Monkey Island Ecological Forest Park

Can Gio, a district southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, is famous for its mangrove nature reserve. The area has a diverse ecosystem, with monkeys being one of the largest communities. Monkey Island Ecological Forest Park, located in Lam Vien Eco-tourism Area, is home to more than 2000 different species of baboons. This is one of 24 subdivisions of Can Gio Nature Reserve, the green home of untamed species in the modern city.

Can Gio is a wetland and mangroves all year round. It is this feature that has made the land the habitat of thousands of species of flora and fauna. However, after years of war, it was heavily poisoned and threatened anyone who approached it with the risk of stepping on unexploded ordnance. From a mountainous area, Can Gio turned into a desolate land, with almost no signs of life. Not long after the war ended, the new government began to act. Restoration activities began in 1978, with 31 hectares of forest planted, bringing the devastated forest back to life. The efforts of local people were recognized by UNESCO, when Can Gio Nature Reserve became Vietnam's first Biosphere Reserve in 2000.

For Monkey Island Ecological Forest Park, the idea of ​​an eco-tourism area began to take shape in 1994, when the area was being restored. From a wasteland with less than 100 monkeys, it has attracted thousands of species back and turned into their safe home. Park keepers share a deep knowledge and relationship with animals, and they've spent years learning about their habits, emotions, and desires.

Monkey Island Ecological Forest Park is a monkey sanctuary. As soon as you step through the entrance gate, you will see an ecological park with roads stretching around. This makes it easy to interact with the monkeys. One recognizable feature of the monkeys in the Monkey Island Ecological Forest Park is their close connection as a community. Visitors will see the mother monkey swinging from branch to branch while holding her baby, or the father monkey looking for food to bring back to the family.

*When coming to Monkey Island, visitors should be careful with personal items such as cameras, phones, or important papers because the monkeys here are very mischievous and quickly steal things to tease visitors.