Located over 70 kilometers from the center of Ho Chi Minh City, Thieng Lieng is a secluded island within Thanh An Island Commune, Can Gio District – the city's only coastal district. Thieng Lieng is renowned for its salt fields, salt-making traditions, and tranquil ambiance.
Beyond salt production and fishing, residents of Thieng Lieng have embraced community tourism, offering homestay accommodations, local cuisine, and guided tours of the island's attractions.
The salt fields of Thieng Lieng seen from the above.
Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa
Accessing Thieng Lieng requires a waterborne adventure. From Ngoi Sao Viet Pier in District 7 (pictured) or Bach Dang Pier in District 1, an one-hour boat ride will transport you to the island. Round-trip day-trip tickets cost around VND1 million ($39) per person.
An alternative route to Thieng Lieng involves departing from the pier at the Can Gio Forest Management Board, approximately 40 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City's center. From here, a half-hour boat ride will deliver you to Thieng Lieng, with round-trip tickets costing VND500,000 ($19.60).
Nguyen Thi Chau, a member of the Sau Trung Household, prepares sam sam beverages for visitors.
Sam sam, a jelly made from tiliacora triandra leaves, is served with sweetened water and coconut milk, costing VND20,000 (80 cents) per portion. The Sau Trung Household can accommodate up to 70-80 guests simultaneously.
After refreshing themselves with the drinks, visitors can embark on a bicycle ride to the Hai Loan Household, renowned for its rice cakes. These delights are often enjoyed as a light breakfast or afternoon snack.
The Hai Loan Household takes pride in their homemade cakes, featuring natural colors derived from garden ingredients. The yellow hue comes from carrots, the red from beets, and the purple from butterfly pea flowers. These cakes are complemented by a sweet fish sauce, with a plate costing a mere VND25,000 ($1).
From this location on Thieng Lieng Island, visitors can see two water colors dividing the border between the sea and the river.
A half-day trip to the island is a good option for Thieng Lieng. But if you stay overnight, you can also visit Mount Giong Chua, known as Vietnam's lowest mountain, standing at over 10 meters tall. It's a cool place to check out amidst the Thieng Lieng mangrove forest. However, reaching the mountain depends on local water levels. If the water is too shallow, canoes and boats can't reach it, and you'll have to turn back.
Because of its isolated location, transportation options are limited, and travel costs are higher, so tourism in Thieng Lieng isn't booming yet. Visitors in the first 5 months of this year only made up 1% of Ho Chi Minh City's total tourists. Therefore, Thieng Lieng retains its seaside village beauty and offers a change for visitors to Can Gio.
