Can Gio Mangrove Forest
A mangrove destroyed by defoliants and replanted from the 1970s, now a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
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The Can Gio mangrove at the mouth of the Saigon river was largely destroyed during the war, when herbicides were sprayed over it, and what exists now is the result of a replanting programme begun in 1978: tens of thousands of hectares put back, mostly by hand, over decades. In 2000 UNESCO designated it Vietnam's first biosphere reserve. It functions as the city's green lung and a nursery for fish and crab, with monkeys, crocodiles in an enclosure, and boat channels through the trees. The macaques at the monkey island area are habituated and aggressive about bags and food.
What you actually see
- A mangrove replanted from 1978 - after wartime destruction.
- Vietnam's first biosphere reserve - designated in 2000.
- Boat channels through the trees - the way into the interior.
- Habituated macaques - which take bags and food.
When to go
November to April, the dry season. A full day.
Honest expectations
The macaques are genuinely aggressive and will take anything loose - this catches people out. The ferry crossing adds time and queues at weekends. Mosquitoes are heavy. Much of the reserve is not accessible.
Nearby
Ho Chi Minh City is north; the Vam Sat sector is west in the reserve.
What to pack for Can Gio Mangrove Forest
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
