Tien Giang

Tien Giang

Area: 2.481,8 km2

Population: 1.670.216 people

Tien Giang is on Tien River bank with the length of 120km, bordered by Long An province and Ho Chi Minh city in the north and northeast, Dong Thap province in the west, Ben Tre and Vinh Long province in the south and East Sea in the east.

Tien Giang comprises 1 city (My Tho), 1 town, (Go Cong) and 8 districts (Go Cong Dong, Go Cong Tay, Cho Gao, Chau Thanh, Tan Phuoc, Cay Lay, Cai Be, Tan Phu Dong).

With the coast line of 32km, Tien Giang has advantages of aquaculture and many kinds of special fruits to develop eco-tourism and sea-tourism.

Monuments – Landscapes

• Go Thanh is a national monument, locating in Tan Than commune, Cho Gao District. The national monument of Oc-Eo Culture in Go Thanh was in the 1st to the 6th century. Some artifacts were found are some status of Vinus, Negasa, NamThan and many other copper, gold, pottery artifacts…

• Cai Be floating Market: is one of the most famous floating markets of Mekong delta since 18th century. Cai Be floating market is adjacent area of Vinh Long, Ben Tre and Tien Giang, near Tan Phong isle. This market is nearly 1000m long on the river, with many boats selling special products of the Mekong delta.

• Tan Thanh Beach: locates at Tan Thanh Commune, Go Cong Dong District, is 50km from My Tho to the east on Highway 50. Come to Tan Thanh Beach, tourist will enjoy a beautiful beach with many services such as relax, sunbathing, sports on beach…

• Thoi Son Isle is an isle on Tien River; it is on the opposite of My Tho city. There are many laden orchards on this isle. Tourist can enjoy the fresh atmosphere of the countryside, have some kinds of fruits and make friend with friendly orchard owners.

• Dong Tam Snake Farm: This is the reliable place of snake-bite treatment for the inhabitants in Mekong delta. Dong Tam snake farm is on the area of 11ha, in Tan Thuan Village, Binh Duc Commune, Chau Thanh District. To this place, tourists seemly stray into a snake kingdom with hundreds of different species. This place becomes a tourist site for many visitors.

• Vinh Trang Pagoda is the biggest and the most beautiful pagoda in Tien Giang, a historical and cultural monument of Vietnam. This pagoda is on an area of 2000 meters square, in My An village, My Phong commune, My Tho city. Vinh Trang pagoda was built by Mr and Mrs. Bui Cong Dat in early 19th century. In 1907, it was rebuilt in Asia architecture associated with the European’s in a perfectly general form, in a stunning beauty. There are 60 wooden statues, especially Thap Bat La Han were carved in 1970, is the pinnacle of artistic sculpting the Mekong delta. Vinh Trang pagoda attracts many domestic and foreign tourists to visit.

Festivals

• Ap Bac Victory: this is held annually on Ap Bac Victory day (January 2 1963) in Tan Phu commune, Cay Lay district.

• Vam Lang: this take place in Ong pagoda of Vam Lang and Kieng Phuoc commune, Go Cong Dong district on 9th to 10th of the third lunar month. This is Nghinh Ong festival (Dolphin greeting festival) of Tien Giang fishermen. At 9:00 am, Nghinh Ong boat is decorated, travel from Vam Lang canal to Xoai Rap river. There is traditional singing. At the end is the ceremony to take Ong to the pagoda for worshiping.

• Tu Kiet Festival: on 15th and 16th of the eighth lunar month, Tu Kiet Festival takes place in Thanh Hoa Commune, Cai Lay District to commemorate four heroes who fought against the French. After the ceremony, there are cultural and artistic activities with a great numbers of participants.

• Ky Yen Vinh Binh Festival is the biggest Ky Yen festival of the province, take place in Vinh Binh communal house, Go Cong Tay district, from 14th to 16th of the 12nd lunar month.

