Saigon’s famed dinner cruise - Bonsai - is slated to make comeback

A new business partnership, led by the former management and co-founder of Bonsai Cruise and Artisan Cruise, will launch a new dinner cruise ship in Saigon. Unfazed by the damage of the two dinner cruise boats, which were struck by a cruise liner in January 2015, the owners are gunning for a launch date of April 2017. “We are in the midst of building a brand new Indochinese-contemporary river vessel. It will be one of a kind,” says Thomas Peter, who is project manager of Bonsai Cruise Ltd, the ship’s owning company. Peter’s other two founding partners are Ines Ernest and Aline Ho, owner of Asiatique Design.

To be named “BONSAI Legacy”, the ship will have a capacity of up to 200 patrons, a main deck for live entertainment, interactive cooking stations & buffet dinner with signature dishes, dancing and mingling. The upper deck will be the perfect getaway for those seeking a romantic night out. The Bonsai Legacy will also boast a private lounge, complete with an alfresco terrace.
Ines Ernest was quick to point out that the ship will be another milestone in Ho Chi Minh’s river cruise scene. “We will infuse the same culture of excellence into the new Bonsai, capping it with an excellent dining experience” says Ernest.

Bonsai Cruise Ltd is setting aside a budget of slightly less than US$2 million dollars for the construction of the ship. Ines Ernest was also part the founding team of Artisans and Bonsai cruises. Peter later co-founded and project managed the construction of Heritage Line ships and helmed the company for five years. Ho conceived and managed the design of the Heritage Line vessels in the region. She was also instrumental in designing some of the more avant-garde ships on Halong Bay.

“After Artisan and Bonsai closed its doors in 2015, “there was a dearth of quality dinner cruising in Saigon. There are other dinner cruise ships but they do not cater to up-market tourists,” says Peter.

The Bonsai Legacy will be a re-creation of an Indochinese inspired river vessel - a throwback to the past. The decoration will be a fusion of local flavors and chic modern designs. The culinary team, lead by Chef Patrick Pham, created menu items that will cater to palate of every guest. “It will be a memorable experience for each patron,” Pham assures.

Peter is keen to ensure that the legacy of the Bonsai continues. “Our dinner cruises in the past were known for their entertainment, experience and cuisine,” says Peter. “Our new concept will be all of these but we will add a twist to the menu and I am confident that we will be known for our signature dishes, local and fresh produce and organic elements on the menu”.

Industry insiders say that the Artisan and Bonsai dinner cruises were renowned in Saigon amongst the corporate companies, foreign tourists, hotels and tour operators, a point not lost on Peter. “Our cruise was known for its memorable experience and superb ambience. During this hiatus, we were given time to conjure creative designs and contemporary Asian cuisine. More importantly, we had the time to learn, improve and come-up with an even better product in order to strive for excellence” Peter says.

THE BONSAI TEAM – RARING TO GO

Meet the new Bonsai team… A motley group comprised of passionate designers, boat builders and hospitality professionals. Fused by their desire to create a cruise dining experience unmatched in all of Saigon.

Illustrious hospitality professional Ines Ernest and Thomas Peter, a seasoned cruise project manager, both of whom are former co-founders of the original Bonsai, have teamed-up with Aline Ho, a senior design expert, to take the Bonsai Cruise to new heights.

BONSAI CRUISE CO. LTD.
​LE 03-62 Lexington Offices
67 Mai Chi Tho, An Phu Ward, D. 2
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

This release was published on openPR.