HCMC EYES CAN GIO AS A NEW TOURISM GROWTH HUB

Representatives of businesses and experts discuss issues at the event - PHOTO: N. SUONG

HCMC – HCMC is positioning Can Gio as a new tourism growth hub as it seeks to expand its service-based economy and ease pressure on the congested city center, where development space is increasingly limited.

The orientation was highlighted at a workshop titled “Developing Can Gio into a new tourism growth hub for HCMC,” held on January 29. The event brought together government agencies, research institutions, and tourism and infrastructure businesses.

According to Pham Huy Binh, director of the HCMC Department of Tourism, Can Gio holds a strategic role in the city’s new urban–ecological–tourism development cycle. It is home to a UNESCO-recognized mangrove biosphere reserve, a coastline stretching more than 23 kilometers, relatively ample land reserves, and a distinct fishing village culture, making it suitable for eco-tourism and high-quality resort development.

Despite these advantages, Can Gio has remained largely outside HCMC’s main tourism flow for many years. Limited infrastructure and accessibility have been key constraints, with travel relying mainly on ferry services that are time-consuming and lack regional connectivity. This has reduced Can Gio’s appeal as a regular destination, particularly for international visitors.

The outlook is changing as several major infrastructure projects move forward. Construction of the Ben Thanh–Can Gio high-speed urban railway began in late 2025. The Can Gio Bridge is under development and is expected to be completed by 2029. Authorities are also studying a proposed sea-crossing route linking Can Gio and Vung Tau.

City tourism officials said multimodal transport infrastructure would allow Can Gio to shift from an ecological island into a destination capable of attracting large visitor flows and helping relieve pressure on the city center.

However, participants at the workshop stressed that infrastructure alone is not enough. Tourism businesses said Can Gio should not follow traditional, fragmented tourism models focused on short-term exploitation. Instead, it needs an integrated experience ecosystem covering access, accommodation, recreation, entertainment and shopping.

From a research perspective, Huynh Ho Dai Nghia from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in HCMC said the main challenge lies not in resources but in development organization. He noted that without experience-based planning, product zoning and effective destination governance, Can Gio would struggle to create sustainable value.

Vo Anh Tai, deputy general director of Saigontourist Group, pointed to Can Gio’s rare combination of coastline and mangrove forests, which could support signature eco-tourism products integrating leisure, wellness and nature-based experiences.

Local authorities emphasized controlled development. Nguyen Ngoc Vu, secretary of the Can Gio Commune Party Committee, said tourism growth must go hand in hand with ecosystem protection, as more than 60% of the area consists of mangroves and waterways.

Overall, the plan to turn Can Gio into a new tourism growth hub underscores a broader policy challenge for HCMC. With infrastructure advancing, the key question is how the city will govern, plan and allocate resources to ensure Can Gio becomes a long-term growth driver rather than a short-lived destination.

Source: The Saigon Times