Frommer's Review
Best by motorbike -- and the ride there is really what this little adventure is about -- Can Gio is far more popular with escaping Saigoners than tourists. Rent a motorbike for a day $5 to $10 (£2.75-£5.55) from any of the shops along Pham Ngu Lau in Saigon's backpacker district. Can Gio is a beach and mangrove area just west of the Vung Tau Peninsula and only about 1 1/2 hours south of Saigon. The bumpy ride there crosses a number of small bridges and requires a few short ferry hops. The beach is not spectacular, nor set up for fun and frolic, but instead it's a place where Vietnamese families come to picnic -- and that's the main allure. Taking a holiday alongside locals, you'll likely be dragged into a group for a good barbecue and cup after cup of rice whiskey (careful if you've driven yourself here). Heading south of Saigon, you'll first reach the Nha Be area, a wide, wet plain, followed by two ferry crossings. Next, it's onto the island's mangrove forest area and beach -- beach being almost a euphemism for these low mudflats and hard sandy shores, but good for a long walk and to clear Saigon's pollution (and the honking traffic) out of your lungs and mind. You can get a bite at one of the local seafood shacks and enjoy a long, lazy repast before heading back to the big city.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
