HCM City (VNS/VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City plans to turn Can GioDistrict into an ecological urban area as part of efforts to urbanise it andimprove the quality of life for locals.

With Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc calling on HCM City to “urbanise thedistrict while preserving its mangrove forests,” the city plans to solicitinvestment in the district, especially in major projects like the Can Gio SeaEncroachment project, Can Gio Bridge, an upgrade of the Rung Sac route, andbuilding a ferry port. 

They also aim to boost sustainable development of services, agriculture and themarine economy, protect the mangrove forests and build the district into aninternational entertainment and tourism area.

Nguyen Huu Hiep, chief of the HCM City Mass Mobilisation Commission, has urgedthe district to shift its economic structure from agriculture to services andtrade, promote the marine economy and tourism, and make tourism a key industry.

The city also plans a number of major urbanisation projects in Can Gio.

They include the 3.4km Can Gio Bridge on the Soai Rap River between thedistrict and the rest of the city.

A high-speed boat service will be operated between Bach Dang Wharf in thedowntown area, the district and neighbouring Vung Tau city.

A proposed helicopter charter service between downtown and Can Gio will caterto local and international tourists.

A sea bridge between Can Gio and Vung Tau will also be built by 2025.

Nguyen Thien Nhan, Secretary of the municipal Party Committee, said urbanised CanGio would become a popular tourist destination for both local and internationalvisitors.

The district is expected to contribute to the city’s economy by creating morejobs and bringing large sums of revenues, he said.

Can Gio’s tourism development has been relatively slow since it can only bereached by ferry, but the construction of the huge bridge linking it with therest of the city will make it easier to reach.

The district has recently seen a 50 percent average increase in the number ofvisitors per year.

Sea encroachment project

The PM has approved the 9.3 billion USD Can Gio Sea Encroachment Project, whichis expected to help create 25,000 jobs and bring significant revenues for thecity.

It will be developed in the coastal Long Hoa commune and Can Thanh town on anarea of 2,870ha by the Can Gio Tourism Urban Area Joint Stock Company.

It will be situated some 18km from the famous Can Gio Mangrove BiosphereReserve, close to the Xoai Rap and Long Tau rivers, 17km from the Vam Sat Eco-TourismArea, and 4km from Monkey Island.

Le Minh Dung, Chairman of the Can Gio People’s Committee, said some 228,500people are expected to live in the area while nine million tourists would visitannually.

“The new tourism urban area would help [the district] become a major regionaland international tourism spot.”

When completed, it would contribute 2.9 trillion VND (124.36 million USD) ayear to the city’s coffers.

Environmentalists have, however, warned that the urbanisation of Can Gio shouldbe considered carefully since it is vulnerable to the impacts of rising sealevels, erosion and subsidence.

They also point out that the UNESCO-listed Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserveis a crucial buffer against coastal erosion and storm-induced coastal flooding,and thus should be spared development.

Architect Ngo Viet Nam Son also stressed the importance of preserving nature inthe area, especially the mangrove bio-sphere.

However, Nguyen Xuan Hai, director of the Ministry of Natural Resources andEnvironment’s environmental impact assessment department, said: “The project isin compliance with Vietnamese laws and UNESCO’s legal framework.”

The investor needs to do further studies on the risks caused by extreme weatherand erosion in forest lands to ensure the ecological integrity of the mangroveforests during the long period of construction, he added.

Dr Nguyen Chi Thanh, director of the Vietnam Forest and Wetland ResearchInstitute, said the developer must ensure there is “no negative impact on thereserve’s environment and bio-diversity.”

Can Gio district is the only area bordering the sea in HCM City.

It has tourist attractions like Monkey Island, Hang Duong Seafood Market, the VamSat Ecological Tourist Area, and Rung Sac (Sac Forest) listed by UNESCO as aworld biosphere reserve.

Can Gio is also well-known for its annual Nghinh Ong (Whale Worshiping)Festival recognised as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministryof Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Studies have shown that the Can Gio mangroves help filter grey water fromupstream and regulate flood flows.

One of the world’s largest rehabilitated mangrove forests also serves as agreen lung and a bulwark shielding the city from storms and extreme weather./.