According to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, the reserve meets four criteria for Ramsar site designation.
Can Gio Biosphere Reserve cover over 20,000 hectares of water surface and 34,813 hectares of protective forest.
Fifty years ago, the area suffered severe devastation from the war. In 1979, HCM City launched a campaign to reforest Can Gio. It is now home to a diverse array of flora and fauna with roughly 200 bird species, 40 reptile species, 20 mammal species, and more than 300 species of higher plants.
The site has three wildlife sanctuaries, the Vam Sat Bird Sanctuary, the Bat Lagoon, and the Monkey Island Sanctuary.
The reserve's core area spans over 6,000 hectares, while its buffer zone is 29,000 hectares of land and 12,763 hectares of water surface.
The reserve also serves as a location for fishing and aquaculture, offering livelihoods for many families.
Every year, the Can Gio Protective Forest Management Board conducts research and monitoring programmes on forest resources.
UNESCO has recognised 11 biosphere reserves in Vietnam, making it the second-most biosphere-rich country in Southeast Asia.