Travelog - A travel guide to Vietnam

Location: Ly Nhon commune, Can Gio District, Ho Chi Minh City.
Characteristics: Vam Sat Salt-Marsh Forest Ecological Tourist Zone contains most beautiful forests of Can Gio which is one of the world’s Salt-Marsh biosphere preserve.

Situated between the stream flows of Vam Sat and Long Tau River, Vam Sat Salt-Marsh Forest Ecological Tourist Zone contains most beautiful forests of Can Gio which is one of the world’s Salt-Marsh biosphere preserve, sited in Can Gio District, Ho Chi Minh City. Historically, this land had been damaged by toxic chemicals that turned the zone into an uninhabited land. Thanks to the hard work of people, the forest has gradually recovered, and its beauty and magnificence feature have been returned.

According to foreign specialists that Can Gio salt-marsh forest is the best recovered, taken care of, protected and managed in Vietnam and in the world. With total area of 75,740 hectares, Can Gio forest is diversified by wide variety of fauna and flora, which is an ideal place for scientific research, ecological tourism and rejuvenation.

Since its establishment in 2000, Vam Sat Salt-Marsh Forest Ecological Tourist Zone has created tourist sites based on available natural environment. Bat Swamp is one of tourist points which can win the concern of visitors. The natural scenery is beautiful like a great work of art. Going into the swamp, tourists will see groups of flying foxes hanging themselves behind the foliages of high mangroves. Bats are very sensitive to the environment, so they live only in places that are certainly safe. The most interesting activity in Bat Swamp is crab angling. Giant pincers of crabs with succulent meat will make tourists’ lunch more delicious.

Motorboat will bring tourists to the next tourist point. There is a crocodile farm consisting of 40 crocodiles in Vam Sat Tourist Zone. Tourists come here to observe the living environment and to learn about the habits and manners of how crocodiles hunt for food. There is a unforgettable game named “Cruising while fishing crocodile.” Fishing boat is made of composite plastic with special design and surrounded by high fence of B40 metal grid. Fishers only need to drop their baits and wait for the crocodile to take their baits.

The motorboat takes visitors to central zone for lunch and relaxation. While waiting for their lunch, tourists can check out a unique swimming pool in which they do not have to worry about being drown because the salt concentration in the pool is 10 times higher than that of the ocean. Therefore, a person density is lower than the density of the pool water. Hence, tourists are always afloat on top. They can swim any way that they like, even you can read newspaper while swimming.

After relaxing, tourists will have lunch at Vam Sat’s restaurant. Specialties are mainly made from local available such as shrimps, crabs, fishes, shellfishes,… If there is special request, tourist can have the delicious Mudskippers fish. After all people can take a nap and enjoy cool winds from the river on the swinging hammocks.

Since Vam Sat Salt-Marsh Forest Ecological Tourist Zone is situated inside the core of the world’s biosphere preserves, the compliance with environment is vital in the strategy of construction and development. Development of Vam Sat Salt-Marsh Forest Ecological Tourist Zone is always in line with consultancy of specialists, biologists so that no damage can be done to the natural environment.

Thanks to this policy, Vam Sat has successfully constructed a natural bird sanctuary within an area of more than 100 hectares. Taking a view through binoculars from observing station, you can see the birds perching and from time to time flapping their wings as if they were posturing sightseers. The birds build nest, lay eggs, and care for fledglings in summer. Sightseers can use electric boats or, if they prefer, put on dedicated boots adaptable for going on marshes to start their exploration. A date-palm forest of 100 ha is the fief of those birds. Passing through spiky date-palm clusters, sightseers can see bird’s nests, some of which contain eggs, the other – birdies… When the dark comes, wild birds return in crowds and make a splendid picture of the nature.

To develop the bird sanctuary, forest protectors are using foods to induce birds, including birds listed in the Red Book of Vietnam and the World. Besides bird sanctuary, Vam Sat has a preserved zone that protects wild animals like deer, wild pig, python, snake, varan… to help tourists learning more about this special region.

The system of damps for cultivating aquatic products of Vam Sat region is considered most complete and effective one of Can Gio District. This helps forest protectors in both forestation, and water supply controlling to cultivate aquatic products in all seasons. Because of abundant food, the thing that birds come here is very simple to understand. Another vital factor for success or failure in natural conservation is awareness of local people. If environmental resources are exploited in unplanned manner, the ecological system will be eliminated. So, benefits of the people must accompany with environmental protection to create sustainable strength in order to conserve the inherently sensitive ecological area.

Thanks to those accomplishment, in the middle of 2003, the World Tourist Organization (WTO) recognized Vam Sat Salt-Marsh Forest Ecological Tourist Zone is one of the two sustainable ecological tourist zones of the World in Viet Nam. The Bird Sanctuary and Bat Swamp are approved by the People Committee of Ho Chi Minh City for a conservative zone in Can Gio protective forests in order to reserve and develop the salt-marsh forest ecology zone, conservative biosphere area and to create a place for sightseeing, research and education for both local and foreigners.

Sailing to Vamsat
Traveling to Vam Sat Eco-Tourist Area by sailing is the attracting and interesting new form to the tourists. The journey starts from Bach Dang Wharf in the early morning when Saigon is not yet awake. The tourists could breath in the fresh air and feel satisfied with the sightseeing along the edge of Saigon River. You will be serve food and enjoy the feeling of relaxing. And especially, when you join the Vam Sat Eco-Tourist Area by sailing that you could contemplate sunrise and sunset of the city on the sailing.

Representative Office:
Address: 79 Hoa Binh Str., Ward 3, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City.
Tel: 963 2760 – Fax: 963 2751.