Can Gio Mangrove Forest and Monkey Island Day Tour Ho Chi Minh City
Overview
Escape Ho Chi Minh City for a day in Can Gio, a UNESCO-recognised mangrove biosphere reserve on the coast. Your guide takes you across the Binh Khanh ferry to Monkey Island, the mangrove forest and the Rung Sac guerrilla base, followed by a set lunch and a visit to a local seafood market. Choose a large-bus group, a small group by minibus or van with hotel pickup, or a limousine group. A good pick for nature lovers and families.
Highlights
- Explore Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO-recognised green lung south-east of the city
- Meet the macaques on Monkey Island in their natural habitat
- Walk through the mangroves to the Rung Sac guerrilla base
- Return ferry ticket, entrance fee, set lunch and English-speaking guide included
- Visit the local seafood market before heading back
- Choose a large bus, a minibus or van, or a luxury limousine
- Hotel pickup in District 1 on the small-group and limousine options
Full Description
Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve
Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve lies on the coast about 50 kilometres south-east of Ho Chi Minh City, where the Saigon and Dong Nai rivers reach the sea. UNESCO recognised it as a biosphere reserve in 2000, and it is often called the green lung of the city. Large parts were destroyed during the war and have since been replanted.
On a Can Gio mangrove tour you walk on shaded paths among tangled roots, learn how the forest protects the coast, and look out for birds, crabs and mudskippers. It is a very different side of Ho Chi Minh City from the streets, and the shade makes it pleasant even on a hot day.
Monkey Island and the Hoa Ca crocodile reserve
Monkey Island, the main draw for many families, is inhabited by a large population of long-tailed macaques living freely among the mangroves. Guides advise you to keep bags, sunglasses and food tucked away because the monkeys are curious and quick.
Visitors often search whether Monkey Island in Can Gio is worth visiting. It is, if you enjoy wildlife and photography, though the monkeys are wild animals and should not be touched or teased. Nearby, the Hoa Ca crocodile reserve gives you a look at crocodiles from a safe distance; the order of stops can vary on the day.
Rung Sac guerrilla base
The Rung Sac base was a hideout in the mangroves used by guerrilla fighters during the war. You reach it on a walk of about 25 minutes through the forest, or by canoe for an extra fee, and see bunkers, kitchens and a medical hut set among the trees.
Displays and your guide's commentary explain how fighters lived, cooked and moved through a swampy area with few roads. Optional speedboat rides to the base are offered for an extra charge and are not included in any option. Comfortable shoes and insect repellent make this section more enjoyable.
Lunch, the seafood market and how the day works
A set lunch at a local restaurant is included, and there is time for the seafood market where you can look at the day's catch. You can also spend a little time by the sea if the schedule allows. The day lasts about nine hours in total, including the ferry crossings and the drive.
Depending on the option you choose, you travel by large bus, minibus or van, or luxury limousine. The large-bus option starts at a meeting point in central Ho Chi Minh City, while the small-group and limousine options include hotel pickup in central District 1. The best time to visit Can Gio is the dry season, and the tour needs decent weather to run.
Itinerary
- Meeting or pickupMeet at the meeting point in central Ho Chi Minh City, or be picked up in District 1 on the small-group and limousine options, around 7:50 AM.
- Drive and Binh Khanh ferryDrive south-east and cross on the ferry, about 15 minutes; the return ferry ticket is included.
- Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere ReserveGuided visit of the mangroves and viewpoints.
- Monkey IslandFree time with the macaques and photo stops, roughly an hour.
- Rung Sac guerrilla baseWalk or take a canoe (extra fee) to see the bunkers, kitchens and medical hut.
- Set lunchLunch at a local restaurant.
- Seafood marketA short visit to see the local catch.
- Return to the cityFerry and drive back, arriving in Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon.
What's included
- Transport by large bus
- Return ferry ticket
- Set lunch
- Entrance fee to Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve
- Professional English-speaking guide
- Bottled water and a wet wipe
Not included
- Optional speedboat to the guerrilla base (paid separately)
- Public-holiday surcharge where applicable
- Tips and gratuities
Not suitable for
- Pregnant women
- Travellers with back problems
- Wheelchair users
- Travellers with a low level of fitness, as walking on forest paths is involved
- Babies under 1 year
Meeting point
On the large-bus option, meet at a central point in Ho Chi Minh City that we confirm after booking. On the small-group option, pickup is in the centre of District 1, and on the limousine option pickup is available in central districts; pickup time is confirmed after booking. The departure is at about 7:50 AM.
Important information
- Wear comfortable shoes and light clothes; bring a hat, sunscreen, a camera, water and insect repellent
- Keep bags, food and valuables secured on Monkey Island because the monkeys may grab items
- Oversized luggage, baby strollers and smoking are not allowed
- The optional speedboat to the guerrilla base and any public-holiday surcharge are paid separately on site
- The schedule can change with traffic, weather or water levels, though all activities will still take place
- The tour needs good weather; if it is cancelled for weather you are offered another date
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
How much does the Can Gio mangrove and Monkey Island tour cost?
The price depends on the option you choose, whether large bus, minibus or van, or limousine. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for each option, adult and child.
Is hotel pickup included?
Depending on the option. The small-group and limousine options include pickup in central District 1. The large-bus option starts at a meeting point in central Ho Chi Minh City that we confirm after booking.
How long is the tour?
About 9 hours, starting around 7:50 AM, including the ferry crossings, the drive and the lunch stop.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Yes, children up to 17 join with a child rate, and monkeys and boat rides are popular with families. Supervise children closely around the monkeys. Babies under 1 year are not recommended.
What should I wear and bring?
Comfortable shoes, light clothes, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, a camera and water. Keep loose items secured on Monkey Island.
Is lunch included?
Yes, a set lunch at a local restaurant is included in all options, along with bottled water and a wet wipe.
Can I book for today or tomorrow?
The booking panel shows which dates are open. Choose the earliest available and we confirm your meeting point or pickup after booking.
What is the difference between the options?
The itinerary is the same. The large-bus option is the most economical, the small-group option uses a minibus or van with a smaller group, and the limousine option offers more space and privacy.
Is Monkey Island in Can Gio safe?
Yes, with common sense. The monkeys are used to visitors but can snatch loose items, so keep bags closed, avoid feeding them and follow your guide's instructions.
What is the best time to visit Can Gio?
The dry season has the most reliable weather, and mornings are cooler. The tour runs all year when conditions allow.
