A green journey to Can Gio - Cu Chi during the lockdown.

Can Gio and Cu Chi are two attractive eco-tourism and historical destinations, and two of the few green areas in Ho Chi Minh City during the pandemic. Therefore, the organizers chose these two locations as representative destinations in the tour programs to express gratitude to the frontline forces fighting the pandemic in the city, in late September and early October.

All the visitors participating in this program are doctors, nurses, and military medical personnel from provinces and cities in Northern and Central Vietnam who have been reinforcing Ho Chi Minh City's fight against the pandemic for over 100 days. Throughout that time, they have been busy and working tirelessly day and night tracing, testing, treating, and caring for COVID-19 patients in high-risk environments at treatment hospitals, field hospitals, lockdown and isolation zones, as well as providing social welfare support to the city's residents. For many consecutive days, most of them haven't even had the chance to breathe fresh air, a basic human need.

Therefore, from the moment they boarded the tour bus until they set foot in the Can Gio ecological area or the Cu Chi Tunnels historical site, they were all overwhelmed with emotion. The journey distance was only about 60-70 km, which was previously quite ordinary, but now suddenly became incredibly special.

During that tour, the doctors and nurses had the opportunity to explore the largest mangrove forest and the green lung of Ho Chi Minh City, which was recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve in 2000. These "white-coat angels" from the North, some experiencing a canoe ride for the first time, admired the fascinating river landscapes of the South, with its unique flora and fauna within the lush green mangrove forest. A world brimming with vitality unfolded before their eyes, now incredibly precious amidst a society still implementing conditional easing of social distancing measures.

But perhaps the most memorable moments are those spent visiting the Can Gio Monkey Park, where visitors become the center of attention for the mischievous monkeys, preserved in their natural habitat within the mangrove forest, a population numbering in the thousands. Occasionally, a startled scream erupts as someone is greeted with excessive hospitality by the playful monkeys, who then snatch away visitors' belongings. Some lose hats, others paper fans or scarves. To "redeem" their lost items, visitors have to feed the monkeys fruit. Those who are unlucky may have to sadly watch their possessions disappear.

Equally thrilling was the visit to Vam Sat Eco-tourism Area, where the group glided by canoe through the winding canals of the mangrove forest, visiting the bat conservation area and the crocodile conservation area. Everyone took turns boarding the "crocodile fishing boat," casting their lines with tilapia as bait; each time a crocodile jumped up to snatch the bait, the loud thudding sound was very enjoyable! And a vast, expansive view unfolded before their eyes as they conquered Tang Bong Tower, admiring the panoramic view of the lush green Can Gio mangrove forest from a height of 26 meters.

The middle leg of the Can Gio journey offered moments of quiet reflection, as the group visited the Rung Sac Revolutionary Base, learning about the hardships, battles, and heroic deeds of the special forces soldiers during the war. Everyone enjoyed sampling the traditional rice balls with kim leaf salad, a simple, familiar dish of the Rung Sac guerrillas during the resistance war, which helped them survive until victory.

Along with eco-tourism attractions such as the Rừng Sác War Zone in Cần Giờ, the Củ Chi tour includes offering incense at the Bến Dược Temple in Củ Chi, and visiting the Saigon - Chợ Lớn - Gia Định revolutionary tradition area… This is an attractive highlight of the tour program, signifying a journey "back to the roots". Củ Chi is famous for its underground tunnel system, with a total length of up to 250 km, which was recognized as a Special National Monument in 2016.

For many doctors, nurses, and military medical personnel, this is the first time they have set foot in Cu Chi, the "steel land of bronze," a place that once endured so much suffering and loss during the long resistance war, a place they had only known about through books. "Our military medical corps is also in a battle, fighting the epidemic alongside Ho Chi Minh City, but compared to the generation of our fathers and brothers in the previous war, our sacrifices today, if any, are only a humble fraction," confided Dr. Than The Dung (Hanoi Military Medical Academy).

For Dr. Dung, this was a special tour, but he also felt a little regretful that he couldn't explore deeper into the tunnels, only visiting the entrance due to mandatory requirements during the pandemic.

After the Can Gio tour, Dr. Dao Thi Huong, head of the delegation from Thai Nguyen Central Hospital, shared: "Not only myself, but the entire team of doctors and nurses participating in this tour were deeply moved by the warm affection shown to us by the government and people of Ho Chi Minh City. After this trip, we will continue our work treating and caring for Covid-19 patients as we have been doing, but with a fresh mindset, energy, and emotions." Dr. Huong also added that she and her colleagues cherished every moment of the present to relax and relieve stress after many days of working tirelessly to treat and care for numerous Covid-19 patients in Ho Chi Minh City.

This special tour program is not only significant for the tourists – the doctors and nurses – but also for the tour guides and those involved in organizing and serving the event. "Recognizing this as a tour to express gratitude to the frontline forces fighting the pandemic, all the guides this time are determined to serve with more than 100% dedication, treating these special guests as both family and VIPs," shared tour guide Nguyen Tan Cong. "After all the contributions and sacrifices of the frontline forces in the healthcare sector, they deserve to be rewarded by society."

Also stemming from the gratitude tours to Can Gio and Cu Chi, a new concept has emerged: "Green Tourism, Green Journey." Following the social distancing period, a new set of awareness, habits, and behaviors for travel will be established. This includes safe travel based on the 5K guidelines, accompanied by a "green travel card" for those vaccinated against Covid-19, and a focus on enriching experiences.greenRejuvenate your spirit.

Additional information

Saigontourist Group advised, sponsored, and directly organized nine tours to Can Gio and Cu Chi to express gratitude to the frontline medical staff in Ho Chi Minh City, serving over 1,100 guests from the end of September to the beginning of October 2021. Saigontourist Group stated that it will continue to promote other safe tourist destinations for visitors, provided they adhere to COVID-19 prevention and control measures.

All tours in the program are organized with safety in mind, strictly adhering to disease prevention and control requirements. All tour participants, guides, drivers, and support staff at all destinations must receive two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, have a negative rapid test result, and comply with the 5K guidelines recommended by the Ministry of Health. The tours follow a "closed bubble" model, with enclosed routes, primarily visiting outdoor tourist attractions, mangrove forests and waterways in Can Gio, or outdoor excursion sites such as the Cu Chi Tunnels.

Van Thuong - Photo: Long Van Thuong