First published November 2025 | Words and photos by Martin Misiak | Read time 15 minutes
Martin Misiak is a veteran science teacher born in New York City but based in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) since 2019. He grew up moving frequently, shaping his appreciation of history, travel and diverse cultures. An active meddler in analog everything – from cars and motorcycles to cameras – his photos and writing have featured in a variety of online magazines. Having visited most of Vietnam’s iconic sites, he now looks forward to discovering lesser-known destinations, aspiring to do them justice in pictures and prose.
Off-Beat Day/Night Trip to an Island in an Estuary
If you really want to get off the beaten path and yet still be technically within the provincial limits of Ho Chi Minh City, hop on the local ferry to Thạnh An Island. A tiny crescent of land barely breaking the surface of the water, Thạnh An is a small but bustling, vibrant fishing community at the confluence of the Thị Vải and Lòng Tàu rivers. Part of the protected UNESCO Cần Giờ Biosphere Reserve, visiting Thạnh An Island for foreigners requires registration with the local authorities, but the process is quick and easy. Ideal for a day-night trip from the city, this diminutive island offers visitors a glimpse of local life, culture, food and fun: a mini-adventure that’s an antidote to all of the usual day trips from Ho Chi Minh City that have been done to death by tourists and travel publications alike.
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THANH AN ISLAND:
Exploring the Watery Outer Limits of Ho Chi Minh City Municipality
This guide introduces Thạnh An Island for travellers looking to explore day trip options from Ho Chi Minh City beyond the ‘normal’ ones. Make sure you read the information in the Getting There section about ferry times and police registration. Note that this island is not for beginners. There is no full-service grocery store and certainly no convenience stores or coffee chain outlets. The vibe is definitely off-beat and ad hoc, with many structures multitasking as homes/cafes/nail salons/tailors/general stores. That being said, there is a new ATM, a post office, several pharmacies and local people are incredibly friendly and hospitable. Click from the contents below for details. (For similar guides, see Related Posts and if you enjoy Vietnam Coracle, please support it with a donation or join my Patreon community)
Contents:
➤ Map
➤ See & Do
➤ Sleep
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MAP:
Thạnh An Island
Introducing Thạnh An Island:
Location: Thạnh An Commune, Cần Giờ District, Hồ Chí Minh City
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Peeking above the serene tidal waters near the mouth of an enormous estuary, Thạnh An Island is less than 50km due southeast of Ho Chi Minh City as the crow flies. But it’s a world away in terms of life and ambience. Measuring just 1.6km from its northern tip to its southern tail, and just 450m at its widest point, Thạnh An is but a smudge of land protruding from the muddy waters. And yet, with a population of around 5,000, it’s a surprisingly bustling place and full of life. Focused mainly on fishing, this small community is busier than you’d expect, especially considering its peaceful, off-grid facade as the ferry glides up to the tiny terminal gate.
Kids and old folk walk or ride scooters or bicycles up and down the few narrow streets that can fit on this barely elevated wedge of land. The locals are friendly and ready to pull you in for a tea, beer, or home-made spirit. Ancient blue fishing vessels crowd the docks of a nearby ship graveyard, leaning this way or that in the low tide sludge and in various states of disrepair. Some are being fixed; others have given up the ghost long ago. Groups of old, brown, weathered men, some rail thin, some fat, cigarettes dangling, with bare chests and gold chains sit around the docks and in the alleys, calling out “Where you from?!” then laughing heartily at your answer and saying “Very good! Very good!” As a visitor, you feel absolutely welcome. Over the course of 24-hours, I was offered drinks, fruit, cigarettes, and even a wife by one particularly cheeky group of ladies who ran a large billiards hall.
