Ho Chi Minh City plans distinctive night-time economy for Can Gio

Speaking at Ho Chi Minh City’s socio-economic press briefing on Thursday, Nguyen Huu An, deputy head of the tourism resource development planning division under the municipal Department of Tourism, outlined the current status and development potential of tourism in Can Gio.

According to An, Can Gio is a strategic component of Ho Chi Minh City’s new development landscape and plays an important role in the city’s green and sustainable growth strategy.

Can Gio has emerged as one of the city’s fastest-growing tourism destinations.

However, tourism revenue has yet to match its potential, as most visitors make day trips and the area lacks high-quality accommodation, large-scale entertainment complexes, and a diverse range of night-time tourism products.

An noted that Can Gio is home to a UNESCO-recognized World Biosphere Reserve, extensive mangrove forests, marine and river-mouth resources, and distinctive local cultural assets, including the Thieng Lieng hamlet, fishing traditions, and traditional festivals.

These advantages provide a strong foundation for developing eco-tourism, resort tourism, wellness tourism, community-based tourism, waterway tourism, marine sports, and a coastal night-time economy.

Under the city’s development strategy, Ho Chi Minh City aims to shift from relying solely on natural resources to enhancing visitor experiences through high-quality tourism products that reflect local identity and support sustainable development.

Can Gio is expected to play a key role in completing the city’s tourism structure.

An said major infrastructure projects, including the Can Gio sea reclamation urban area and the proposed Can Gio–Vung Tau sea-crossing bridge project, will improve accessibility and significantly reduce travel time between downtown Ho Chi Minh City and Can Gio.

Once completed, these projects are expected to add high-end accommodation facilities, conference and convention centers, entertainment venues, shopping areas, and resort services.

An emphasized that developing the night-time economy is one of the key solutions for encouraging longer stays and higher visitor spending while creating additional jobs and livelihood opportunities for local residents.

Planned night-time tourism products will highlight Can Gio’s coastal character, with priority given to activities linked to natural landscapes, local culture, and the lives of fishing communities.

These may include seafood night markets, community art performances, traditional festivals, marine cultural experiences, night-time waterway tours, and entertainment and resort services suited to the area’s ecological characteristics.

“The development of the night-time economy in Can Gio must be based on the principle of ecosystem conservation," An added.

"Service activities need to be properly planned, with controls on noise, lighting, and environmental impacts to ensure they do not affect the World Biosphere Reserve and the area’s unique mangrove ecosystem."