Specialties

Hoa Loc mango, Long Co Co pomelo, Lo Ren Vinh Kim star apple, Ngu Hiep durian, Go Cong watermelon and acerola, Tan Lap pineapple. Tien Giang is also famous for many dishes such as My Tho rice noodle, Cho Rong gia cake, fermented shrimp…

(Mekong Delta Tourist Portal)

Bac Lieu

Bac Lieu

Area: 2.520,6 km2

Population: more than 820.000 people

Bac Lieu is a coastal province in Mekong Delta. The North borders Hau Giang province, Northeastern borders Soc Trang province, Kien Giang province is on the Northwestern, West and Southwest of Bac Lieu border Ca Mau province, East Sea is in the East and Southeast with 56 km coast line.

Bac Lieu is 280 km from Ho Chi Minh City, with 1 town (Bac Lieu) and 6 districts (Phuoc Long, Hong Dan, Vinh Loi, Gia Rai, Dong Hai, Hoa Binh).

The strength of Bac Lieu tourism is eco-tourism, marine tourism with many unique natural landscape such as bird sanctuary, longan garden and some historical cultural monuments as Vinh Hung ancient tower, Noc Nang field, Ho Chi Minh president temple, the house where Cao Van Lau -musician of famous traditional opera piece “Da co hoai lang” (Awaiting One’s Husband)- lived, Bac Lieu is famous with many legends about Tran Trinh Huy (Bac Lieu fop) … the attraction of Bac Lieu tourism is the specialties, costumes, festivals, Viet, Khmer, China ethnic.

Monuments – landscape

• Bac Lieu Sanctuary: Bac Lieu sanctuary is 5 km from the center of the town, Hiep Thanh commune. It is 130 ha large with more than 40 kinds of birds, some of which are in the Red Book and many other kinds of animals and plants living in the same diversified community.

• Bac Lieu longan Garden: this longan garden was planted 100 years ago on a area of 230 ha from Hiep Thanh (Bac Lieu) to Vinh Chau (Soc Trang). Bac Lieu longans are aroma, big, ripening in July to September (Lunar calendar).

• Bac Lieu Fop’s Villa: It was built according to the French architecture and all construction materials were brought from Francein the early twentieth century. Currently, this villa is used as a hotel. This Hotel attract many visitors especially Tran Trinh Huy’s room (Bac Lieu fop’s room).

• Memorial House of Cao Van Lau Musician: Cao Van Lauwas born on 22.12.1892, in the Chi My Village, Vam Co District,Long An Province. In 1919, he composed "Da Co Hoai Lang”, is considered the first traditional opera piece, a timeless song. Hepassed away in 1976 in Bac Lieu. Cao Van Lau tomb is located in Bac Lieu town, on the road named after him.

• Nha Mat - Hiep Thanh Eco and Sea Tourism: This is eco and sea tourism with the area of over 100 ha, Nha May ward, Bac Lieu town. Destinations attract tourists to Bac Lieu. 

Festivals

• "Quan Yin Nam Hai" Festival takes place on the 23 of March (lunar year) at Nha Mat – Hiep Thanh.

• Khmer Traditional Festival: Chol Thnam Thmay festival(traditional New Year festival) take place in 3 days from April 13; Dolta festival from August 29 to September 1 (lunar calendar); OkOm Bok festival (moon festival) in Octorber 15 (lunar calendar).

• China Festivals: Nguyen Dan Festival (New Year festival of Vietnam); Doan Ngo festival (May 5 lunar calendar).

Specialties

Bac Lieu is famous with its specialties such as Bon Bon, longan, fisheries, Cu Cai cake, Ngang Dua tam vermicelli, bun bo cay (Pungent rice vermicelli with beef).

