Can Gio Biosphere Reserve

Can Gio Man and the Biosphere Reserve situated in Ho Chi Minh City and on the coastline of southern Vietnam, at the point where the Dong Nai, Vam Co and Sai Gon rivers discharge into the sea. Sediment deposited by these rivers has formed a dynamic complex of intertidal flats, which, prior to the Second Indochina War, supported extensive areas of natural mangrove forest. However, most of the natural mangrove was destroyed by wartime spraying of defoliants, and the main habitat types at the site are now plantation mangrove and naturally recolonising mangrove.

Birding highlights: Painted Stork and Asian Dowitcher.

Star rating: é

Bird fauna: While dominant habitat type at Can Gio, plantation mangrove, is of relatively low importance for key bird species, the intertidal mudflats and sandbanks at the site are important habitats for migratory waterbirds. Several rare waterbird species have been recorded at the site, including Spotted Greenshank, Asian Dowitcher, Spot-billed Pelican and Painted Stork. In addition, the globally endangered Black-faced Spoonbill has been recorded at the site, although it is not believed to regularly occur in significant numbers.

Other interests: Mangroves and Long-tailed Macaques.

Transportation: The site is two hours from Ho Chi Minh City by car.

Accommodation: Guesthouses and restaurants are available at Can Gio Beach Resort 

Permission: Tourism site, accessible for all Vietnamese and foreign visitors

Contact details: Can Gio Mangrove Biosphare Reserve Management Board, 176 Da Kao Road, 1^st District, Ho Chi Minh City, Tel.: +(84 8) 8272292;

Can Gio Ecotourism Company, Long Thanh Ward, Long Hoa Commune, Can Gio District, Tel.: +(84 8) 8743651

1. Lesser Whistling-duck

2. Common Kingfisher

3. White-throated Kingfisher

4. Black-capped Kingfisher

5. Collared Kingfisher

6. Blue-tailed Bee-eater

7. Plaintive Cuckoo

8. Black-tailed Godwit

9. Bar-tailed Godwit

10. Whimbrel

11. Eurasian Curlew

12. Common Redshank

13. Marsh Sandpiper

14. Common Greenshank

15. Nordmann's Greenshank

16. Wood Sandpiper

17. Terek Sandpiper

18. Common Sandpiper

19. Ruddy Turnstone

20. Asian Dowitcher

21. Red-necked Stint

22. Long-toed Stint

23. Curlew Sandpiper

24. Broad-billed Sandpiper

25. Black-winged Stilt

26. Pacific Golden Plover

27. Grey Plover

28. Little Ringed Plover

29. Kentish Plover

30. Lesser Sand Plover

31. Greater Sand Plover

32. Black-headed Gull

33. Gull-billed Tern

34. Caspian Tern

35. Common Tern

36. Little Tern

37. Whiskered Tern

38. Osprey

39. Black-shouldered Kite

40. Little Egret

41. Grey Heron

42. Purple Heron

43. Great Egret

44. Intermediate Egret

45. Javan Pond Heron

46. Little Heron

47. Cinnamon Bittern

48. Black Bittern

49. Black-faced Spoonbill

50. Spot-billed Pelican

51. Painted Stork

52. Pied Fantail

53. Barn Swallow

54. Ashy Tailorbird

55. Arctic Warbler

56. Yellow Wagtail