Overall, it runs for 75 kilometers from where it splits from the Dong Nai River and continues into Ganh Rai Bay.[5] It has an average depth of 15 meters, running along the Cần Giờ Mangrove Forest before emptying out into the Ocean.[6]
History
As one of the primary waterways between Ho Chi Minh City and the Pacific Ocean, the Long Tau River has played a prominent economic and military role in the region.[7][6][8] Its strategic location has made it the host of prominent warships and military operations and many times a strategic target for both attack and defense.[6]
It currently connects to the Cai Mep deepwater port[9] with a second container port in the works.
[10] The main route between Ho Chi Minh City and the Cai Mep terminal for vessels and barges is separately known as Long Tau Channel.[11] As the case with many high-traffic rivers of the Mekong Delta, the banks of Long Tau River are lined with factories.[12][13]
There have been a number of shipwrecks on record, including the sinking of the Vietsun Integrity cargoship in 2019.[14]
Aside from a transport-focus waterway, the river also has had villages along its riverbanks, though there have been ongoing plans towards the economic development of the Can Gio communities.[15] Despite its traffic, it remains a spot for fishermen.[16]
