Located right within Ho Chi Minh City, Thieng Lieng Island, belonging to Can Gio commune, has been largely undiscovered for quite some time. Many residents of Ho Chi Minh City have never heard of this place, never set foot on it, and don't know how to get there.
To reach Thieng Lieng Island, tourists can take guided tours departing from Bach Dang Wharf in Ho Chi Minh City. Large, beautiful tourist boats cost an average of 1.5 million VND per tour, including two meals (breakfast and lunch) and sightseeing on the island. Tours depart at 6:30 AM and return to the city center at 6:00 PM.
As for people traveling between the island and the mainland, there are boats from Thieng Lieng Island passing through Thanh An Island and then docking at Tac Xuat wharf in Can Gio commune. On sunny days, travel is easy, but during rainy and windy weather, people face considerable difficulties.
Tourists travel around Thieng Lieng Island by boat. Photo: Chill Group.
Located in the southeast, about 50 km from the city center and 7 km by sea from Thanh An Island, Thieng Lieng Island covers an area of over 12,000 hectares with a traditional salt-making industry and a rich mangrove forest ecosystem. The inhabitants of Thieng Lieng Island are mainly migrants from the Southwestern region of Vietnam, starting from the 1970s.
Thieng Lieng Island has a kindergarten, a primary school, and a health station; however, these only meet basic requirements, and there are still many difficulties regarding human resources and facilities. Attracting and retaining skilled teachers and medical staff on the island remains an ongoing challenge.
Currently, many households, in addition to salt production, are also being guided to engage in tourism. In 2022, the Community Tourism Model project implemented by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism and the Institute for Economic and Tourism Development Research (ITERD) attracted active participation from the local community.
Cycling around Thieng Lieng Island. Photo: Chill Group
Upon disembarking from the cruise ship, tourists grab the provided bicycles and begin their island tour. First, they visit a family to enjoy a refreshing glass of sương sâm (a type of herbal jelly), then they observe how salt is made and traditional cakes are prepared, before returning to the ship for lunch and leisurely making their way back to the city center.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Bach Tuyet is one of the people passionately dedicated to Thieng Lieng Island and its tourism. Ms. Tuyet stated that Thieng Lieng Island has many advantages, such as being not far from the city center and being surrounded by mangrove forests belonging to a UNESCO-recognized World Biosphere Reserve, resulting in a very clean, rustic, and pristine atmosphere.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Bach Tuyet welcomes tourists upon their arrival at Thieng Lieng Island.
"Here, the ecosystem is quite diverse, as well as offering many delicious and unique seafood dishes. In particular, Thieng Lieng Island has nearly 400 hectares of land dedicated to salt production, creating a distinctive feature of the area," Ms. Tuyet shared.
According to Ms. Tuyet, Thieng Lieng Island only gained widespread attention in 2022 when the community-based tourism model developed. Before that, limited transportation between the mainland and the island affected the living conditions of the local people. Thieng Lieng Island only received national grid electricity on April 30, 2016.
Mr. Do Tuan Anh, Director of VietMark Tourism Company, suggested that tourists choosing the Thieng Lieng island village tour will enjoy a unique and interesting experience traveling by river. The opportunity to experience the distinct and authentic local culture will appeal to those who prefer a slower pace of life. Furthermore, a day trip is convenient for many people.
The "awakening" of Thieng Lieng Island has been accomplished, but for this island hamlet to develop better and provide more positive support for the lives of its people, more macro policies from local authorities are needed. Furthermore, the islanders themselves need to adapt and quickly update their business models, creating unique strengths for tourism and the island's economy.
The Thieng Lieng Community Tourism Model is an initiative aimed at developing a sustainable economy for local residents while preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of Thieng Lieng island hamlet. Visitors to Thieng Lieng will have the opportunity to experience many attractive activities such as: participating in salt production with salt farmers; exploring the mangrove forest ecosystem; enjoying local cuisine; experiencing indigenous culture...
Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/danh-thuc-dao-thieng-lieng-238251222131847808.htm
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