Over the years, there’s been much talk about how to better capitalize on Saigon’s 975 kilometers of woefully underused waterways. While the city shows signs of progress in this area – there are plans for water taxis on the Saigon River and city tourism officials recently launched gondola tours of the Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal – Saigon has been slow to tap into its riverine resources. But as it often goes in Vietnam, the city’s wealthy may become the most effective agent for change.
According to VietnamNet, some of Saigon’s elite are “tired of luxury cars” and have been snatching up yachts worth millions of dollars abroad, employing them for business meetings and family outings.
In addition to wealthy individuals, local companies are also opting for the fancy boats to impress clients, while travel firms are using them for tourism purposes.
Yachts are already informing the choices of real estate developers, who are adding piers to their designs to increase property value and attract rich customers; look no further than the planned Thu Thiem Marina for an example.
VietnamNet writes that many District 2 projects have already got approval to house piers, some of which can accommodate 130 yachts and also serve public boats, according to the Department of Transportation.
Given this, the kindling needed to ignite real waterway development may lie in the stacks of cash Saigon’s rich are doling out on their luxury boats.
An official from the Department of Transportation told the news website that public and private waterway development are potential remedies for Saigon’s “overloaded” streets and highways, in addition to spurring further tourism development.
[Photo via Eustaquio Santimano]
