Can Gio Travel Guide

Introducing

Can Gio is a coastal suburban district of Ho Chi Minh City, South of Vietnam. Position in the metropolitan area of HCMC. This district is located 50 km from downtown Saigon. In 1997, this district had an area of 714 km², population of 55,173, comprising Kinh people (80%), Khmer Krom and Cham people. Can Gio district includes township Can Thanh and 6 communes (xã): Binh Khanh, An Thoi Dong, Ly Nhon, Tham Thon Hiep, Long hoa, Thanh An. Can Gio is home to Can Gio Mangrove Forest, a biosphere reserve listed by UNESCO. Can Gio shares borders with Nhon Trach, Vung Tau by the rivers and South China Sea.

. Can Gio Mangrove Forest

The Can Gio mangrove forest is home to around 160 flora species, more than 700 spineless species, 137 fish species and more than 40 vertebrate animal species.

Known as the 'green lungs of Saigon', the Can Gio biosphere reserve to the south of the city covers around 80,000 ha of the river delta and is cloaked in rich mangrove forest that is full of wildlife, with over 200 species of fauna and 52 flora. This huge mass of green so close to the centre of Ho Chi Minh City helps clean the air of the city, and protect against coastal erosion and storms coming in from the sea.

The mangrove forest in Can Gio was originally over 2000 years old, and so dense that the interior was cold, foggy and dark, and full of dangerous animals such as tigers and crocodiles. During the war the mangroves were a dense hiding place from which to launch attacks on the city, which both the Vietnamese and Americans found extremely difficult to penetrate or patrol. Sadly this lead to the Americans dropping a huge amount of chemical defoliant or dixoins on the area, significantly damaging the mangrove forest, in an attempt to maintain control.

Now the mangrove is beginning to recover and is protected by the government and international law, and there are efforts to reintroduce much of the wildlife that fled the area. It is a great place to visit from Saigon, whether as a day trip or for a longer stay - there is a resort to the south with a pool and small (though slightly muddy) beach.

The number of its water birds species currently constitutes 34% of the country's total population with nine species listed in the World's Red Book of Endangered Species.

Can Gio salt-marsh forest is the best recovered, protected and managed in Southeast Asia, said foreign experts.
As a result, Can Gio was the first mangrove forest in Vietnam to be admitted to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in January 2000.

The locals' culture is closely attached to their traditional craft villages such as the fishing village and the forest village. Can Gio is also the first place in Vietnam and Southeast Asia where a sepulchre with more than 300 ancient Oc Eo artefacts were excavated.

Can Gio has become an ideal place for ecological tours and scientific research. Visitors will be attracted by an island with thousands of monkeys, a natural bird sanctuary within an area of more than 100 hectares or the rare naturally beautiful landscape in Dam Roi.

Sightseers will have a chance to visit Vam Sat salt-marsh forest which was recognised in mid-2003 by the World Tourist Organisation as one of the world's two sustainable ecological tourist zones in Vietnam.

Its natural scenery includes a bat swamp, a crocodile farm and a unique swimming pool in which swimmers do not have to worry about drowning since the salt concentration in the pool is 10 times higher than that of the ocean.

Tourists can not only enjoy fresh air here but also food specialities that are made from the locally available shrimp, crab, fish and shellfish.

The Vietnam Prime Minister has recently approved a scheme on the sea encroachment area at around 872 ha in the region. The project is expected to turn Can Gio into a tourism-trade service centre in 2010. 

. Can Gio Beach

The southern side of the island faces the sea, creating a beach front nearly 10km long. The water here is extremely shallow, and a walk far from the shore would be interesting. From the beach, the hills of Vung Tau Peninsula are visible on a clear day.]

Get there & away

 . Motorbike:

Rent a motorbike (5-10usd per day), and ride to Can Gio. See the map (below) to know the route to Can Gio from Ben Thanh Market.

Follow this routes (the shortest way): Ben Thanh Market – Tran Hung Dao – Calmette – Doan Van Bo – Tan Thuan – Huynh Tan Phat – Binh Khanh ferry (at the end of the Nha Be district). Download the map below to see the way to ride, or you can use diadiem.com to search direction.

Click to see larger

At Binh Khanh ferry (Nha Be District), you should buy ferry ticket (motorbike: 2000dong).  After you pass the ferry, ride the straight to the Can Gio Beach.

On the way to Can Gio beach, you can visit Vam Sat, Mokey Island …

It’s very easey to see a monkey while you’re on the way.

There is little traffic and the sides of the road are lined with mangrove forests.

Note: From Binh Khanh ferry to Can Gio beach, it's very hard to find a gas station. Only one is on the left (after pass the ferry 15km).

