Can Gio Place guide

Over the last few years, people have been eager to visit the island of Can Gio, sitting beautifully near the place where the Saigon River meets the sea. Travelers who visit Can Gio don’t come for the beaches – they trek to the island to get a chance to see its primary residents: monkeys. 

Because of the monkeys that live on Can Gio, it’s also known as Monkey Island. If it tickles your fancy to visit these primates in their natural habitat, make sure to put this on your list of places to visit in Ho Chi Minh City.

Monkey Island’s mangrove forest is where the monkeys run wild and free; take note that they have no fear of humans and won’t hesitate to grab at your clothes or steal your food. But as long as you keep a tight rein on your belongings and refrain from tempting the monkeys by taking food along this particular walk, you’ll be fine. 

DO: While you’re there, you can also stop by the saltwater crocodile sanctuary, where you can view around 50 crocodiles all coexisting in one area.

DON’T: Try not to visit the island during high tide, as the monkeys will all run to high ground, which happens to be the park’s walking path  – meaning you could run face to face with a whole pack of monkeys! 

It’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience for travelers courageous enough to face these wild primates. Monkey Island is full of mischief and wonder, and as long as you can keep your camera close, it can also be the source of a lot of amusing stories to share with friends and family back home.

How to get there

• Can Gio is a short drive from Saigon, going south for about two hours. You can get on a ferry crossing the Mekong Delta, and before you know it, you’re on Can Gio island. 
  
  
• You can also get to Can Gio Island from the Ben Thanh Bus Station, directly in front of Ben Thanh Market. Take bus No. 20 to the Binh Khanh ferry, and then bus No. 90 to Can Gio Beach. Along the way, you can stop to visit Monkey Island.
  
  
• Join a Can Gio Mangrove Forest Ecotourism Tour with canoeing and more activities
  
  

Address: Long Hòa, Cần Giờ, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Operating hours: 7:15am to 5:15pm
Entrance fee: Free