A day trip to the 'green oasis' Can Gio

Can Gio will be an ideal tourist destination during the hot summer days. Photo: My Tour

Can Gio District has long been known as the "green lung" of Ho Chi Minh City. Fresh air and lots of trees make this place an ideal place to escape the heat this summer.

If you are looking for a destination with scenery like in the movie Hometown Cha Cha Cha, but are afraid to go far, Can Gio is the answer for you.

Easy to move

There is no bridge so visitors to Can Gio must take the ferry. Photo: Pham Ngon

Can Gio is about 50 km from the city center, so you can plan a day trip.

If you choose to travel by car or motorbike, you can go to Can Gio district by ferry at Binh Khanh wharf. After getting off the shore, you follow Rung Sac road for about 40 km to reach the center of Can Thanh town.

Please note that the Sac Forest route is quite deserted, with no houses or gas stations, so you should fill up your tank before setting off.

In addition, you can also choose public transport such as buses to go to Can Gio. However, it is still wild so the tourist attractions here are quite far apart, making travel difficult.

Regarding how to travel by bus, tourist Thuy Vy (District 4, Ho Chi Minh City) shared, "Everyone takes bus number 20 at Ham Nghi station and then stops at Binh Khanh wharf. After crossing the ferry, you take bus number 90 to go to the center of Can Gio district."

Many places to have fun

When you come to Can Gio, don’t worry about lacking places to play. In addition to the mangrove forests, Can Gio also has countless places for you to visit and check-in.

Vam Sat Tourist Area

This is a popular tourist attraction in Can Gio. Vam Sat tourist area is one of the largest biosphere reserves in the country. This location is between the two rivers Vam Sat and Long Tau.

Vam Sat tourist area is the first biosphere reserve recognized by UNESCO in Vietnam. Photo: Quynh Danh

When traveling here, you should visit Tang Bong Tower, a lookout tower that can overlook the entire Can Gio forest.

In addition to visiting the mangrove forest, Vam Sat also has many activities for tourists such as crocodile fishing, boating, water balloons, visiting Bat Lagoon. The current entrance fee is 60,000 VND/person, children under 6 years old are free.

Can Gio Beach (April 30 Beach)

Can Gio Beach (April 30 Beach) is a special beach. The sand color at the beach is a light black due to the accumulation of alluvium.

Can Gio beach is famous for its black sand due to alluvial deposits. Photo: Vien Dieu Phat

"I heard a lot about Can Gio beach like 'it's not clean', 'it's very dirty', 'don't waste your money'. However, when I arrived, I was really surprised. The beach was clean and deserted, especially the sunset here is very beautiful", said a female tourist.

Besides going to the beach, visitors can visit Hang Duong seafood market. Here, there are countless fresh seafood and food prepared on the spot.

Thanh An Island

Thanh An Island is a place not to be missed when visiting Can Gio. This is a small island with the majority of people working as fishermen.

Thach An Island still retains its wild beauty because it has not been affected much by tourism. Photo: Tung Balo

Because most of the people are local residents, Thach An Island has a quiet space with fresh air. Here, visitors can experience delicious seafood dishes.

Can Gio Monkey Island

Monkey Island is located in the Vam Sat forest. This place is home to more than 2,000 different monkeys. However, visitors are advised not to bring many valuables to avoid being stolen by monkeys.

Be mindful of your belongings when you visit Can Gio Monkey Island. Photo: Quynh Danh

Visitors can also visit Can Gio Mangrove Forest, a military combat site during the resistance wars against France and the US.

In addition to sightseeing, visitors can also enjoy some dishes and specialties in Can Gio such as:

Sun-dried Pineapple Fish, Mudskipper Salad, Grilled Egg with Scallion Oil, Can Gio Water Coconut, Can Gio Mango