Thạnh An is abuzz with activity during the day, but while it plays hard, it rests hard too. Visitors from Ho Chi Minh City may be conditioned to dread karaoke, nhậu noises, and loud voices as they prepare to retire for the night, but not here – by 9.00pm the village is generally still, silent and empty and one can look forward to a peaceful night’s rest. On the edge of town, you’re more likely to hear waves lapping against the docks than “một, hai, ba – dzô!” An overnight stay is perfect for Thạnh An Island, although more slow-paced travelers could easily make a lazy, pleasant weekend of it.
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Getting There:
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Thạnh An Island is reached by a local ferry from Cần Thạnh port, near the southeastern tip of Cần Giờ, about 60km due south of downtown Ho Chi Minh City. The ferry – a small, wooden, passenger-only vessel – runs several times each day, taking about 45 minutes for the voyage (see schedule below). To get to Cần Thạnh port from Ho Chi Minh City, you can either ride or drive there by motorbike, bicycle or taxi (1.5-2 hours) via the Bình Khánh car ferry and the Rừng Sác road (view route), or take a local bus: number 20 runs from downtown Ho Chi Minh City to the Bình Khánh ferry, and number 90 runs from the ferry to Cần Thạnh port. If you arrive at Cần Thạnh port with your own wheels, you’ll need to leave it at the parking lot before boarding the ferry to the island (leaving it overnight is fine – just don’t lose your ticket!)
Cần Thạnh Port [MAP]
Also called Bến Đò Tắc Suất, this port is at the same location as the much larger Cần Giờ-Vũng Tàu car ferry – make sure you don’t confuse this with the small ferry to Thạnh An Island, which looks more like something you may have played with in the bathtub as a toddler. The ticket office at the port is only for the Cần Giờ-Vũng Tàu ferry; for the Thạnh An Island ferry you just hand your fare directly to the man on the little blue boat as you board. Note that you may need to show your passport when boarding the ferry, so have it to hand.
Thạnh An Island: Port 1 & 2 [MAP]
The island has two ports: one at the northern tip of the island, the other on the northwest shore. In reality, because the island is so small, the two ports are not far from each other. Which port the ferry arrives and departs from depends on the tides, which are very extreme here as it is part of a huge estuary. For this reason, it is best to get to the port 30 minutes before departure, just in case you’re at the wrong one. Whichever port you arrive at, you’ll need to stop by one of the police stations and check in your passport with the local authorities. This shouldn’t be a problem as it is just a formal requirement for foreign visitors to the island.
Ferry Schedule & Prices:
| Route | Time | Price | |
| Cần Thạnh→Thạnh An Island | 6.30, 9.00, 10.30, 12.00, 14.00, 17.00 | 20,000vnđ (adult) | |
| Thạnh An Island→Cần Thạnh | 6.30, 7.30, 10.30, 12.00, 14.00, 17.00 | 20,000vnđ (adult) |
See & Do:
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As the island is so small, there are few ‘sights’ as such. Rather, the fun comes from exploring the island on foot, interacting with locals and observing (or even joining in) some of the daily activities. Although you can rent or borrow a scooter or bicycle from your guesthouse, it’s only a 20-minute walk to get from one end of the island to the other. Plus, walking is a good pace at which to enjoy this bustling little place.
A high sea wall and walkway runs from the northern point of the island, along its eastern shore, all the way to its southern tip. Strolling along this, catching the sea air, and watching the fishing boats is a great way to get your bearings and appreciate the size of the island. Inland, however, is where the action is. As you walk through the narrow streets, you’ll see a handful of small sports fields packed with folks cheering, playing pickleball, soccer, badminton, basketball, and what looks like horseshoes. You may even be invited to join in. The local market is a good place to people watch and pick up a snack, especially in the early mornings.
There are a couple very nice temples dotted here and there. Particularly interesting is the Cao Đài temple, whose white-clad adherents walk in sync up and down the evening lanes like benevolent spirits, quietly chatting. Also of interest is a small whale temple and Buddhist shrine. The northwest of the island is where most of the boats and fishing-related activity is. Finally, at the southwestern tip, Gốc Cây Cô Đơn (the lonely tree) is a good spot to glimpse the sunset. If you ask around, you might be able to arrange some kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) or possibly fishing trips, too.
