Notable for its extensive mangrove forest can gio is a low palm fringed island sitting at the mouth of the saigon river some 25km southeast of ho chi minh city it was formed from silt washing downstream from the river so dont expect any white sand beaches a few hopeful resorts have sprung up along the murky 10km shoreline of more interest is the forest this listed unesco biosphere reserve contains a high degree of biodiversity with more than 200 species of fauna and 150 species of flor