(Mekong Delta Tourist Portal) 

Dong Thap

Dong Thap

Area: 3.376,4 km2

Population: 1.665.420 people

Dong Thap is a province in the Mekong Delta region of southern Vietnam. Dong Thap is bordered by Long An and Tien Giang on the east; Vinh Long and Can Tho on the south; Can Tho and An Giang on the west; a 47,8 kilometers border with Pray Veng province - Cambodia on the north (with 4 border gates: Thong Binh, Dinh Ba, My Can and Thuong Phuoc). Center of Dong Thap is Cao Lanh city which is 162 km from Ho Chi Minh City.

There are 12 districts, towns and city: Cao Lanh city, Sa Dec, Hong Ngu town, and district of Cao Lanh, Chau Thanh, Hong Ngu, Lai Vung, Lap Vo, Tam Nong, Thanh Binh, Thap Muoi.

2/3 of Dong Thap area belongs to Dong Thap Muoi marsh so the landscape and ecology are very unique. Visit Dong Thap Muoi, visitors will see a lot of melaleuca forests, lotus ponds, stork garden, bird sanctuary belong to Dong Thap Muoi ecosystem, which is concerned by many international organization of nature conservation.

Monument – landscapes

• National bird indigo Forest: the national bird indigo forest has a natural area of 7,588 hectares belonging to 5 communes of Tam Nong District, 45 km from Cao Lanh city to the Northwest. This is a model of natural landscape of primitive Dong Thap Muoi where there is very beautiful natural landscape with infinite waterways, immensely green indigo forest and plentiful floristic composition of 130 different species. This forest is also a living place of 185 aquatics, 55 of fish species and more than 198 species of birds, many of which are valuable and rare bird spices in the world such as sarus crane (grus antigone), cairina scutulata, grey-headed lapwing…

• Gao Giong Eco-tourism Site: with the area of 350 ha, this torism area is in Gao Giong melaleuca forest, belonging to hamlet 6, Gao Giong commune, Cao Lanh district. It has a 40 ha bird sanctuary with many species of bird such as stock, Double-crested Cormorants, Purple Swamphen, Greater Coucal and many kinds of aqua species such as snakehead fish, climbing perch, Ghost Knife Fish, eel, snake… Visitors can go fishing to relax.

• Sa Dec Flower and Bonsai Village: belongs to Tan Quy Dong commune, Sa Det town. This is one of the biggest flower and bonsai villages in Mekong Delta. Some kinds of flower you can see here: marigold, rose, Red decorative dahlias, orchid… There are many kinds of rare bonsai like Palmaceae, Carmona, Ochnaceae….

• Junior doctor Nguyen Sinh Sac Imperial Tomb (President Ho’s father): is 1.5 km from Cao Lanh city center, on Pham Huu Lau Street, ward 4, Cao Lanh city. This monument was built in 1977. With the area of 4 ha, it is divided into 2 parts: his imperial tomb and President Ho’s house on stilts and lotus pond.

• Dinh Yen Night Sedge Mat Market: This market is 100 years old, on Hau river bank, belongs to Dinh Yen commune, Lap Vo district. People trade in night time only. Their products are material to weave mat, coloring and thousands of sedge mat for many different occasions.

• An Hoa Beach: Discovered in 1995, is a white crescent-shaped sand of more than 10 hectares, located on the Tien River,Cai Tau Ha town (Chau Thanh District). An Hoa beach is an ideal place for tourists to enjoy the western rivers. Currently, An Hoa beach attracts many tourists.

• Tien Islet (Fairy Islet): a white sand islet looks like a fairy lying in the sunshine. Tien islet is on Hau River, Dinh Hoa Commune, Lai Vung District. Visitors come to Tien islet can swim in the river, sunbathe, and enjoy the atmosphere of the countryside. Tien islet is a attractive destination for domestic and foreign tourists.

• Huynh Thuy Le’s Ancient House: address: 225A Nguyen Hue, ward 2, Sa Det town. Huynh Thuy Le’s ancient house is a monument of love story between Marguerite Dumas and Huynh Thuy Le. M.Dumas wrote the novel L’Amant (Lover) to tell about her love story. This book was transtale in to many languages and got the Goncourt award in 1984. In 1990, film L’Amant was filmed in this ancient house by a French movie crew.

