives, Hue must continue to develop new waterway tourism products to further diversify the sector. Creating unique, memorable experiences along river tour routes and resolving longstanding issues related to Hue Singing performances on the Perfume River will be key steps.

River tourism in Hue should incorporate activities that explore history, traditional and local culture, as well as the daily life and agricultural activities along the riverside communities. A long-term strategy will require analyzing data on river tourism visitors, understanding market trends, and designing ways to increase visitor attraction. Alongside product development, effective marketing efforts are needed to reach a broader audience.