Amiral 2026 introduces a new way of experiencing the Saigon River. In this interview, Cruise Manager Luu Duc Chien reflects on the first voyage of Amiral Explorers to Cu Chi and explains why meaningful travel is not only about where you arrive, but how you get there.
“By road, we focus on the destination. By river, the journey becomes part of the experience.”
“By road, we usually focus on the destination. By river, the journey itself becomes one of the most memorable parts.”
When asked what makes the first Amiral Explorers voyage to Cu Chi different from the countless trips visitors have taken before, Luu Duc Chien, Cruise Manager of Amiral Cruises, answered with a simple observation.
Yet within that answer lies the philosophy behind Amiral 2026.
For decades, Cu Chi has been one of the most visited historical sites in southern Vietnam. Millions of travelers have reached the destination by road, arriving with a clear objective: to explore the famous tunnels and learn about a remarkable chapter of Vietnamese history.
The destination has always been the focus.
The route has simply been a way to get there.
But from the moment Amiral Explorers leaves the Saigon River waterfront, something changes.
The city begins to unfold differently.
The river tells a story that roads never could.
And before travelers arrive at Cu Chi, they discover an entirely new relationship with the landscape, the history, and the rhythm of Southern Vietnam.
For Chien, that is where the real journey begins.
Seeing a Different Saigon
As someone who has spent years working in river tourism and hospitality, Chien is no stranger to the Saigon River.
He has traveled countless times along its waters, welcomed guests aboard vessels, and witnessed the city from perspectives many visitors never experience.
Yet the first voyage of Amiral 2026 left a different impression.
“I have experienced many yacht journeys on the Saigon River before, but Amiral gave me a completely different feeling. It was not only about sightseeing or relaxation. The voyage allowed me to truly feel the connection between the city and the river. The farther we moved away from downtown, the more I discovered a quieter Saigon, a city filled with stories.”
For many people, Saigon is defined by its energy.
The traffic.
The skyscrapers.
The constant movement.
The noise.
Yet beyond the city center exists another Saigon.
A slower Saigon.
A greener Saigon.
A Saigon shaped by waterways long before highways and skyscrapers appeared.
As the vessel moves upstream, glass towers gradually disappear from the horizon.
Industrial districts give way to riverside communities.
Fishing boats replace city ferries.
The urban landscape softens.
And the river begins revealing layers of history hidden beneath the surface of everyday life.
This transition cannot be fully appreciated from a road.
It can only be experienced from the water.
Understanding Cu Chi Through the River
One of the ambitions behind Amiral 2026 is to encourage travelers to see familiar destinations through unfamiliar perspectives.
Cu Chi is perhaps the best example.
For most visitors, Cu Chi is associated with a famous historical attraction.
They arrive.
They explore.
They leave.
But the river journey changes the context entirely.
According to Chien, traveling to Cu Chi by water creates a deeper understanding of the destination itself.
“By road, people often focus on where they are going. By river, the journey itself becomes memorable. I enjoy watching the city gradually fade into the background and make way for green landscapes and riverside communities. It helps us understand that Cu Chi is not simply a destination. It is part of a larger cultural and historical landscape connected to the river.”
This distinction matters.
Because history rarely exists in isolation.
Places are shaped by geography.
Communities are shaped by rivers.
Stories are shaped by movement.
The Saigon River has served as a transportation route, a trading corridor, and a cultural connector for centuries.
Traveling upstream allows visitors to experience the transition from modern metropolis to rural landscapes in a way that mirrors the historical development of southern Vietnam itself.
Rather than arriving abruptly at a historical site, guests gradually enter its context.
The river becomes a storyteller.
The Difference Between Visiting and Experiencing
When asked about the difference between sightseeing and meaningful travel, Chien’s answer was remarkably concise.
“Sightseeing is about seeing. Experiencing is about feeling.”
The simplicity of that statement reflects one of the central ideas behind Amiral 2026.
Modern travelers have access to endless destinations.
They can collect photographs.
They can check places off a list.
They can move quickly from one attraction to another.
But meaningful travel often requires something different.
Time.
Attention.
Curiosity.
Connection.
According to Chien, the journeys people remember most are not always the most luxurious or the most expensive.
They are the ones that create emotional resonance.
The ones that reveal something unexpected.
The ones that encourage reflection.
The ones that remain in memory long after the trip has ended.
“There are places we visit and quickly forget,” he says. “But there are also journeys we remember for a very long time because of the emotions and stories we bring home.”
That belief lies at the heart of the Amiral concept.
The vessel is important.
The service matters.
The destination has value.
But the emotional experience created along the way is what transforms travel into memory.
Amiral 2026: When the Journey Creates a Memory
The first voyage of Amiral Explorers took place just one day after the official launch of the Amiral brand.
For LuxGroup, it represented the beginning of a new chapter in river tourism.
For the guests on board, it was an opportunity to experience the Saigon River in a new way.
But for those working behind the scenes, the voyage carried a deeper significance.
One of the passengers that day was Dr. Pham Ha, Founder and CEO of LuxGroup.
He was accompanied by his son.
During the journey, Dr. Pham Ha reflected on a memory from 1985, when he traveled from Hai Phong to Ho Chi Minh City aboard the Reunification Ship with his father.
Forty years later, he found himself traveling with his own son on a voyage inspired by a dream he had spent decades pursuing.
The image carries powerful symbolism.
A father.
A son.
A river.
A journey.
And a dream that took forty years to become reality.
In a different way, Chien found himself thinking about family as well.
When asked how he would describe the first voyage of Amiral Explorers to his own child one day, his response revealed the emotional significance of the moment.
“I would tell my child that I was there on a very special day. It was the day an idea became reality and the first guests began their journey with Amiral.”
Then he paused before adding:
“What I remember most is the feeling of pride when I saw the excitement on our guests’ faces and knew that I had played a small part in that moment.”
Beyond Beautiful Photos
For many tourism operators, success is measured through numbers.
Guest arrivals.
Revenue.
Occupancy.
Reviews.
Yet when asked what he hopes guests take home after their journey, Chien’s answer focused on something less tangible.
“I hope they take home more than beautiful photographs. I hope they gain a new perspective on Saigon, the river, and the values that are all around us but that we sometimes overlook in everyday life.”
That perspective captures the broader ambition of Amiral 2026.
The project is not simply about introducing a new vessel.
Nor is it solely about creating another tourism product.
It is about encouraging travelers to reconnect with the waterways that shaped southern Vietnam.
To slow down.
To observe.
To listen.
And perhaps to rediscover a sense of wonder.
The Beginning of a New Story
At the end of the interview, Chien returned once more to the idea of memory.
For him, the first voyage of Amiral Explorers was not defined by schedules, logistics, or operations.
It was defined by people.
The anticipation before departure.
The conversations on board.
The changing scenery along the river.
The excitement of the guests.
The realization that something new was beginning.
Many years from now, the details may fade.
But certain moments will remain.
The sight of the vessel leaving the city.
The smiles of the first passengers.
The feeling that an idea had finally become real.
And perhaps that is the true meaning of Amiral 2026.
Not simply a cruise.
Not simply a destination.
But a reminder that the most meaningful journeys are often the ones that leave us with something more valuable than photographs.
They leave us with stories.
They leave us with memories.
And sometimes, they become part of our own.
Based on conversations with Cruise Manager Luu Duc Chien
Written by Nguyen Thi Quynh Anh
