Buzz
Just about 50km away from the center of Ho Chi Minh City, Can Gio beckons travelers with its long beaches, delicious food, and vast mangrove forests. With these distinctive features, tourists from all over, especially from Saigon, often come here on weekends to 'escape' the hustle and bustle of the urban life and immerse themselves in the fresh green nature here.
Guidebook to Can Gio District, Ho Chi Minh City
Getting to Can Gio
Travelers can get to Can Gio from the center of Ho Chi Minh City 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 reach the beach. Along the way, if you want to stop at any particular place, you can request to get off the bus, explore, and then catch another bus to continue your journey. Be mindful of 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 transportation between tourist spots and more flexibility for your trip. The road is not too crowded, with few gas stations and some slightly rugged sections, so make sure to fill up your gas tank, check your bike's safety before departure, and pay attention to not speeding or overtaking in the Vam Sat mangrove forest area.
- By car: If traveling with family or a large group, a car is also a time-saving mode of transportation for a short-day trip to Can Gio.
Fun Places in Can Gio
1. Vam Sat Ecotourism Area
As one of the largest biosphere reserves in the country, the Vam Sat mangrove eco-tourism forest is where you can get lost in vast, majestic forests, observe flocks of birds searching for food, and breathe in the fresh, airy atmosphere. Additionally, you can immerse yourself in nature through activities like crab fishing, fishing, rowing, etc.
Aerial view of Vam Sat eco-tourism area (Photo: Collection)
Don't forget to climb to the top of Tang Bong Tower to admire the view of the river, resembling a soft green silk ribbon amidst the vast forests.
River view from Tang Bong Tower (Photo: Collection)
2. Thanh An Island
If you're seeking a peaceful retreat in your Cần Giờ journey, Thanh An Island offers an ideal sanctuary to immerse yourself in rare tranquility, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Here, amidst the expansive landscapes of lush meadows, pristine salt fields, rocky shores, and above all, the simple, rustic life of the gentle and hospitable fishermen, you'll find a sense of serenity like no other.
Traveling to Cần Giờ - Thanh An Island (Photo: Collection)
Learn more: Explore Thanh An Island fully within 1 day
3. Monkey Island in Cần Giờ
Monkey Island is essentially a lush forest habitat teeming with adorable monkeys. Here, you can frolic with mischievous monkeys, feed them, and relish the cool, fresh air of nature. However, it's advisable not to carry too many personal belongings or get too close to them, as these playful creatures may snatch your belongings and vanish in a blink.
Explore Cần Giờ travel review - Monkey Island (Photo: Collection)
4. 30th April Beach – Cần Giờ Beach
Located in Can Thanh town, 30th April Beach in Can Gio 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 may not be crystal clear, Can Gio Beach boasts a unique and captivating stone pathway leading to the sea, attracting many tourists. Can Gio Beach is a suitable choice if you're craving a seaside experience without traveling too far from Saigon. Book your Can Gio hotels now to conveniently explore and travel with your loved ones!
Traveling to Can Gio - Tips for visiting 30th April Beach (Photo: Collection)
5. Can Thanh Town
Away from the bustling urban area, Can Thanh is a peaceful and tranquil suburban coastal town. Stepping into Can Thanh town feels like entering a different world, serene and peaceful! Wander through the narrow streets, visit Can Gio Market, immerse yourself in the peaceful life of the locals here, and watch all your worries and tiredness fade away.
Shaded tree-lined road in the suburban town of Can Thanh (Photo: Collection)
6. Thieng Lieng Island
It takes nearly an hour by boat from Thanh An Island to reach Thieng Lieng Island, hidden amidst dense forests near the sea entrance. Surrounded by rivers and a network of canals, Thieng Lieng Island is a pristine, rarely seen island with traditional salt-making villages.
Salt fields of the locals on Thieng Lieng Island (Photo: Collection)
7. Hang Duong Market
Don't miss Hang Duong seafood market to select fresh seafood at extremely reasonable prices. You can also ask the vendors to prepare and enjoy delicious seafood dishes right there.
Touring the seafood market in Can Gio (Photo: Collection)
8. Ong Fish Shrine
The Ong Fish Shrine, also known as the Shrine of Admiral Fish, is now a place of worship for the 12-meter-long whale bone. The people of Can Gio believe that the whale is an incarnation of Lord Ong Fish, and this deity will assist the fishermen's voyages. Therefore, every year from the 15th to the 17th of August, the people of Can Gio organize the Ong Fish Parade with traditional local customs.
Touring the Ong Fish Shrine in Can Gio, Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: Collection)
Where to stay overnight in Can Gio?
