Can Gio is an island at the mouth of the Saigon River to the south of Ho Chi Minh City. There’s not much to lure tourists here beyond a thriving mangrove forest.
The island formed over time as mud and silt swept through the river and was deposited here at the outlet to the sea. The silt is hard-packed and there’s no sand on the beach, so swimming and sunbathing aren’t options.
But all this fertile soil is ideal for mangrove forests. This one covers 185,000 acres and supports an array of wildlife and unique plant species. There’s also a primate center that takes care of about a hundred monkeys.
If you make it out to the island then you’ll want to visit the Can Gio Museum. Most of the exhibits explore the island’s biodiversity, though a few sections are dedicated to the wars of the 20th century. Beyond this there’s little infrastructure on the island and staying overnight isn’t possible.
Getting There & Away
Visitors to the island arrive from Ho Chi Minh City on a daytrip, and getting in and out of the region is easy due to HCMC’s large international airport. The easiest way to visit is with a rented car or motorbike. Drive nine miles south of the city to Binh Khanh, where you can take your wheels on the ferry. The entire transaction including driving and ferrying time takes about two hours.