Talking to reporters, Mr. Nguyen Tran Huu Thang - General Director of Ho Chi Minh City Waterway Tourism Joint Stock Company, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Waterway Tourism Association said that the Vam Thuat River should not only be developed as a new waterway tourist route, but needs to become a cultural and economic heritage space, telling the story of the ancient Gia Dinh land through rich cultural experiences.
According to Mr. Thang, the biggest advantage of this river does not lie in its landscape or waterway traffic route, but in the depth of history and culture preserved for hundreds of years.
Mr. Thang believes that if the Saigon River represents the image of a dynamic and modern city, then the Vam Thuat River can become a "river of memories", a place that preserves the imprint of the journey of opening up the South, the formation of Gia Dinh land and the life of riverside residents over many centuries.
According to him, historical documents show that this area is associated with important milestones of the Southern region, from the process of population retention to reclamation, formation of riverside villages to the birth of Phu Chau Floating Temple - a religious work with a history of more than 300 years. Besides, there are also memories of Ben Cat, garden culture and the ancient village communal house system that are still present today.
These are values that cannot be built overnight. Heritage is the most distinct competitive advantage of tourism," Mr. Thang emphasized.
From that perspective, the business proposes to build the "Journey to Memories and Aspirations" model, in which the Vam Thuat River plays the role of a connecting axis for cultural destinations. Phu Chau Floating Temple will be a focal point for beliefs, while Go Vap Cultural Park is oriented to become an experience, creative space and organize cultural activities.
According to Mr. Thang, the goal is not to create an additional simple tourist route but to form a cultural and economic heritage space, where the local community becomes the subject to tell stories about their land.
To attract tourists, especially young people, businesses also plan to develop many interactive experience products. One of the researched ideas is to build a Vietnamese Fashion Exhibition House at Go Vap Cultural Park, recreating more than 1,000 years of Vietnamese costume history through periods.
This space not only introduces artifacts but also combines performances of martial arts uniforms, armor pillars, ceremonial costumes, digital technology applications, light shows and historical telling. According to Mr. Thang, when history is conveyed through images, music and direct experiences, heritage will be closer to the public.
We want to turn heritage into experiences, turn experiences into tourism products, thereby contributing to the development of Ho Chi Minh City's cultural industry," he said.
Previously, at the seminar "Cultural and economic heritage space of the Vam Thuat River" held on July 8, many experts, scientists and managers agreed that the Vam Thuat River possesses many unique historical, ecological and cultural values, meeting the conditions to become a typical tourism product of Ho Chi Minh City.
Opinions also suggest that to realize this goal, the city needs to synchronously plan wharf and yard infrastructure, develop riverside service ecosystems, strengthen the application of digital technology and closely link heritage preservation with economic development, thereby creating a cultural space with Ho Chi Minh City's own identity.
