Yacht of Tourist Information - Remarkable site of cultural activities of Xa No canal

Tourists can enjoy fresh air on rivers’ water peacefully and in a relaxed way while watching charming landscape and listening to sweet chantey voice, melodious singing and sound of musical instruments, words of songs simple but meaningful in the south amateur music “Don ca tai tu”, eating fresh specialties cooked on board. Tourist shall miss and return to Hau Giang, unique land not yet rich but hospitable and ready to integrate …

YACHT OF TOURIST INFORMATION -
REMARKABLE SITE OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES OF XA NO CANAL

The 35 ton yacht is renewed to work as Hau Giang yacht tourist information

For more than a week ago, Vi Thanh residents and tourists can see a big boat anchored at the bank of Xa No Canal when passing the canal. That is one of the two yachts named “Tourist Information” which will be put into operation in the time of the first -2009 Vietnam Rice Festival in Hau Giang. Mr. Nguyen Duy Tan – the head of Culture and Information Department of Vi Thanh Town said: “The yacht is the important site of Xa No Canal’s culture in the time of the festival”. Mr. Cao Van Thum – President of Vi Thanh town People’s Committee also affirmed: “One of the directions for tourism in Hau Giang, an area of rivers, is that the yacht of Tourist Information of interesting destinations”. Cataco company will provide one more to meet tourists’ demands.

The following is the interview to Mr. Nguyen Duy Tan - the head of Culture and Information Department of Vi Thanh Town:

Interviewer: Can you first explain why it is called the yacht of Tourist Information?

Mr. Nguyen Duy Tan: Many people have invested in yachts of various services so far. Some is attached to fire dances, live music, together with eating. Others are for ecological tours in the countryside. Hau Giang Yachts of Tourist Information are not to profits but to introduce the culture of Xa No Canal’s region. That is to make unforgettable points by introducing the land and people of Vi Thanh town and of districts along this Canal. The destinations are red places the yachts pass by. Entertainments on the yachts will be folk arts: Folk songs, chanteys, Don Ca Tai Tu’s singing. Even foods on yachts must be original, typical to Mekong Delta’s people.

Interviewer: The initial capital for buying and fixing the yacht is known to be VND1 billion already – not a small amount of money. However you said that the aim would not be profits. What do you mean by having non-economic benefits from the yacht?

Mr. Nguyen Duy Tan: To be exact, the total capital invested in the yacht of Tourist Information is VND 12,049,000 so far. We will build wafts of 3m wide to lead to the yacht later. We have submitted a plan to invest in a high quality umbrella row and to form a receptionist team meeting the national standards in tourism. It is rather costly but I think the cultural and educational gains from the boat’s activities will be many times bigger than material earnings. Each tour lasts for 3 hours and serves 120 guests. The route of 30 km starts from the T-junction of Tran Hung Dao street and Ngo Quoc Tri street (the port) along the Xa No Canal, The first stop is the National Historical Relic – Cai Sinh Victory. This relic was embellished by the provincial Office of Culture and Sports. The next stop will be the Party Committee Base in Vam Kinh Nam (the 5th canal’s mouth). Tourists will walk 20km from this relic to Cau Duc pineapple gardens to enjoy the sweety pineapples and going on to the mouth of canal of Nuoc Duc – Nuoc Trong. Tourist will watch the charming landscapes of the river’s banks while eating countryside’s specialties and listening to Don Ca Tai Tu’s singing on the way back.

Interviewer: That is the route in the time of The first Vietnam Rice Festival in coming November, isn’t it? What about the route after the festival?

Mr. Nguyen Duy Tan: There will be theme activities with the yacht. I believe that the Yacht of Tourist Information will still operate after the festival because it has unique features and is organized by enthusiastic people who want to introduce Hau Giang, the land of rivers. After the festival the yacht will operate two days at weekend with 3-4 tours/day. We will add a tour to the relic of the town’s party committee base. This is both a revolutionary relic and ecological address. Besides the big yachts, there will be small and neat ones to take tourists further into small canals full of tree shadows and bird singing. Tourists will stop at orchards or go directly to the floating market crowded with barges and boats to enjoy the peaceful life of rivers’ land. Our plan is to hold parties for anniversaries, birthdays,…

Interviewer: When the plan is done, the professional and skill management shall be required because the yacht needs to make profits together with introducing, publicizing, propagandizing tradition, history, and culture of Hau Giang. Have you had a suitable management plan?

Mr. Nguyen Duy Tan: We have already thought of right ways to manage the yacht at per time. Vi Thanh town’s Culture and Information Center will manage the yacht from now to the time the festival ends. Vi Thanh town People’s Committee started to call for investment and operating the yacht from right now. There are at least 2 enterprises registered to exploit the yacht in the period from 2010.

Interviewer: Can you tell about ticket price, or other payment tourists have to make when travelling on the Boat of Tourist Information for 30km on the water of Hau Giang?

Mr. Nguyen Duy Tan: The ticket will be free at first. We will charge for food and drinks according to the menu with price. The price will be reasonable for the people in Hau Giang in particular and for walking guests in general.

Interviewer: Thank you very much!

By Tuyet Loan

The relic of the Provincial Committee of the Party Base- one of destinations of Hau Giang Yacht of Tourist Information Tour

When boarding the yacht which has one storey and one floor, you will soon get out of the noise in daily life to mix yourself with the nature, to enjoy river’s water, the sound of the wind and the waves. We introduce the beauty and uniqueness of the destinations as well as tourist resorts being built on this website.

Address: www.rice-festival.com