Festivals

• Doc Binh Vang Anniversary Celebration: every year on 15th and 16th of the 2nd month of lunar calendar in Tan Trach commune, Thanh Binh district. Armiral Binh Vang-Tran Ngoc, is adivision commander and a head of military provisions in Minh MangDynasty. In 1837, on the way to An Giang, he known that An Giang wall was fallen, he ordered soldiers to destroy the boats, to lay down soldiers’ arms and he committed suicide. The Court awarded to him as senior lieutenant-general prince. People were grateful andregreted him, and they named small irrigation canal is Doc Vangcanal and they have worship him up to now.

• Ba Chua Xu Festival: is held annually on March 16 (lunar) at Ba Chua Xu temple, Thap Muoi district.

Specialties

Lai Vung fermented pork roll, Sa Dec noodle, Sa Giang snack, Cao Lanh mouse…

(Mekong Delta Tourist Portal) 

Can Tho

Can Tho

Area : 1.389,59 km2

Population: 1.187.089 people

Can Tho City constitute an independent municipality at the same level as provinces of Vietnam. Can Tho is on the Hau River bank, 169 km from Ho Chi Minh city on the southwest. Cần Thơ City is divided into nine districts: Ninh Kieu, Binh Thuy, Cai Rang, O Mon, Thot Not, Phong Dien, Co Do, Thoi Lai, Vinh Thanh.

Can Tho has been considered the western metropolitan city. Can Tho city is an important trade hub between the provinces in theMekong Delta. Can Tho city is compared as “a city of the watery region”. Tourism in Can Tho is mainly tours of the water region and orchard. The wide range of restaurants and hotels in Can Tho city is considered to be the best accommodation for tourists in Mekong delta.

Monuments-Landscape

• Ninh Kieu Quay: stretching from the rivulet mouth of Cai Khe channel to the ancient market house just restored. Ninh Kieu quay is an interferential place between Hau River and Can Tho River. Ships with full Mekong Delta’s yields are busy at the quay and in the river. Yachts are anchored to pick visitors in Ninh Kieu quay.This place becomes the landscape for local and foreign tourists to visit.

• Cai Rang Floating Market: 5 km from Can Tho city center. The market is in river, a typical cultural feature of the southern people. From very early in the morning, hundreds of boats are gathering together into a market in a section of the river. Samples of hick products are displayed on the top of the rod called “scarecrow” at the bow of the boat. Just looking at the scarecrow, the buyers know what are sold in that boat. Besides visiting and buying fresh products, tourists have a chance to confide in the ones who are called “water merchants” – all year round, they consider rivers their friends.

• Phu Sa Tourist Site: with the area of 30 ha, Phu Sa is surrounded by cypress forest, very charming and romantic… From Ninh Kieu quay, tourists are taken by motor boat in a wavy large river section to Au islet where Phu Sa tourist site locates. There are ancient houses, tourist sites of the Mekong Delta features, seasonal fruits and river hick special foods. Tourists can enjoy special foods of the countryside of the south or entertaining by fishing, swim in the river…

• Bang Lang Stork Garden: From Can Tho city center, along the national highway 91 toward Long Xuyen city, it’s 45 km to this garden. There are about tens of thousands of more than 10 species of storks and more than 20 species of stork’s friends living in the area of 2 hectares in Thoi Thuan commune, Thot Not district. Visiting this garden, visitors can be witness to the life of these storks.

• Binh Thuy Communal House is located in Binh Thuy Ward and is 5km from the center of Can Tho City. Built in 1844, the Communal House was named "Bon Canh Thanh Hoang" on November 9th, 1893 by King Tu Duc. In 1909, people have rebuilt it once and finish in 1910. