Many reputable developers in Saigon now are including marina in their riverside developing. The trend previously is only popular with island resorts as Cat Ba (Hai Phong), Tuan Chau (Ha Long Bay). Costing hundreds of billions VND, the developer still is not deterred away, hoping adding significant value for their project.

Having just inaugurated phase 1 on May, SSG Group the developer Saigon Pearl has already kick start on a marina and river club within the project expected capacity of 130 boats, canoes & yachts.

Answering VNexpress, HOREA President Mr. Le Hoang Chau said this is a trend of planning for several years. Even affirming the advantages, Mr. Chau still think that only once carefully planned and permitted, the marina trend will not only add value to the project but also to the river and the city.

Mr. Chau also said, the value of each yacht, boat alone has define the segmentation of the project, costing hundred to a million USD to buy, it is not cheap also for the maintenance service as well as developing the infrastructure to service them and to enhance the water condition surrounding.

According to Mr. Chau, leaving the river to the wealthy is not an ideal solution; he recommends the city government to jointly develop a more popular recreational activity on the river in order to have Saigon River not as an obstacle for transportation but a resource of tourism.

Vice director of waterway Management of the city, Mr. Phan Cong Bang said that there are investor that are interested in water transportation, not just luxury marina. According to Mr. Bang, HCMC was an exceptional canal-river network with more than 1000km.

The density of this waterway network in HCMC is 3.6 time higher than of Vietnam, 10,3 higher than those of China and 38 time greater than Thailand. However not all waterway routes are easily connected due to the low clearance of old bridge network and canals pollution.

Despite that, waterway transportation is still having a huge potential in the current traffic condition of Ho Chi Minh City.

Sources vnexpress.net.