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Dubbed as a 'green oasis' of Saigon, Can Gio is an ideal ecotourism destination for short weekend trips. Let's 'pocket' the Can Gio travel guidebook from VNTRIP.VN for an enjoyable and enriching journey!
Located just about 50km from the city center of Ho Chi Minh City, Can Gio is an attractive ecotourism area with long beaches, delicious food, and pristine mangrove forests. With these characteristics, visitors from everywhere, especially from Saigon, often come here on weekend holidays to 'escape' the hustle and bustle of the urban life and immerse themselves in the fresh green natural space here.
Travel guide to Can Gio district, Ho Chi Minh City
Getting to Can Gio
You can travel from the city center of Ho Chi Minh City to Can Gio by various means:
- By bus: From Ben Thanh Market, take bus number 20 to Nha Be and get off at Binh Khanh ferry terminal. Purchase a ticket for the ferry, then take bus number 90 to the beach. Along the way, if you want to stop at any place, you can ask to get off the bus, explore, and then catch another bus to continue your journey. Also, pay attention to the schedule to catch the last bus back to the city.
- By motorbike: With a distance of just over 50km, you can easily travel to Can Gio by motorbike for convenient movement between tourist spots and more flexibility for your trip. The road is empty, with few gas stations and some slightly rough sections, so remember to fill up your gas tank, check your bike, and be careful not to drive too fast.
- By car: If traveling with family or a large group, a car is also a time-saving means of transportation for a short trip to Can Gio.
Fun Places in Can Gio
1. Vam Sat Ecotourism Area
As one of the largest biosphere reserves in the country, Vam Sat mangrove eco-tourism area is where you can get lost in vast majestic forests, observe flocks of birds searching for food, and breathe in the fresh, airy atmosphere. Moreover, you can immerse yourself in nature through activities such as crab fishing, fishing, rowing boats, etc.
Aerial view of Vam Sat Ecotourism Area (Photo: Collected)
Don't forget to climb to the top of Tang Bong Tower to admire the view of the river like a soft green silk strip amidst the vast forests.
River view from Tang Bong Tower (Photo: Collected)
2. Thanh An Island
If you're seeking a peaceful retreat in Can Gio, Thanh An Island offers an ideal destination to enjoy the rare serene and pristine environment, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Visiting Thanh An, you'll experience an unusual tranquility amidst the picturesque landscape of vast meadows, gleaming salt fields, rocky beaches, and above all, the simple life of the friendly, hospitable fishing village locals.
Traveling in Can Gio Thanh An Island (Photo: Collected)
3. Monkey Island Can Gio
Monkey Island is essentially a forested area with lush greenery on both sides and serves as a 'home' to thousands of adorable monkeys. Here, you can play with mischievous monkeys, feed them, and enjoy the cool, fresh air of nature. However, when visiting, avoid carrying too many personal belongings or getting too close to them as the playful monkeys may snatch your belongings and run away.
Review of Can Gio Monkey Island (Photo: Collected)
4. April 30 Beach - Can Gio Beach
Located in Can Thanh town, Can Gio Beach is the only beach in Ho Chi Minh City. Unlike other beaches, Can Gio Beach has black sand due to its high silt content. Although the water is not clear, Can Gio Beach has a unique and attractively rugged stone pathway leading to the sea, which appeals to tourists. Can Gio Beach is a suitable choice if you're craving a bit of beach flavor without traveling too far from Saigon. Book your Can Gio hotels now for convenient exploration and travel with your loved ones!
Travel Experience to April 30 Beach Can Gio (Photo: Collected)
5. Can Thanh Town
Away from the bustling urban areas, Can Thanh is a peaceful and tranquil coastal suburban town. Stepping into Can Thanh town feels like entering a different world, gentle and serene! Strolling along the narrow streets, visiting Can Gio market, immersing yourself in the peaceful life of the locals here, all your fatigue and worries will vanish.
Shaded tree-lined path in the suburban town of Can Thanh (Photo: Collected)
6. Thieng Lieng Island
From Thanh An Island, it takes nearly an hour by boat to reach Thieng Lieng Island hidden amidst the dense forests near the sea mouth. Amidst the intertwining rivers and channels, Thieng Lieng Island is a pristine, rarely pure island with traditional salt-making villages.
Salt fields of the people of Thieng Lieng Island (Photo: Collected)
7. Hang Duong Market
Don't miss out on Hang Duong seafood market to choose fresh seafood at extremely reasonable prices. You can also ask the sellers to prepare and enjoy delicious seafood dishes right on the spot.
Traveling to the seafood market in Can Gio (Photo: Collected)
8. Ong Fish Tomb
The Ong Fish Tomb, also known as the Admiral's Tomb, is now a place of worship for the 12m-long whale skeleton. Can Gio residents believe that the whale is an incarnation of Lord Fish and this deity will assist fishermen's voyages. Therefore, every year on the 15th-17th of August, Can Gio residents organize the Whale Worshiping Festival with traditional local customs.
Traveling to Ong Fish Tomb Can Gio Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: Collected)
Where to stay overnight in Can Gio?
