Vietnam's Channel: Thanh An - A Wild Island of Saigon

Thanh An is an island in Can Gio district, HCMC, only 70 kilometers far away from the center of the city. At this remote seashore village, there are no high buildings, cars, and just few motorbikes. The lives of its residents are primarily centered around fishing and salt making. Definitely, it is an ideal destination for people to escape from hustle and bustle of city life and indulge yourself in nature.

With the area of 131 square meters and about 5000 residents, Thanh An island was viewed as the most significant gateway of Saigon – Gia Dinh in the past. It is located between two large rivers: Thi Vai and Long Tau.

When to go?

You can visit Thanh An island at any time, but it is advisable to avoid rainy season, as wooden boats to the island is not suitable for rainy season.

Photo: mocchan Panoramio

How to get there?

From Ho Chi Minh city, there are two ways to reach Thanh An island.

1.By bus:

*HCMC - Binh Khanh Pier

- From Ben Thanh bus station, catch bus 20 to Binh Khanh pier. Here, you can buy a ticket to Can Gio District.

Bus 20: Ben Thanh – Nha Be

Operating time: 4:20 a.m – 8:00 p.m

Departs: every 4 – 20 minutes

Duration: 50 minutes

Capacity: 80 passengers

Fare: VND6,000/passenger and VND2,000/student

Binh Khanh ferry fee:

VND1,000/passenger or bicycle

VND4,500/motorbike

VND23,000/car under 7 seats
>=VND28,000/car over 7 seats.

Binh Khanh Pier
Photo: Vietnam's Channel/ Minh Nguyen

*Binh Khanh - Thanh An Island:

- At the other side of the pier, you get on bus 90 to the Co-op supermarket. Next to the supermarket is there a small pier where to take a boat to the island. It takes 40 minutes to reach the island.

Bus 90: Binh Khanh Pier – Can Thanh

Operating time: 5:00 a.m – 7:00 p.m

Departs: every 6 – 15 minutes

Duration: 60 minutes

Capacity: 25 passengers

Fare: VND6,000/passenger and VND2,000/student

Can Thanh ferry fee:

VND10,000/passenger.

Operating time: 6:30 a.m; 9:00 a.m; 10:30 a.m; 12:00 a.m; 14:00 p.m; 17:00 p.m

Photo: Vietnam's Channel/ Minh Nguyen

However, because of the increasing number of passengers in recent time, there are extra boats at the weekend.

Note: On your way back, the boats leaving for Can Thanh before 17:00 p.m will stop at another pier, 1km away from the pier where you take the boat to the island. You can walk back or call for a motorbike taxi with VND10,000/person.

Can Thanh Pier

Photo: Vietnam's Channel/ Minh Nguyen

Thanh An Pier

Photo: Vietnam's Channel/ Minh Nguyen

Thanh An Pier

Photo: Vietnam's Channel/ Minh Nguyen

2.By motorbikes or cars:

After arriving at the Binh Khanh pier and reaching the other side of the river, go straight on Rung Sac Street. Along the well-constructed road, you can enjoy peaceful countryside sceneries of Can Gio.

Photo: Vietnam's Channel/ Minh Nguyen

Mangrove forest on both side of the road
Photo: Vietnam's Channel/ Minh Nguyen

Keep going straight until you see Duyen Hai Street.

Duyen Hai street
Photo: Vietnam's Channel/ Minh Nguyen

Then, go along the street until you see a big telephone shop "thegioididong", turn left to Dao Tu street. Park your motorbikes at the Co-op supermarket because the boat is not strong enough to have your motorbikes on board

Turn left at the crossroad

Photo: Vietnam's Channel/ Minh Nguyen

Can Thanh pier on the right side

Photo: Vietnam's Channel/ Minh Nguyen

Where to Stay Overnight?

You can visit the island for one day, but staying overnight is a good choice, too. Recently, Thanh An island has received more and more tourists, so that there are more hostels to open to satisfy the tourists who want to stay overnight.

Price:
VND100,000/fan room

VND150,000/air-conditioner room.

Reservation No. :+84 8 387 49 063 or Mobile phone No: +84 168 6199 831

If you go with many friends, you can stay at a homestay which costs VND500,000/10 people. Reservation No.:+84 96 326 2326 (Mrs. Nuong).

How fun is Thanh An Island?

Thanh An island is not a famous tourist destination with beautiful landscapes, but it still attracts tourists by its peacefulness and wildness, as well as friendly smiles of hard-working fishermen.

Photo: Vietnam's Channel/ Minh Nguyen

Photo: Quanlightwriter.photography

Photo: mocchan Panoramio

Seafood:

At such a seashore village as Thanh An, seafood is what you cannot miss. Enjoy sea breeze along the coast, and taste fresh seafood, what’s more to expect? Moreover, the seafood here is sold at a very reasonable price.

Oyster: VND50,000/kg

(Baked oysters with cheese and garlic)

Clam: VND100,000 /kg

Shrimp: VND250,000 – 300,000/kg

King Crab: VND250,000 – 300,000/kg

Various kinds of snails: VND50,000 – 150,000/kg

Dried seafood: VND60,000 – 150,000/kg

Nipa Palm Fruit:

Nipa palm fruit is a good choice for refreshment in the middle of a sunny day. Also, it is a special fruit in the Southwestern Vietnam.