How about a journey to Cần Giờ District? It is a coastal suburban area of Ho Chi Minh City. We are about 50 km from downtown. Cần Giờ boasts a remarkable feature. It is home to the Cần Giờ Mangrove Forest. UNESCO recognizes this as a biosphere reserve.
Cần Giờ borders several areas. Nhờ Bè District lies to the north. Long An and Tiền Giang provinces are to the west. Đồng Nai Province is to the northeast. Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu Province is to the southeast. The East Sea is to the south. The Soai Rap River borders the district on the west.
Cần Giờ Forest is also known as Sác Forest. On January 21, 2000, UNESCO recognized it. It became Vietnam’s first biosphere reserve. Its diverse flora and fauna are emblematic. This has made Cần Giờ a key national tourist destination. The Cần Giờ mangrove biosphere reserve covers 75740 ha. The core area covers 4721 ha. The transition area spans 29880 ha. The buffer zone encompasses 41139 ha.
In the past Cần Giờ was untouched. It maintained its natural landscape. It had incredibly rich flora and fauna. However, war and chemical poisoning devastated it. This turned it into a dead zone.
On February 28 1978 Cần Giờ island district was transferred to Ho Chi Minh City. The City’s Forestry Company worked to restore the mangrove ecosystem. To date the green forest area covers over 31000 hectares. This includes nearly 20000 hectares of planted forests. It also includes over 11000 hectares of naturally regenerated forests.
Thanks to restoration efforts this area has become the Lung of Ho Chi Minh City. Local residents manage this biosphere reserve. Cần Giờ forest has become the largest mangrove forest in Vietnam. It features beautiful natural landscapes. Its flora and fauna are rich and diverse.
Cần Giờ currently has amphibians mammals reptiles and plant species. There are also invertebrate fish algae and bird species. Foreign experts consider it a forest area restored to the highest standards. Besides scientific research it is a key national tourist destination.
After nearly 38 years of restoration the mangrove forests have become the green lung of Ho Chi Minh City. They are the habitat of many rare plant species. Mangrove forests play a crucial role. They help minimize damages from storms and floods. They also serve as a food source. They provide a breeding ground for various animal and aquatic species.
Raising community awareness is crucial. Educating people about preserving mangrove forests is urgent. Protecting Cần Giờ forest is a long-term solution. It helps the city cope with climate change impacts. It creates conditions for residents to have stable clean lives. It establishes a strong green barrier.
Thanks to city investment the road and waterway systems have improved. This provides convenient conditions for tourists to visit and relax. Cần Giờ has become an ecological tourism area. There are many interesting tourist activities here. You can explore bat swamps. You can boat on the river. You can interact with wild monkey herds. You can visit bird sanctuaries. You can also learn about the flora and fauna ecosystem.
Other tourist areas in Cần Giờ include Monkey Island and Vàm Sát Tourism Area. There is also the Whale Tomb and Cao Đài Temple. You can visit 30/4 Beach and Cần Thạnh Center. Hàng Dương Market is also worth seeing.
The best time to visit Cần Giờ is from December to March. The temperature is ideal for outdoor activities. Cần Giờ is connected to the city by ferry. Authorities are considering building a bridge. Cần Giờ is often dubbed the green lung of HCMC. A canoe ride through the mangrove forests is an experience.