The first Hồ Chí Minh City River Festival will be held from August 4-6. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — HCM City will hold the first river festival from August 4 to 6 with the aim of boosting local tourism, according to a plan issued by the municipal administration.

There will be various special cultural, entertainment and art activities along the Sài Gòn River, promoting the land, people and tourism of the city, along with consumption stimulation programmes.

According to Nguyễn Thị Anh Hoa, director of the city's Department of Tourism, such activities will take place in different locations such as the Sài Gòn Cruise Port, the Bạch Đằng Wharf Park, the Nhiêu Lộc Thị Nghè Canal area, the Bình Đông Wharf, and the Suối Tiên Cultural Tourist Complex.

The highlight of the festival will be an art programme depicting the Sài Gòn River – a “witness” of the formation and development of the Vietnamese southern hub of Sài Gòn – Gia Định, which was renamed after President Hồ Chí Minh on July 2, 1976.

Hoa said that the programme is an effort to build and develop tourism events, thereby promoting the historical and cultural values of the city.

The message of the festival is also towards preserving and honouring rivers and canals, calling on people to jointly protect the environment and lead a more responsible lifestyle.

“With diverse activities, the programme aims to build HCM City into a civilised and modern riverside city, exploiting values ​​of river and water resources. The festival is expected to contribute to promoting HCM City as an urban area of rivers and rich culture," the official emphasised.

The festival will offer a chance for travel firms and lodging providers to introduce their products and services to domestic and foreign tourists, including tours from HCM City to southwestern and southeastern localities.

In addition to creating effects during the event, the festival will also combine experience activities, shopping promotions, stimulus to reduce ticket prices for other art shows.

According to the plan, an opening ceremony will take place on August 4 at the Thủ Ngữ Flagpole, District 1.

It mobilises the participation of 700 actors and a team of leading directors, experts, advisors and artists in the art industry.

The department reported that in the first six months of this year, HCM City welcomed more than 1.94 million international visitors, up 306 per cent year-on-year, and over 16.4 million domestic visitors, up 48 per cent. — VNS