Awakening Can Gio mangrove forest value via ecotourism

On the morning of June 29, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and Environment held a signing ceremony for a forest environmental lease contract to implement the Ecotourism Project in the Can Gio forest. This is the first contract executed after the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee approved the Project, setting a direction for exploiting forest values linked to conservation and green economic development.

According to the Management Board of Protection and Special-Use Forests of Ho Chi Minh City, the contract was signed with the Can Gio Tourism Investment Joint Stock Company following an investor selection process that strictly complied with forestry laws and relevant regulations.

This is a concrete step toward implementing Decision No. 1433/QD-UBND of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, approving the Ecotourism Project in the Can Gio forest until 2030.

According to the project, the enterprise will lease the forest environment across 4 areas with a total acreage of over 26,214 hectares for a lease term of 30 years. The enterprise commits to contributing 1.5% of its business revenue to the forest environmental lease revenue source as prescribed by regulations.

Dr. Huynh Duc Hoan, Director of the Management Board of Protection and Special-Use Forests of Ho Chi Minh City, stated that signing the contract is the initial step toward realizing the Project. According to Mr. Hoan, the Management Board will coordinate closely with the enterprise to ensure all investment activities strictly comply with legal regulations.

"We determine that developing ecotourism is not about exploiting the forest at all costs, but must generate additional resources for forest protection, ecosystem restoration, and uplifting livelihoods for the local community," Mr. Hoan emphasized.

Mr. Hoan also affirmed that the Management Board will accompany and closely monitor the enterprise as it develops ecotourism side by side with the protection of the Can Gio mangrove forest ecosystem.

Ms. Tran Van Anh, Southern Regional Project Development Director of the Can Gio Tourist City Joint Stock Company (a member company under Vingroup), said that the enterprise views the signing of this contract not merely as executing an investment project, but as an opportunity to accompany the city in conserving and promoting the values of the mangrove forest ecosystem.

According to Ms. Van Anh, the enterprise's consistent orientation is to develop a controlled ecotourism model, with nature conservation as the foundation rather than resource exploitation.

"We will focus on protecting and promoting the values of the mangrove forest ecosystem, restoring biodiversity, and developing high-quality tourism products that harmonize with nature. Concurrently, the enterprise will join hands to contribute to building Can Gio into a space for scientific research, environmental education, and the promotion of indigenous cultural values," Ms. Van Anh shared.

The enterprise also commits to fully complying with regulations on forestry, environmental protection, and biodiversity conservation throughout the investment and operation processes; prioritizing the application of green development solutions, utilizing environment-friendly energy, controlling waste, and minimizing plastic waste. At the same time, priority will be given to utilizing local labor, contributing to the creation of sustainable livelihoods for residents attached to the forest, and bringing cultural values, traditional crafts, and the characteristic cuisine of Can Gio into the ecotourism product chain.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Toan Thang, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and Environment, said that the project's deployment holds special significance for the orientation toward green economic development, the circular economy, and the efficient exploitation of the city's natural resources.

Mr. Thang emphasized that Decision 1433 of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has established an important legal foundation for the rational exploitation of forest environmental values in the direction of sustainable development.

"The signing ceremony not only marks the deployment of a specific project, but also opens a new direction in rationally exploiting forest resources, linking conservation with development. We expect the enterprise to strictly implement its commitments, deploy the project in accordance with regulations, and build quality ecotourism products, contributing to enhancing the value of the Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve," Mr. Thang said.