AMA’s Second Mekong River Ship Floats on Surge of Travel to Nam

Reflecting Vietnam’s growing popularity as a travel destination, AMAWATERWAYS announced the construction of a second ship on the Mekong river as part of the line’ “Vietnam, Cambodia & the Riches of the Mekong” program introduced in 2009.

The Mekong river program is doing very well, and that is the reason for the second ship, AMAWATERWAYS director of public relations and communications Ana Figuera told Travel Market Report.

Indeed, while Vietnam saw a 10% decline in overall foreign arrivals last year, its leisure business from the U.S. almost doubled, to just over 400,000 arrivals, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. The U.S. was Vietnam’s second largest foreign market, just under China’s 500,000 visitors in 2009.

In a recent interview, Ha Van Sieu, director of the country’s Institute for Tourism Development Research, said that Vietnam’s tourism industry will recover its growth rate this year and surpass last year’s.

He expects that the country will see between 4 to 6 million international tourists (an increase of between 18% to 21%), and about 28 million domestic tourists (an increase of between 8% and 12%).

Sieu added that income earned from tourism will increase between 7% and 11% this year to $4.1 billion to 4.3 billion.

Vietnam’s tourist industry is targeting around 4.5 million foreign visitors in 2010, representing an increase of 20% over this year, said Nguyen Van Tuan, head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

To reach its goal, Tuan said the VNAT will work closely with relevant agencies to implement tourism promotion programs, including a $1.35 million national action program to develop tourism products and human resources and a national tourism promotion program with an estimated investment of VND25 billion.

AMAWATERWAY’s new Mekong River ship is scheduled to debut in late spring 2011, when it will join the La Marguerite in offering seven-day Mekong river cruises from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to Siem Reap, Cambodia and the reverse.

The river cruises are part of a 15-day program that includes overnights in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap, gateway to Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

The two vessels will depart on the same day, one sailing downstream from Siem Reap, and the other upstream from Ho Chi Minh City. With the second ship, Figueroa noted that clients can do the seven-day river cruise only, without the full 15-day program.

Figueroa told TMR, “We are finding that it is a popular destination for well-traveled Americans, and the region is undergoing a tourism surge right now. The destination is beautiful, and landmarks such as Angkor have always held the attention of the world. We find that in general, Vietnam is opening up more and more, and that is true on the hotel and resort side as well. So, we’re pretty set on the area for the long-run.”

AMAWATERWAYS President Rudi Schreiner calls the Mekong a “magnificent river, ideal for cruising for a number of reasons.”

“The first advantage of the Mekong is its size,” he said.

“The river is huge, in most places almost a mile wide, so it has a whole lot of potential. The scenery is incredible, with many small villages, islands and temples. The other remarkable thing about the Mekong is that it includes three major cities. You have Ho Chi Minch City or Saigon, the metropolis of Vietnam; Phnom Penh, the capital and largest city of Cambodia, located on the riverfront with beautiful cafes and restaurants. And, then you have the fascinating town of Siem Reap, with the temples of Angkor. It’s the perfect backdrop for river cruising.”

In addition to the Mekong River cruise, AMAWATERWAYS’ 15-day “Vietnam, Cambodia & the Riches of the Mekong” program includes two nights in Hanoi; an overnight cruise onboard a luxurious traditional Junk in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its spectacular limestone cliffs; three nights in Siem Reap, gateway to the Angkor Archeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the legendary Angkor Wat; and an overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

The new AMAWATERWAYS Mekong vessel will be larger than the La Marguerite, 295 feet long, vs. 246 feet long, and will accommodate 124 passengers in 62 balcony cabins, 10 junior suites and two suites.  Cabin layout and décor will be similar to that of La Marguerite. 

For more information on AMAWATERWAYS, visit www.amawaterways.com or call (800) 626-0126.