VIETNAM – Ho Chi Minh City – Thanh Da Peninsula by Saigon Water Bus

This activity gives travelers a chance to experience the “water bus” of Ho Chi Minh City and to explore Thanh Da Peninsula. The water bus is a public transportation system cruising on the Saigon River, moving from the skyscrapers of District 1 to more rural suburban areas.

Theme

Classic, Cruise & River Cruise, Family, Sustainable

Country - City

Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City

Market segment

Groups, Thematic Leisure

Price Level

$

Max pax

30

Seasonality

All year

Arrival city

Ho Chi Minh City

Departure city

Ho Chi Minh City

Description

This activity gives travelers a chance to experience the “water bus” of Ho Chi Minh City and to explore Thanh Da Peninsula. The water bus is a public transportation system cruising on the Saigon River, moving from the skyscrapers of District 1 to more rural, suburban areas. Thanh Da is a quiet space in the middle of Ho Chi Minh City, comprising apartments and a slower way of life than the rest of the city. Thanh Da Island has long been famous as a place to escape the city without actually leaving it. Their mixing of both makes this activity an excellent way for travelers to discover several aspects of the town.

 

Can be combined with

Thematic Leisure

  • Ho Chi Minh City – Explore District 5 In Depth
  • Ho Chi Minh City – Meet the art: The vitality of contemporary art in Vietnam
  • Ho Chi Minh City – Visit the Tumultuous Capital of the South
  • Ho Chi Minh City – Experience Vietnamese Cuisine Cooking Class

Selling points

  • A chance to experience different and unique atmospheres in the city
  • An opportunity to interact with and travel like locals while using the waterbus or walking through Thanh Da market
  • Suitable for almost every traveler
  • To include in the itinerary in the morning to avoid the heat.

Level Of The Excursion

Medium – This activity offers tangible positive contributions to the local community, culture and/or environment

The Impact Of This Excursion

Environment Impact

Transportation

Economic Impact

Community benefits

Additional Information

Positive Impact:

The activity uses public transportation (public boat) and has a positive economic impact on the rarely visited district of Thanh Da. 

Duration

1h and 30 minutes with :

  • 30 minutes for one way of water bus
  • 60 minutes to walk and discover Thanh Da peninsula

Min pax

1

Max pax

30

How to sell it

  • To combine with any tour in Saigon when it’s convenient
  • Suitable for travelers who want to have different experiences in Saigon
  • For travelers who can’t afford private cruises
  • To show another aspect of Saigon, with the importance of the river and the still existing local neighborhood.

Why this activity

  • To experience Saigon like Saigonese
  • To introduce Saigon in a different way
  • To make the proposal more lively
  • To offer something different than just visiting the classic spots in District 1

Good to combine with

In General :

  • For travelers looking to explore Saigon in a different way (off the beaten path, or repeaters for example)
  • Last day in Saigon if afternoon or late departure flight
  • 2 days in Saigon:
    First day classic visit
    2nd day morning = Water Bus + other activity on the afternoon or transfer to the airport

Do not combine with

Other cruise activities in Saigon (such as Les Rives to Cu Chi, or evening cruises)

Market suggestion

AUSTRALIA

CANADA

FRANCE

UNITED KINGDOM

ITALY

SPAIN

PORTUGAL

BENELUX

SCANDINAVIA

CEE

US

GERMANY

UK

Competitor comparison

Any company if they want to offer it

Pros

  • Don’t need to work with any supplier
  • Easy to combine with a lot of activity in Saigon
  • Easy to organize
  • Big capacity in the water bus

Cons

  • Only a few departures every day, travelers need to be on time
  • The boat is generally used more by Vietnamese tourists than by locals
  • There can be traffic jam after the activity, when guests will travel by car from Thanh Da to their hotel in the city center
  • In case of heavy rain, the guide will probably cancel the walking tour and go back directly after the waterbus
  • No AC on the boat
  • The water bus is often full on week-end – request to Operation to book in advance

Information

Saigon water bus (Location of the 1st stop (Bach Dang Waterbus stop) – 10B Ton Duc Thang, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1): around 60 pax/boat. They operate 1 boat per departure.

The guide will lead the group to Bach Dang waterbus stop to start the cruise and finish at Thanh Da station to have the best itinerary with a nice view of another side of Saigon.

The clients may book the departure at 08h30 and finish the cruise at 09h02 in Thanh Da peninsula. Then they can have an exploration by walking in the Thanh Da peninsula within 60 minutes. The car (bus) will pick the guest up at the riverside coffee and back to the hotel.

Itinerary: Thanh Da water bus station – pass some local grocery & old apartments – go around to Thanh Da market – end tour by riverside coffee

Thanh Da peninsula by Saigon water bus – 1 km/ 60 min to walk and enjoy the local life

Alerts

Travelers will walk for about 1 kilometer in Thanh Da peninsula, we do not recommend it for differently-abled people unless they really want to do it, since Thanh Da is not really adapted to wheelchairs for example.