If you want to stay overnight in Can Gio, you can choose Can Gio Resort, Address: 30/4 Tourist Area, Thanh Thoi Street, Long Hoa Commune, Can Gio District, Ho Chi Minh City
The hotel is designed in the style of a garden villa with spacious grounds, fresh air, and fully equipped rooms.
Must-Try Delicacies in Can Gio
Can Gio has a long coastline and receives a lot of sediment from large rivers, so the seafood here is extremely diverse and rich. Can Gio seafood includes various types of shrimp (lobster, prawn, river prawn, etc.), squid, clams, oysters, crabs, snails, etc. These seafood items are processed into irresistible specialty dishes.
1. Mud Crab
When in Can Gio, you cannot miss the incredibly enticing mud crab dish. Mostly found in the mangrove forest area, mud crabs have a lot of meat and are firm. There are many dishes made from this delicious, sweet-tasting crab. Some prefer to steam the mud crab to enjoy its pure sweetness, but perhaps the best way to prepare it is to stir-fry it with salt and chili, bringing out the delicious freshness and savory spiciness that will leave you craving for more.
Indulge in Mud Crab in Can Gio, Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: Collection)
2. Garlic Fried King Prawns
King prawns are large in size, resulting in plenty of soft and tender meat. Enjoying garlic fried king prawns, you'll experience the enticing aroma of fried garlic blending with the natural sweet taste of the prawn meat.
Garlic Fried King Prawns Dish (Photo: Collection)
3. Dried Mullet Fish Rice
Not trying dried mullet fish rice would be a major miss when traveling to Can Gio. This simple yet enticing dish captivates diners with its sun-dried mullet fish pieces fried to a crisp golden brown, paired with fragrant sticky rice wrapped in eye-catching banana leaves.
Can Gio Specialty: Dried Mullet Fish Rice (Photo: Collection)
4. Clams
Clams are a ubiquitous seafood in Can Gio, serving as the key ingredient for many exquisite dishes. Steamed Clams with Lemongrass, prepared with a simple yet captivating method, retains the sweet and succulent taste of the clams. Additionally, Stir-fried Clams with Kaffir Lime Leaves, featuring clams steamed, shucked, quickly stir-fried with kaffir lime leaves and garlic, is also a favored dish among diners.
Steamed Clams with Lemongrass Can Gio (Photo: Collection)
5. Mudskipper Fish Salad with Kaffir Lime Leaves
This is another signature dish in Can Gio that you shouldn't miss. Mudskipper fish, living in brackish water areas, may not have an appealing appearance, but its tender flesh and distinctive sweet taste surpass other fish varieties. Enjoying this dish, you will savor the soft and sweet mudskipper fish complemented by the sourness of kaffir lime leaves, blended with a sweet dipping sauce. Despite its simplicity, it's incredibly delicious.
Specialty Mudskipper Fish Salad with Kaffir Lime Leaves (Photo: Collection)
In addition to the mentioned dishes, you can indulge in other seafood dishes such as mango and conch salad, snail stir-fried with tamarind, sun-dried herring, braised gourami fish, grilled oysters with scallion oil at various 'ready-to-eat' seafood markets: Hang Duong Market, Can Gio - Can Thanh Market, or seafood restaurants in Can Gio: Thanh Lich Restaurant (Can Thanh town), Sister Ut Restaurant (Long Hoa commune),...
Scenic view of Can Gio Market (Photo: Collection)
6. Crispy Rice with Pork Floss
A familiar dish to many people in the South, Can Gio's Crispy Rice with Pork Floss has a unique twist in its preparation. Made from sticky rice and eaten with shredded pork floss, but Can Gio's version is wrapped around snail meat and spices, forming a layered cake.
Crispy Rice with Pork Floss in Can Gio (Photo: Collection)
7. Bánh khọt
The Can Gio pancake resembles Vung Tau pancake but appears whiter and is not greased at the bottom of the mold, so you can indulge endlessly. The cake has the smoothness of glutinous rice flour blended with the sweetness of fresh shrimp, sprinkled with some spring onions, dipped in delicious sweet fish sauce, and eaten with raw vegetables. It disappears in no time.
The enticing Can Gio pancake
8. Coconut Water
When in Can Gio, stop by a roadside coconut stand and enjoy a glass of sweet and refreshing coconut water. The coconuts are split in half, the coconut meat scooped out, mashed with sugar, add some ice, and you have a cool, refreshing glass of coconut water, perfect for quenching your thirst on a hot day, while you munch on the crunchy coconut meat.
Roadside coconut stands (Photo: Collection)
9. Sandy Mangoes
Sandy mangoes from Can Gio are renowned for their juicy, sweet flavor and smooth texture, leaving you longing for more memories of this land. You can not only enjoy mangoes here but also buy them as gifts for your loved ones and friends after a short trip to Can Gio.
Specialty Sandy Mangoes of Can Gio (Photo: Collection)
With the VNTRIP.VN travel guidebook, embark on a journey to Can Gio filled with fascinating and memorable experiences.