Binh Khanh ferry

ĐT: (84-8) 3782 8625

Working 24/24

. Bus (public bus):

From Ben Thanh Bus Station (in front of Ben Thanh Market), take a bus No.20 to Binh Khanh ferry (Nha Be District - 3000dong/pax). When the bus stop. You buy a ticket ferry (1000dong/pax no motor). After pass the Binh Khanh ferry, you take a bus No.90 to Can Gio Beach.

On the way to Can Gio beach, you can stop to visit Vam Sat, Mokey Insland,  ....

Ask the bus driver or bus assistant the place you want to stop.

After pass the ferry you will see 

 

See & visit:

. Vam Sat Ecological Tourist Area:  

Since its establishment in 2000, Vam Sat Salt-Marsh Forest Ecological Tourist Zone has created tourist sites based on available natural environment. Bat Swamp is one of tourist points, which can win the concern of visitors. The natural scenery is beautiful like a great work of art. Going into the swamp, tourists will see groups of flying foxes hanging themselves behind the foliages of high mangroves. Bats are very sensitive to the environment, so they live only in places that are certainly safe. The most interesting activity in Bat Swamp is crab angling. Giant pincers of crabs with succulent meat will make tourists’ lunch more delicious.

Sailing to Vamsat

Traveling to Vam Sat Eco-Tourist Area by sailing is the attracting and interesting new form to the tourists. The journey starts from Bach Dang Wharf in the early morning when Saigon is not yet awake. The tourists could breath in the fresh air and feel satisfied with the sightseeing along the edge of Saigon River. You will be serve food and enjoy the feeling of relaxing. And especially, when you join the Vam Sat Eco-Tourist Area by sailing that you could contemplate sunrise and sunset of the city on the sailing.

Booking at Vam Sat Representative Office:

Address: 03 Hoa Binh Str., Ward 3, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City.

Tel: (08) 3963 2760 – Fax: 3963 2751.

Vam Sat Eco-tourism Area

Ly Nhon Commune,

Can Gio District, Ho Chi Minh City

Tel: (08) 38894008

Representative Office:

79 Hoa Binh

Tel: (08).39632760

Email: kdlvamsat@gmail.com

Fax: 08.39632751

. Eco forest park - Monkey Island is part of the Can Gio Ecotourism Park

In Forsrest Park, you shall explore its wonders: Visiting CanGio Museum with archaeologigal research of relics, flora and fauna system.

 

Exploring Mangrove Forest by boat. Visiting Rung Sac Guerilla Base by canoe. Seeing the very unique Circus of Crocodiles and Monkeys. A rang of wildlife experiences including wild cat, otter, python, deer, fox and especially, the groups of wild monkey more than 1000 individuals, which are very playful and contact with human. Purebred Crocodile Reserve Park with more than 80 individuals.

From here you can take canoe to visit Can Gio Mangrove Forest Ecosystem.

Can Gio Ecotourism Park

Thanh Thoi st, Long Hoa, Can Gio (near the beach)

Tel: (84-8) 3874 3333/ 3874 3337

Fax: (84-8) 3874 3334

Representative Office:

Address: 68A Nguyen Hue Str, Dis.1, HCMC, Vietnam

Phonei: (84-8) 3829 2969 - 3823 9669 - 3874 3330

Fax: (84-8) 3823 9669

. Beach

You can't swim in Can Gio Beach.

From here you can see Vung Tau (In Bai Dau, Vung Tau you can see Can Gio, too).

Sleep

. Can Gio Resort ***

Thanh Thoi st, Long Hoa, Can Gio (near the beach)

Tel: (84-8) 3874 3333/ 3874 3337

Fax: (84-8) 3874 3334

Representative Office:

Address: 68A Nguyen Hue Str, Dis.1, HCMC, Vietnam

Phonei: (84-8) 3829 2969 - 3823 9669 - 3874 3330

Fax: (84-8) 3823 9669

. Hòn Ngọc Phương Nam Resort (Pearl of The South Resort) ***

Dong Hoa, Long Hoa, Can Gio

Tel: (84-8) 3887 7325/ 3887 6742

Fax: (84-8) 3874 3370

I think one day is enough for you to discovery Can Gio.

 

Eat & Drink

At Eco forest park - Monkey Island: Rung Sac restaurant is located in the heart of Can Gio forest park.

At Vam Sat Eco-tourism Area : Vam Sat restaurant.

All hotel, resort have restaurant service for tourist.

You can eat at some restaurants near the beach. It's cheap.

Sea food in Can Gio is so delicious and cheap.

Daily Tour

You can book tour at 727 travel

Tel: 083.8402288

153 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh, Ward 17, Binh Thanh Dist, HCMC

Or contact with some travel agency in Pham Ngu Lao Area.