Thanh An Island is a tiny island off the coast of Can Gio, Ho Chi Minh City. It’s not well-known, it’s not touristy, it’s beautiful, and it’s one of the most unique day trips from HCMC.
We found the island almost by accident and spent a few hours there. Because it seems almost no foreigners have heard of it, we want to share an in-depth guide on how to visit Thanh An Island, what to do there, and why you should visit if you can make the time.
Where Is Thanh An Island?
Thanh An Island is approximately 44 miles (70 km) east of Ho Chi Minh City. You get there via Can Gio District (this is where Monkey Island is located; there are also some good seafood restaurants and local places on the beach here).
Unfortunately, because of its secluded location, you want a motorbike or a private car to reach Thanh An Island. Can Gio is the outermost district, and while public buses run to Can Gio, it complicates things. The ferry schedule to Thanh An is strict and doesn’t work well with the bus schedule.
How to get to Thanh An Island
Ferry To Thanh An Island: Google Maps Pin Here
Unless you have a boat, you can only access the island via a ferry through Can Gio, the outermost district of Ho Chi Minh City.
To get to Can Gio, take a 20-minute ferry from HCMC (near District 7). Once off the first ferry, you’ll drive approximately 30-40 minutes through Can Gio Reserve to Can Gio Village. You’ll take a 45-minute ferry to Thanh An Island in Can Gio Village.
Here are step-by-step directions on how to get to Thanh An Island from Ben Thanh Market in District 1, including Google Maps links for convenience:
- Step 1: Drive from Ben Thanh Market to Binh Khanh Ferry near District 7.
- Step 2: Take the ferry from Binh Khanh to Can Gio. The ferry takes about 20 minutes each way.
- Step 3: Drive from the ferry port to Can Gio Village and the ferry to Thanh An Island. Between ferry ports, it’s a straight-shot drive.
- Step 4: You’ll park your motorbike at the little restaurant on the corner near the ferry entrance. The staff will also show you where to park if you drive your motorbike to the ferry.
- Step 5: Hop on the ferry to Thanh An Island. It should take about 45 minutes each way. You can get around the island on foot, but you can also rent bicycles once there.
To return, you’ll do the same journey in reverse. Just confirm the return ferry times when you’re at the port if anything changes. You don’t want to get stuck out there. Well, maybe it would be fun, but planning for that is best.
Note: You can also get a ferry to Vung Tao (it only takes about 30 minutes to get to Vung Tao from this port). The staff working at the port will probably assume you want to go to Vung Tao, so make sure you’re very clear about going to Thanh An Island. The ferry to Thanh An Island is much smaller, more of a little boat than a large ferry.
Ferry schedule from Can Gio to Thanh An Island
This is the most recent ferry schedule to Thanh An Island from Can Gio:
- 6:30 am
- 9:00 am
- 10:30 am
- 12:00 pm
- 2:00 pm
- 5:00 pm
And here’s the most recent return schedule from Thanh An Island back to Can Gio:
- 6:30 am
- 7:30 am
- 10:30 am
- 12:00 pm
- 2:00 pm
- 5:00 pm
I strongly recommend confirming the schedule with the people working at the ferry on your way over. It’s a local ferry port, and the schedule may change occasionally. Double-check with the boat staff when the ferry returns to play it safe. Use Google Translate (or ChatGPT as a translator tool) to confirm with someone.
We took the noon ferry from Can Gio to Thanh An Island and the 2:00 pm ferry back to Can Gio because we were doing other things around Can Gio and didn’t want to drive at night (although the drive is super easy in Can Gio). This only gave us about one hour on the island, which was a little rushed. If we were to do it again, we’d leave earlier in the morning and stay another hour or two.
Is it actually worth it?
Yes, visiting Thanh An Island is worth it. It’s a unique experience; the ferry ride is really fun, the drive there is scenic, and you probably won’t encounter a single tourist. For that same reason, the locals are happy to see new tourists coming off the boat; they’ll welcome you with open arms and firmly push you toward their seafood restaurant.
Overall, it’s a super unique experience and very off-the-beaten-path. It’s the perfect HCMC day trip if you have your means of transportation and are in the city for longer than most because it’s pretty out there.
Things To Do On Thanh An Island
It’s important to note that Thanh An Island is not an island that is built for tourism. It’s very laid-back, and while they welcome tourists with open arms (based on our experience), there’s not much to do there. That said, there’s still enough for a lovely few hours, and it’s a different side of Vietnam you won’t see elsewhere, so it’s still worth visiting.