Eat & Drink:
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There are few “official” restaurants on the island, although fresh seafood is everywhere: look out for signs saying quán ốc or quán hải sản (seafood eatery). Most homes, in fact, process seafood in some way or another – laying shrimp and squid out to dry in the sun, or bottling fish-based sauces for their cottage industries. Eating on the island is more of a “freestyle” affair. Many storefronts near the ferry terminals have all manner of live sea fare bubbling in red and blue tubs. Just point out what you want for your meal and find a nice bench in a park to sit and eat it. As you’d expect, the seafood is fresh, good and popular with the locals.
It seems that the islanders take their breakfasts seriously (and early). Most of the action takes place on the streets surrounding the Peoples’ Committee building (UBND Xã Thạnh An), starting about 6.00am. There are plenty of dishes to choose from, including familiar noodle soups and bánh mì hấp tôm – sliced, steamed baguette topped with shrimp and sautéed spring onions: only 15,000vnđ each and really good.
Walking around the island can work up a thirst. Fruit juice vendors are scarce, but sugarcane juice stands abound. Once the morning sun rises to oppressive noontime heat, you can cool down under the umbrella of Tang Nước Mía and sip on freshly crushed sugarcane juice with ice. If that sounds too sweet for you, here’s a tip I picked up from a local that sat next to me: this particular vendor also offers trà lá dứa đá (pandan leaf iced tea) in a pitcher on the table, with which you make a 50/50 mix with the sugar cane, thus diluting the sweetness. If coffee is more what you’re after, the coolest little café in town isn’t even listed on Google Maps: Phú Qúy Võng Cà Phê. The word ‘võng‘ means that you’ll be able to lay in a hammock while you lazily sip your cà phê sữa đá (iced milk coffee).
Sleep:
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As the island receives very few tourists, especially foreign ones, staying the night may require an adjustment of expectations for some travellers. Conditions can be fairly basic but absolutely acceptable, plus prices are generally inexpensive. Bringing your own toiletries is recommended – a towel, toothbrush, body wash, etc. Furthermore, no matter where you stay, the mattresses will likely be of the firm, thin, Vietnamese variety. Some people love them. Personally, I brought an inflatable sleeping pad on my visit. Considering Thạnh An is hardly more than a speck of land in a vast estuary, there are a surprising amount of local guest houses (nhà nghỉ) and homestays, which, in this context, are essentially the same thing: small, local, family-run mini-hotels. You’ll come across these accommodations as your stroll around the island. Drop in, ask for vacancies, prices and to see a room before agreeing to stay. Unless visiting during a public holiday (and possibly on weekends, too), there’s no need to book ahead. Expect rates at most places to be between 150,000-400,000vnđ/night. Below are just a couple of options:
Nhà Nghỉ Trung Tín Homestay [MAP]: Pretty tidy, small rooms with private bathrooms. The bathing arrangements are of the “barrel and bucket” type – but they feature modern, western-style toilets and the A/C & Wi-Fi are both effective. During my stay, hosts Mrs. Bình and Mr. Trung whipped me up some wonderful fried rice and steamed shrimp with strong iced green tea and a beer. Mr. Trung also let me borrow his motorbike to explore the island. Bike, room and board for a night cost just 250,000vnđ. Mr. Trung can be reached at 0384 149 232.
Nhà Nghỉ Mười Trường [MAP]: Another nearby guest house that appears newer and slightly more ‘upmarket’. Rooms cost 300,000vnđ per night. Speak to Ms. Xuyến Nguyễn to discuss dates, meals and prices: 0388 343 960.
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*Disclosure: Vietnam Coracle content is always free and independent. Martin has written this guide because he wants to: he likes this island and he wants readers to know about it. For more details, see the Disclosure & Disclaimer statements and my About Page
