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Cần Giờ is hailed as the “green pearl” of the city, blessed with pristine mangrove forests. Despite the limited swimming spots in Cần Giờ's sea, its serene ambiance attracts many young souls seeking a refreshing getaway during holidays and weekends. Let's dive into 9 diverse travel gems in Cần Giờ with Mytour.
Discovering the Charms of Cần Giờ: From Familiar to Uncharted
1. Vàm Sát Ecotourism Area
Vàm Sát stands as the most sustainable ecotourism area recognized by the World Tourism Organization in Vietnam. The Đầm Dơi area boasts picturesque natural landscapes, where flocks of herons gracefully coexist with the azure river streams. Venture further, and you'll encounter bat colonies hanging amidst the towering canopies.
As the first rays of sunlight grace the forest, various bird species embark on a quest for food around the rivers, canals, and shrimp ponds. Observing from the lookout tower, visitors witness the entirety of the bird sanctuary. Whether by electric boat or a trek through the woods, guests can explore this wildlife haven. The Tang Bồng Tower, soaring 26 meters high in the heart of Vàm Sát, offers a panoramic view of Cần Giờ's mangrove forest.
2. Monkey Island
Lâm Viên Tourist Area, also known as Monkey Island, welcomes 400–500 visitors on regular days, spiking to 1,000–1,500 on weekends. The mischievous monkey population, unafraid of humans, occasionally startles visitors with bold daylight thefts and surprisingly intimate interactions, leaving many amused and astounded.
From a modest few dozen initially, Monkey Island now hosts nearly 2,000 monkeys of various rare species. The care and supervision of these monkeys are entrusted to the officials and staff of the Lâm Viên Tourist Area management. Visiting Monkey Island, you'll marvel at the adorable monkeys and relish the fresh, cool air of the pristine mangrove ecosystem.
3. Cần Giờ Beach
Not as bustling as Vũng Tàu, yet Cần Giờ Beach (also known as April 30 Beach) remains a familiar bathing spot for many tourists. Enjoy carefree moments on the water with friends and family in a serene and tranquil atmosphere. Despite the limited tourism services, the beach becomes an ideal destination for leisure, allowing you to escape the hustle and bustle of popular tourist areas.
Cần Giờ Beach, with its dark-colored mud, may not be visually appealing. However, tourists still come here, walking a distance to swim. Continuous announcements from loudspeakers warn visitors to stay away from dangerous waters, providing a sense of security. Bringing two boxes of seafood and sitting on chairs with umbrellas, about 5 minutes later, someone will come to collect a fee of 20,000 VND per chair, allowing you to comfortably enjoy the seafood in that space.
4. Cần Thạnh Town
Nestled peacefully in the outskirts of the city, Cần Thạnh Town is a gateway to a different world—gentle, tranquil, and serene. The moment you step in, all fatigue and worries naturally dissipate. The road to Cần Thạnh is shaded by cool trees and adorned with yellow flowers from the kapok trees on both sides. During the kapok flower season, this path becomes as romantically enchanting as those in Saigon.
In Cần Thạnh, there's a small park overlooking the sea. Here, one can rent a hammock, lie down, and admire the serene beauty of Cần Giờ Sea under the summer sun. What could be better than an afternoon spent under the canopy of trees, listening to the rustling breeze and letting the sea lull you to a nap with its soothing waves?
5. Hàng Dương Market
Hàng Dương Market is not just an interesting spot to buy fresh and vibrant gifts; you can also indulge in seafood right on the spot. Unlike the tranquility of tourist destinations, Hàng Dương Market always draws significant attention from locals and visitors, mainly from Saigon. The morning market unfolds in a lively atmosphere with the lively calls and bargaining between sellers and buyers.
The market offers a variety of fresh and delicious seafood, including snails, fish, squid, crab, mantis shrimp, octopus, and shrimp, with prices ranging from a few tens to hundreds of thousands. Besides choosing fresh seafood, if you're unable to cook on-site, you can buy pre-prepared dishes to savor immediately or take them to the beach to enjoy the breeze and indulge.
6. Cá Ông Tomb
Located in Cần Thạnh commune, Cá Ông Tomb is a place of worship for the 12-meter-long skeletal remains of the revered Mr. Cá Ông (Mr. Lụy). Mr. Lụy tragically drifted ashore in 1971, and the people of Cần Giờ built a shrine to honor him. In 2001, the Ho Chi Minh City Museum reconstructed Mr. Lụy's skeletal structure.
Every year, on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, the people of Cần Giờ joyously celebrate the “Nghinh ông Thủy Tướng” festival with traditional customs. Although the main day is on the 17th of August, preparations begin long before. As an age-old folk tradition of fishermen, it attracts a large number of attendees. Today, the festival is widely introduced to tourists as a unique cultural feature of this region. Therefore, during the Nghinh Ông festival, Cần Giờ welcomes a large influx of tourists and locals from surrounding areas to join the celebration.
7. Southern Pearl Resort
Southern Pearl Resort is a unique seaside eco-resort, providing you and your family with luxurious and convenient services. Ideally situated next to the renowned April 30 Beach with its lush mangrove forest and refreshing breeze, the resort's spacious grounds harmonize with the pristine natural scenery, adorned with numerous flowers and grass, offering a relaxed and comfortable retreat for guests.
Southern Pearl Resort features 70 fully-equipped rooms with hot showers, bathtubs, refrigerators, telephones, wardrobes, TVs, cable TV... The Phương Nam Restaurant specializes in serving a variety of exquisite dishes, prominently featuring fresh local seafood. The resort also offers eco-tourism services, beach resort experiences, and exploration of famous landmarks such as Cần Giờ mangrove forest, Đầm Dơi, Tràm Chim, and Monkey Island.
8. Thạnh An Island
Thạnh An, often dubbed as the 'Saigon nearby tourist spot,' or simply, in straightforward terms, a 'commune island.' Although not a renowned tourist destination, for adventure enthusiasts and backpackers, Thạnh An is a pocket-friendly gem. Visiting Thạnh An, you'll sense the tranquil and spacious atmosphere, a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of lively Saigon.
For seafood enthusiasts, the name Cần Giờ seafood must ring a bell—delicious, fresh, and affordable. In Thạnh An, you can procure similarly enticing seafood at even more budget-friendly prices. Recently, some island residents have started offering grilled seafood services for tourists, with octopus, squid, and shrimp being the highlights. A weekend day trip to Thạnh An Island promises delightful and comfortable experiences.
9. Thiềng Liềng Island
To reach Thiềng Liềng Island, you must take a series of boat rides, starting from Cần Thạnh town in Cần Giờ district. It takes nearly an hour by boat to reach Thạnh An Island from where you continue through winding channels and mangrove forests to reach Thiềng Liềng Island. This hidden gem, a small hamlet with just over 200 households, is relatively unknown despite being situated in the bustling city of Ho Chi Minh. Few would expect that in such a vibrant urban center, there exists a small island settlement with a primary occupation of salt production by 70% of its population, mainly hailing from the Mekong Delta provinces.
These salt workers, numbering over 400, operate for six months during the dry season. Covering more than 400 hectares of salt fields, Thiềng Liềng produces over 20,000 tons of salt annually. The salt-making season spans from October of the previous year to March of the following year. Thiềng Liềng is not connected to the national power grid, and its residents predominantly rely on solar energy for daily activities and small-scale production. However, the usage of solar energy is limited, primarily for household activities and minor production purposes.
As per Như Ý (compiled)
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Reference: Travel Guide from Mytour
MytourMarch 23, 2016
