A One-day ‘Seafood’ Trip to Can Gio

Can Gio, the Coastal Escape from Ho Chi Minh City

• Can Gio (Cần Giờ in Vietnamese) is a coastal area of Ho Chi Minh City and home to the Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve.
• It is about 50 km from central Ho Chi Minh City, making it a convenient escape from the city.
• The Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve covers approximately 75,740 hectares and was recognized by UNESCO in 2000 as Vietnam’s first biosphere reserve.
• The reserve contains mangroves, wetlands, mudflats, seagrass areas, and diverse marine and terrestrial ecosystems. UNESCO describes it as an important green area for Ho Chi Minh City.

Can Gio Today

Can Gio has changed quite a bit since I made this trip in 2015, but its biggest attraction remains the same, its combination of mangrove forests, coastline, and a slower pace of life away from central Ho Chi Minh City.

The area is now being positioned as an important destination for ecotourism and sustainable tourism. Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism authority highlights attractions such as 30/4 Beach, Monkey Island, Thanh An Island, Dan Xay and Vam Sat ecological tourism areas, and the Rung Sac Revolutionary Base. Activities include cycling, kayaking, fishing, crab fishing, and walking through the mangrove environment.

At the same time, Can Gio is entering a period of major development. The city has approved major infrastructure projects, including the Can Gio International Transshipment Port, with investment of nearly US$5 billion, while a new Can Gio bridge is planned to eventually replace the Binh Khanh Ferry.

That means Can Gio may look quite different in the coming years. For now, though, it still offers something I was looking for when I made my original trip, a relatively easy way to leave the busy city behind for a day of beach, nature, and seafood.

How to Get to Can Gio

For a short trip to Can Gio, I still think a motorbike is one of the most enjoyable ways to go, especially if you want to stop along the way.

When I made this trip, I started from District 3, traveled through District 7, and followed Huynh Tan Phat Street toward Nha Be before reaching Binh Khanh Ferry. After crossing the ferry, the road continues toward Can Gio’s coastal attractions and 30/4 Beach. The trip from central Ho Chi Minh City can take roughly 1.5–2 hours, depending on traffic, ferry waiting time, and your destination.

The route itself is part of the experience. Once you’re across the ferry, the urban scenery gradually gives way to greener surroundings and mangrove landscapes. If you are thirsty along the way, you’ll also find places selling fresh coconut drinks and other refreshments.

What to Do at 30/4 Beach?

It’s better to go with a group so you can play many games on the beach. There are also some spots where you can take pictures. But to me, I would love to take a seat by the beach, sit down, and enjoy the atmosphere that I can’t find in the city. That was really the point of this trip.

I wasn’t looking for a packed itinerary. After spending so much time studying for the GMAT, I just wanted somewhere I could slow down, breathe some fresh air, listen to the sea, and forget about those terrible practice test scores for a while. And Can Gio was perfect for that.

And What to Eat?

One of the biggest reasons that I came to Can Gio is seafood. It’s really cheap, fresh, and delicious. You can find many kinds of clams and seafood there, including oysters, octopus, squid, shrimp, and especially mantis shrimp, my favorite.

In front of the beach, there are some rest places where you can hire chairs, and they serve meals too. But you shouldn’t necessarily buy all your seafood there. Near 30/4 Beach, you’ll find Hang Duong Seafood Market, where you can choose from a wide variety of fresh seafood and have it prepared for you. The market is only about 50 meters from the beach, according to Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism information.

This is one part of my original experience that still makes sense today, although I would avoid promising that seafood is always “cheaper” than in Ho Chi Minh City. Prices depend on the season, catch, vendor, and type of seafood. If you want to eat as I did, choose your seafood first, ask the seller about the cooking options, and then enjoy it at one of the nearby places where food can be prepared and served.

Can Gio One-Day Itinerary

If you’re visiting Can Gio from Ho Chi Minh City and want to keep the trip relaxed, here’s how I would plan it today:

Morning

• 7:00–8:00 AM: Leave central Ho Chi Minh City
• 8:30–9:30 AM: Cross Binh Khanh Ferry and continue toward Can Gio
• 10:00 AM: Visit Monkey Island or explore part of the mangrove area

Afternoon

• 12:00 PM: Head toward 30/4 Beach
• 12:30 PM: Visit Hang Duong Seafood Market and choose your lunch
• 1:00–2:30 PM: Enjoy seafood and relax at the beach
• 2:30–4:00 PM: Walk around the beach, take photos, or simply enjoy the coastal atmosphere

Late afternoon

• 4:00 PM onward: Start the journey back to Ho Chi Minh City

I would keep the schedule flexible because traffic and ferry waiting times can affect the return journey, particularly on weekends.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes you don’t need a long vacation to feel refreshed. Back in 2015, I was stressed about the GMAT and just wanted to get away from the city for a day. Can Gio turned out to be exactly what I needed, a simple beach escape with plenty of fresh seafood.

The destination has changed since then, and it will probably change even more in the years ahead. But Can Gio remains one of the easiest nature-and-seafood escapes from Ho Chi Minh City, especially for travelers who want to combine the coast with the unique Can Gio mangrove ecosystem.

If you’re looking for a quick weekend escape from Saigon, take the ride, cross the ferry, explore the mangroves, find some fresh seafood, and give yourself permission to do absolutely nothing for a while. Sometimes, that’s the best kind of trip.