Always re-check the time table on the website-

https://saigonwaterbus.com/tin-tuc/19007/saigon-waterbus-cong-bo-lich-khoi-hanh-moi-ap-dung-tu-10122021.html

 

 

Price range

from 85,000 VND

Quotation guideline

Price per pax

In Ho Chi Minh City / Activity / Thanh Da peninsula by Saigon water bus

Inclusion

  • Drinks at riverside coffee
  • Bus ticket for Saigon water bus
  • Drinks for guide

Exclusion

  • Transportation
  • Guide

Possible Extra

Fresh fruit in the market/ Street food on the way;

Important notes

Services to be booked:

Giving cash for the guide to pay on spot (the guide will be counted as 1 pax as well):
Cash for guide:

  • Saigon water bus ticket: 15,000VND/pax/way
  • Riverside coffee: 50,000/pax/unit of drink
  • Explain to the guide the concept of this activity

Special Guide notes

  • Can be flexible to choose the suitable departure time of Sai Gon water bus but the departure at  08:30 is highly recommended ( afternoon schedule is too early or too late)
  • Should book in advance for ticket of Saigon water bus, they sell the ticket everyday, not issue one day before.
  • Be flexible and calm when have to wait for the service to be served.
  • The car (bus) should be ready at riverside coffee to pick guest up anytime.

Contact

Saigon water bus (Location of the 1st stop (Bach Dang Waterbus stop) – 10B Ton Duc Thang, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1): around 60 pax/boat. Actually they operate 1 boat per departure. Tel: 1900.636.830

English

Thanh Da Peninsula by Saigon Water Bus

In the morning, you will discover Ho Chi Minh City from a different perspective by boarding the “water bus.” This public transportation system will take you on a leisurely journey from the city center, cruising along the Saigon River. Your route will take you past some of the most famous buildings in Saigon, including the Landmark 81 skyscraper. Upon arrival at Thanh Da Station, alight the water bus and begin your walk on the peninsula, comprising old apartments and peaceful local life. Along your walk, you will discover the Thanh Da Market and finish at a riverside cafe to enjoy a drink with a view.

Duration: 1h 30min

French

La péninsule de Thanh Da avec le bus fluvial

Le matin, vous découvrirez Ho Chi Minh Ville depuis un autre point de vue en embarquant dans le bus fluvial de la ville. Ce transport en commun vous emmènera pour une croisière le long du centre-ville. Vous passerez devant certains des bâtiments les plus importants d’Ho Chi Minh Ville et notamment le gratte-ciel Landmark 81. A votre arrivée à la station de Thanh Da, vous continuerez à pied et commencerez à découvrir cette péninsule. Vous passerez devant de vieux appartements et profiterez de l’ambiance paisible de la zone. Lors de votre promenade vous vous arrêterez dans le marché de Thanh Da et profiterez d’une boisson dans un café au bord de la rivière.

Durée : 1h 30min

Spanish

Península de Thanh Da en el autobús acuático de Saigón

Por la mañana, descubrirá la ciudad de Ho Chi Minh desde una perspectiva diferente subiendo al “autobús acuático”. Este sistema de transporte público le llevará en un viaje tranquilo desde el centro de la ciudad, navegando por el río Saigón. Su ruta le llevará a pasar por algunos de los edificios más famosos de Saigón, como el rascacielos Landmark 81. Al llegar a la estación de Thanh Da, baje del autobús acuático y comience su paseo por la península, compuesta por antiguos apartamentos y una tranquila vida local. A lo largo de su paseo descubrirá el mercado de Thanh Da y terminará en una cafetería junto al río para disfrutar de una bebida con vistas.

 

Duración: 1h 30min

Italian

La penisola di Thanh Da con “l’autobus fluviale”

Al mattino scoprirete Ho Chi Minh City da un altro punto di vista salendo a bordo “dell’autobus fluviale” della città (una barca a motore locale).
Navigherete con questo mezzo di trasporto pubblico lungo il Saigon River fino a raggiungere il centro città passando accanto ad alcuni degli edifici più importanti di Ho Chi Minh City, incluso il grattacielo Landmark 81. All’arrivo alla stazione di Thanh Da, continuerete a piedi e inizierete ad esplorare questa penisola ricca di architettura, storia e vi immergerete con la popolazione locale.
Lungo il percorso a piedi passerete accanto ai storici appartamenti, potrete ammirare l’atmosfera tranquilla e unica di questo quartiere e infine vi fermerete al mercato di Thanh Da dove potrete gustare un drink in uno dei bar vicino al fiume.

Durata: 1h 30min

German

Thanh Da Halbinsel mit dem Saigoner Wasserbus

Am Morgen werden Sie Ho-Chi-Minh-Stadt aus einer anderen Perspektive entdecken, indem Sie den “Wasserbus” besteigen. Dieses öffentliche Verkehrsmittel nimmt Sie mit auf eine gemächliche Fahrt vom Stadtzentrum aus entlang des Saigon-Flusses. Ihre Route führt Sie an einigen der berühmtesten Gebäude Saigons vorbei, darunter der Wolkenkratzer Landmark 81. Bei der Ankunft an der Thanh Da Station steigen Sie aus dem Wasserbus aus und beginnen Ihren Spaziergang auf der Halbinsel, die aus alten Wohnungen und einem friedlichen lokalen Leben besteht. Auf Ihrem Spaziergang entdecken Sie den Thanh-Da-Markt und genießen zum Abschluss in einem Café am Flussufer einen Drink mit Aussicht.

Dauer der Tour: 1h 30min