Can Gio Mangrove Forest, also known as Sac Forest is a population composing of species of terrestrial and aquatic flora and fauna, which is formed on the immense delta of the river mouths, namely Dong Nai, Saigon, Vam Co Dong and Vam Co Tay. The forest has been recognized as the world's biosphere reserve with typical diverse flora and fauna of the mangrove area by UNESCO. It has been also recognized as a national key tourist area in Vietnam in general and one of the most enchanting tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City annually alluring numerous domestic and international tourists.
As one of the major forests in Vietnam, Can Gio Mangrove Forest is formed in the downstream of Dong Nai River - Saigon River system, which is located at Southeastern gateway of Ho Chi Minh City. Far about 70km from Ho Chi Minh City center, Can Gio Biosphere Reserve is adjacent Dong Nai province to the north, with South China Sea to the south, with Tien Giang province and Long An province to the west and with Ba Ria - Vung Tau province to the east. The total area of the Biosphere Reserve of Can Gio Mangrove Forest is 75,740 ha consisting of 4,721 ha of core zone, 41,139 ha of buffer zone and 29,880 ha of transition zone. This is the mangrove forest with a population of diverse flora and fauna, highlights of which are the long-tailed monkeys and full range of birds, storks... Discovering Can Gio Mangrove Forest is one of the most attractive things to do in Ho Chi Minh City.
As one of the impressive tourist Ho Chi Minh City attractions, Can Gio Mangrove Forest maintains special environment conditions which are the mediate ecosystem between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, between freshwater and saltwater ecosystems. Thanks to the influences of the adjacent sea and the tides, the vegetation here is extremely rich with over 150 species of plants, which becomes sources of food and shelters for many species of aquatic organisms, fish and other vertebrate animals. The flora is abundant with a variety of trees, mostly Avicennia Alba, the population of Rhizophora apiculata - Sonneratia Alba along with Xylocarpus granatum, Kandelia obovata, Rhizophora mucronata... and species of brackish water. Seagrass beds consist of dominant species such as Halophyla sp., Halodule sp. and Thalassia sp... Can Gio Mangrove Forest is indispensable tourist site in journey of exploring Ho Chi Minh City travel.
Can Gio Mangrove Forest is home to over 700 species of aquatic invertebrates, 130 species of fish, 9 species of vertebrates amphibians, 31 reptiles and 4 mammals. In particular, there are 11 species of reptiles listed in Vietnam Red Book such as Gekko Gekko, Varanus salvator, Python molurus, Python reticulatus, Bungarus fasciatus, Naja naja, ophiophagus hannah, Chelonia mydas, Crocodylus porosus... Bird fauna includes 130 species under 47 families. Among them, there are 51 species of water birds and 79 species of non-waterbirds living in many different habitats. These unique features have brought Can Gio Forest to become one of the most distinctive forests in Ho Chi Minh City attracting tourists participating in Saigon travel.
According to foreign experts, Can Gio Mangrove Forest is the forest best restored, preserved and protected in Vietnam and worldwide. Can Gio Mangrove Forest has become the "lungs" and the "kidney" with its function of cleaning the air and sewage from the industrial cities in upstream of Dong Nai River - Saigon River. This is also an ideal venue serving the scientific research and ecotourism. From the poor area, Can Gio has changed when Ho Chi Minh City planned and developed it into ecotourism destination. There are many interesting tourist activities such as going sightseeing bat lagoon, boating on the river, contemplating bird sanctuary with numerous species of birds, interacting with wild monkeys or ascertaining about the flora and fauna here.
Thanks to typical diverse flora and fauna, Can Gio Mangrove Forest plays an important role in disaster prevention and provides many valuable aquatic species for the region; simultaneously, it is the appealing tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City. Tourists will certainly get unforgettable experiences when once setting foot on here. Can Gio Mangrove Forest has significantly contributed in promoting Ho Chi Minh City tourism to international friends.