Bao Loc to Can Gio: Scenic Drive & Essential Stops

Bao Loc sits at 800 meters above sea level, where the misty Central Highlands give way to the Mekong Delta's flat expanse. The drive to Can Gio covers 280 kilometers, passing through three provinces and two distinct climate zones.

Along the way, you'll descend from pine-scented mountains to mangrove forests that shelter saltwater crocodiles. The route is a favorite among weekend travelers seeking both mountain coolness and coastal breeze.

The journey begins on National Route 20 (QL20) from Bao Loc, winding through Di Linh plateau’s coffee plantations. After 140 km, you merge onto Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 (CT01), skirting the urban sprawl.

From there, QL50 leads south to Nha Be, where a ferry crosses the Soai Rap River to Can Gio. The ferry runs every 20 minutes from 5 AM to 10 PM; the crossing takes 15 minutes and costs 30,000 VND per car.

• Fuel prices near Bao Loc: 24,500 VND/liter for gasoline (as of 2025).
• The route includes two toll booths: Trung Luong (QL20) and Phu My (CT01), with total tolls around 85,000 VND.
• Beware of narrow mountain passes with sharp curves; use lower gears in rainy season.

Road quality on QL20 is good, but be cautious of logging trucks and livestock crossings near villages. In the dry season, the route is scenic; during monsoon (May-Oct), heavy rain reduces visibility, so drive slowly.

For families, the Bao Loc Silk Factory offers child-friendly demos, and the Suoi Mo Lake area has paddle boats. Pets are welcome at roadside rest stops, but keep them leashed near the forest sections.

Plan rest breaks every 2 hours; recommended stops include Da Lat's outskirts (for coffee) and Tan Phu’s petrol station complex. For more tips, see how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities.

Hidden gems include the abandoned French hydroelectric plant near Bao Loc, and the Rung Sac guerrilla base museum in Can Gio, a testament to wartime tunnels. Remember to pack insect repellent for the mangrove areas.

Leaving Bao Loc, you pass the majestic Dambri Falls, a 300-meter-wide cascade surrounded by mossy rocks. Further south, Ta Nang Valley offers pristine meadows, but a detour of 30 km on unpaved trails is needed.

In the Mekong Delta, orchards along QL50 sell fresh durian and mangosteen from roadside stands. Near Can Gio, the UNESCO-listed mangrove biosphere reserve is a haven for pot-bellied monkeys and mudskippers.

For a sense of local commerce, visit the Cai Be floating market (off-route, 40 km) to see traders bargaining from wooden boats as they've done for a century. The reserve's boat tours cost 150,000 VND per person.