Get some fresh seafood
Thanh An Island is, first and foremost, a fishing village, and that’s super obvious walking around the narrow streets with fish and shrimp left out to dry on every corner. You’ll even notice it right when you pull into the dock with the dozens of fishing boats scattered around the bay.
There’s a handful of seafood restaurants where you’ll get off the ferry, so if you have time and are into seafood, you should stop by one for a delicious (and fresh) lunch.
Walk around the boardwalk
A nice concrete boardwalk runs around the island, with great views of the East Sea and other parts of the island. It only takes 30-40 minutes to walk the entire boardwalk, but it’s lovely. When we went, local people followed us (trying to get us to their restaurants), helped us find the way (and took photos for us).
Don’t worry; the locals weren’t overly pushy but mostly lovely.
Explore backroads and little alleys
When we were done walking around the boardwalk, we cut in and started walking around random roads on the island. This was also fun because it gives you a peak at what life is like living on Thanh An Island. It’s very different from the city; people are so friendly, and the atmosphere is unique.
The island is so small that it’s impossible to get lost, so unless you’re rushing to catch the next ferry back, just take a second to explore some back roads.
Chat with the locals
As I mentioned, a few locals followed us most of our time on the island. They mainly wanted us to go to their restaurants (they worked at two different seafood restaurants), but they also seemed friendly and enjoyed having foreigners on the island. They helped us return to the ferry and were lovely, even though we didn’t eat at either of their restaurants.
Watch the fishing boats
If you still have time to kill, head back to the main ferry port and watch the fishing boats. They all come around the same ferry dock and are fun to watch. They are much more colorful and decorated than your average fishing boat in other parts of the world, so it’s also a photographic activity.
Take photos of cultural sites
You’ll notice right away that there isn’t much to do on Thanh An Island, but there are a few notable sites. One of the most notable ones is Hung Loi Tu Temple and Ka Thanh An. In addition to that, there are also schools and old buildings with very unique architecture. If you’re into the simple beauty of local villages, this is the place to be.
Why Thanh An Island Is The Best Day Trip From HCMC
I’ve made it clear that Thanh An Island, Can Gio, is a simple place with few bells and whistles. You shouldn’t expect many tourist activities, shopping malls, or anything like that. But if you’re genuinely interested in exploring lesser-known parts of Vietnam, this is the place to go. Here are a few things we loved about our day trip to Thanh An Island:
1. There are very few tourists
When we went, there were no tourists. There were about 15 people on our ferry ride, all of whom seemed to live on the island. It was a cool experience to visit a part of Vietnam (so close to Ho Chi Minh City) that exists in its own right, not catering to foreign tourists or anything like that.
2. It’s scenic and beautiful
The boardwalk around the island is beautiful, the little alleyways are beautiful, and the people waiting to greet you as you get off the ferry are also beautiful. It’s also a very calm, refreshing break from Ho Chi Minh City, and while only a few hours away, it feels a world away from the loud hustle and bustle.
3. The boardwalk is really nice to walk
The boardwalk isn’t a UNESCO World Heritage Site or anything; it’s just that: a boardwalk. But that being said, it’s still fun to walk around. It was a little eerie when we went because no one was around. But that added to the romantic atmosphere around the island and made the experience seem more unique.
4. The seafood is good (and fresh)
Seafood and Thanh An Island go hand-in-hand, and the seafood is really good. One of the best meals I’ve ever had was a seafood hot pot in Can Gio, right on the coast. They’re not messing around in this part of the country, so if you’re into seafood, arrive hungry and feel adventurous for something new.
If you don’t know what to order, ask the restaurant’s staff for recommendations.
5. The ferry ride over there is an adventure
One of my favorite parts about visiting Thanh An Island was taking the ferry there. It was unlike any ferry I’ve ever been on. It’s a small blue boat with an outdoor deck and a covered area with a low ceiling and tiny windows. Half the people inside were sitting in little plastic chairs on a deeper part of the floor, smoking cigarettes and chatting. The other half (where we were seated) was lying down and looking out the window.
If you sit near a window (or outside), it’s scenic as you pass by big fishing boats and some shipping containers and can admire Vietnam’s beautiful coast.
Thanh An Island Can Gio Is The Perfect Hidden Gem In HCMC
Thanh An Island HCMC is the definition of a “hidden gem.” Few foreigners know about it; you likely won’t see any on your adventure. The ferry operator might even be confused and try to get you to get on the ferry to Vung Tau (a far more popular destination for foreigners).
This is the kind of trip you do if you’ve been to Vietnam several times and have done all the usual HCMC activities or want to experience something completely different.
If you have more questions about your experience visiting Thanh An Island from HCMC, feel free to leave a comment with any questions.
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