As time passed, the Saigon River became an integral part of the rich culture of Gia Định (a former name of what is now Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon). Here is an insider’s guide to the Saigon River for those curious souls who want to know more about this historical river and how to take advantage of its many features.

Overview

The famous Saigon River starts from Loc Ninh (Binh Phuoc), flows through the southern province of Tay Ninh and Binh Duong, and then goes through Saigon for about 80 kilometers, and finally joins Dong Nai River to pour into Nha Be river in the Red Light cape. The river stretches a total of 225 kilometers. It became important because it supplied water to the city and is home to the Saigon Port, which is a hub for the import and export of goods to and from the South of Vietnam. It would be a big mistake not to mention the Saigon River Tunnel (A.K.A Thu Thiem Tunnel), which is an underwater tunnel that opened in the month of November 2011, to connect the existing urban area in District 1 with Thu Thiem, the new urban area in District 2.

History

Saigon River played an integral role in the development of Gia Dinh village (A.K.A Saigon) since the 17th century. In the past, before the development of the road and traffic system, people from the South of Vietnam traveled to Gia Dinh by boat via the Saigon River for business or leisure purposes. They sailed along Can Gio beach to Nha Be River, and then took a right turn into the Saigon River to reach Gia Dinh.

In the 18th century, the Saigon River became well-known among those in the region since Gia Dinh became a popular trading port, where ships from China, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and Portugal stopped to load on Vietnamese agriculture goods and silks.

And when the French colonists built a port by the Saigon River to make it an essential stop in the trading routes between Europe and what was then “Cochinchina”, the riverbanks became engaged and the city soon began to flourish. This is when Saigon became known as “the pearl of the far East”.

Where Can the River Take You?

From downtown Saigon, you can cruise upstream to Thanh Da Penisula or jump on a boat to go southeast or northwest to visit Can Gio Mangrove Forest and the Cu Chi Tunnels. If you want to go further by the waterway, you can take a trip to Vung Tau or even the Mekong Delta. Details about various tours will follow. Keep calm and read on!

How to Best Experience the Saigon River

1. Go for a dinner cruise!

If you are traveling with a loved one, you shouldn’t miss your chance to spend a romantic evening enjoying a special dinner as you cruise along the Saigon River. The reflection of the lights on the water surface and traditional music dance performances make your night an unforgettable experience.

The Lady Hau cruise used to be a famous dinner cruise on the Saigon River, but they shut down the business on January 22nd, 2017. But if still you want to arrange a dinner on a boat, then you can have a look at the buffet dinner option on Bonsai Cruise. The price includes a welcome dinner and canapes, a Euro – Asian buffet, live entertainment on the main and upper deck, a tour guide, personal expenses, as well as tips and gratuities. The price ticket is 990,000 VNĐ net/per person (45 USD) and you can send a reservation inquiry via email: sales1@bonsaicruise.com.vn

The La Perle de l’ Orient is a beautiful floating restaurant on the Saigon River. The boat is made of wood and it can carry 200 people. Enjoying dinner on this cruise ship means you can enjoy the sights of Ho Chi Minh City at night while listening to Vietnamese folk music accompanied by dance entertainment. For a set menu of six to seven courses, including appetizers, starters, main dishes, and dessert) it will cost you 319,000 VNĐ. For booking information, you can go to their platform to fill in a reservation form provided on the site.

Another cruise that has a good view and atmosphere is the Elisa. It is a floating restaurant with big sails docked at the Saigon Port. With a capacity of 1,000 guests, this is the largest Vietnamese floating restaurant. This is a good place for couples to have a romantic date. The highlight of this ship is that it has live music every evening but it is a little pricey. For a group of four people, you can choose one out of three set menus. Each set has seven dishes including a salad, a starter, four main courses and fruits for dessert. Each set is priced at 2,000,000 VND. You can contact Elisa’s staff to book a table via Elisa’s website.

2. Dine at a riverside restaurant or enjoy a cocktail!

Some riverside restaurants and bars like The Deck Saigon in District 2 are great for dining or for having drinks by the riverside.

Some other restaurants you may be interested in are Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel, The Rooftop Bar at Hotel Majestic Saigon, and Lá Đỏ Restaurant (at 162 Bình lợi, Ward 13, Binh Thạnh District) where you can find goat meat.

3. Go to Thu Thiem Tunnel Park

Located on the other side of Saigon River, Thu Thiem Tunnel Park is a popular local hangout spot. Grab yourself some street food you see around (super cheap!) and find a small stool to sit down and enjoy your meal as you watch the sun go down over the riverside. The lights of the city soon come up and it seems as if the city has woken up after a short nap. There are mosquitoes around, however, so make sure you take some repellent with you. The street there is also quite empty after 7 PM, so be wary.

Getting there is easy. Take the Vo Van Kiet Boulevard, cross the Thu Thiem Tunnel, and when you get to Mai Chi Tho Street, instead of going straight, you should make a U-turn into the small street on your right to enter the park.

4. Hang out at Thu Thiem Bridge

Thu Thiem Bridge is one of my favorite places to hang out, or take some time to myself and enjoy watching Saigon come to life from the opposite side of the river. You should visit in the afternoon when the weather is cooler and the sun is ready to go down. This bridge offers you a beautiful picture of a developing Saigon – a wonderful contrast right in front of you – with all skyscrapers neighboring slums and construction sites.

5. A boat trip around the Thanh Da Peninsula

Take a boat trip to the green and picturesque Thanh Da Peninsula for a perfect getaway trip on weekends. In Binh Quoi parks 1, 2, and 3, you and your family can go for a picnic, go fishing, or play sports on the riverbank. If that all sounds too energetic, just relax and enjoy some good food or coffee in one of the riverside cafes.

6. Book a room at one of the riverside hotels

Another attractive way to experience the Saigon River is by staying in hotels that have a gorgeous river view. Some of these hotels include are Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon, Lotte Hotel Legend Saigon, Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel, and Hotel Majestic Saigon. However, at the moment there is a huge construction site by the Saigon River for the upcoming metro and bridge so the view might be messy and you will need earplugs to block all the noise from both the crazy traffic and the construction that go on.



7. Go on a tour

Sometimes, when you feel overwhelmed with all the honking from the nonstop Saigon traffic, a peaceful tour on the Saigon river will be the ideal escape. Here are some options for you to consider:

Drawbacks

Drawbacks of the Saigon River include dustiness from construction in the area. Some parts of the river can be smelly during the day. Maybe wearing a facemask will help.

Now grab a bubble tea and take a walk on the riverbank to enjoy the atmosphere of Saigon. Hopefully, the information in this article can help you make the most of the gorgeous Saigon River. Let me know how your day goes in the comments!

Credit to Eleanor Nguyen