Delicious dishes in Can Gio
Can Gio boasts a long coastline and receives a significant amount of silt from major rivers, resulting in a rich and flavorful seafood selection. Seafood in Can Gio is diverse, including various types of shrimp (lobster, prawn, mantis shrimp, etc.), crabs, clams, mussels, crabs, snails, etc. These seafood items are transformed into delicious specialty dishes that are irresistibly fresh.
1. Mud Crab
When in Can Gio, you must indulge in the incredibly enticing mud crab. Primarily inhabiting the mangrove forests, mud crabs have abundant and firm flesh. There are many dishes prepared from this delicious, sweet-tasting crab. Some prefer to enjoy steamed mud crab to savor the pure sweet taste of the crab meat, but perhaps the most delicious preparation method is salt and chili roasted crab claws, with the fresh, savory, and spicy taste becoming more addictive with every bite.
Enjoying Mud Crab in Can Gio, Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: Collection)
2. Garlic Fried Giant Prawns
Giant prawns are large-sized shrimp, hence they are meaty and tender. When indulging in garlic fried giant prawns, you'll experience the enticing aroma of garlic blending with the naturally delicious sweet taste of the prawn meat.
Dish of Garlic Fried Giant Prawns (Photo: Collection)
3. Dried Rice with Mullet Fish
Not trying dried rice with mullet fish would be a big miss when traveling to Can Gio. This simple yet enticing dish captivates diners with crispy golden pieces of sun-dried mullet fish, paired with fragrant sticky rice wrapped in eye-catching banana leaves.
Can Gio specialty: dried rice with mullet fish (Photo: Collection)
4. Clams
Clams are widely abundant in Can Gio. This humble seafood species serves as a key ingredient in many exquisite dishes. Steamed clams with lemongrass, prepared with a simple cooking method yet still attracting many tourists due to preserving the natural sweet and savory flavor of tender clam meat. Additionally, clams stir-fried with kaffir lime leaves, where the clams are steamed, shelled, quickly stir-fried with kaffir lime leaves and garlic, is also a favorite dish among many diners.
Steamed clams with lemongrass Can Gio (Photo: Collection)
5. Jellyfish salad mixed with kaffir lime leaves
This is also a signature dish in Can Gio that you shouldn't miss. Jellyfish is a type of fish living in brackish water areas. Despite its unattractive appearance, it is soft and has a sweeter and more characteristic taste than other types of fish. Enjoying this dish, you will taste the sweet and soft flavor of jellyfish combined with the sour taste of kaffir lime leaves, blending with sweet and mild dipping sauce, simple yet incredibly delicious.
Can Gio specialty: Jellyfish salad mixed with kaffir lime leaves (Photo: Collection)
In addition to the mentioned dishes, you can also enjoy other seafood dishes such as: mango salad with razor clams, snails cooked with tamarind sauce, sun-dried fish, catfish braised in clay pot, grilled oysters with scallion oil at the '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), Mrs. Ut's Restaurant (Long Hoa commune),...
The scenery of Can Gio Market (Photo: Collection)
6. Crispy rice with shredded pork floss
A familiar dish to many people in the South, Crispy rice with shredded pork floss in Can Gio has a slight difference in preparation. Made from sticky rice and eaten with pork floss, but Crispy rice with shredded pork floss in Can Gio is wrapped around with snail meat and spices and shaped like stacked cakes.
Crispy rice with shredded pork floss in Can Gio (Photo: Collection)
7. Banh khot
The dish Banh khot in Can Gio resembles Banh khot in Vung Tau but has a whiter color and is not coated with oil at the bottom of the mold, so you can keep eating without feeling greasy. The cake has a smooth taste of glutinous rice flour combined with the sweetness of fresh shrimp, sprinkled with a little spring onion, dipped in delicious sweet fish sauce and eaten with fresh vegetables, disappearing in no time.
Banh khot in Can Gio is tempting
8. Coconut Water
When in Can Gio, visit a roadside coconut water stall and enjoy a refreshing glass of sweet coconut water. The coconuts are split open, the coconut meat inside is scooped out, mixed with sugar, and served with ice, creating a cool and refreshing coconut water drink. It's both hydrating and satisfying to chew on the crunchy coconut meat while sipping.
Roadside coconut water stalls (Photo: Collection)
9. Sand Mangoes
Can Gio sand mangoes are renowned for their juicy, sweet flavor and smooth texture, leaving a lasting impression on visitors. Enjoying these mangoes here will make you cherish this land forever. Not only can you indulge in sand mangoes during your visit, but you can also buy them as gifts for your loved ones and friends after your short trip to Can Gio.
Specialty Sand Mangoes of Can Gio (Photo: Collection)
With this mytour.VN travel guide, we hope you'll have an enjoyable and memorable trip to Can Gio, filled with exciting experiences.
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