Ho Chi Minh City will focus on developing the tourism and sea economy of the suburban district of Can Gio as part of the city’s master plan until 2015, said Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan.

Can Gio Mangrove Forest

Accordingly, the district will develop its ecological tourism, build more resorts and restrain its population at 100,000 residents.

The construction of bridges and roads in the southern district should be sped up, the chairman said. The city also asked the health and education sectors to assign doctors and teachers to Can Gio to improve education by late 2008.

The district was instructed to relocate inhabitants in the island commune of Thanh An back to the mainland, and to create favorable conditions for them to lead productive daily lives.

The Can Gio Mangrove Forest has been determined by foreign experts to be the best protected in Southeast Asia.

The forest covers 30,000 hectares, including 21,300 hectares of planted forests. It has been recognized as a biosphere site by UNESCO.

It is home to 157 kinds of plants, 130 kinds of algae, 120 species of fish, 145 species of birds and many other animals.

What once was a district of Ho Chi Minh City severely damaged by war is now an ideal ecotourism area.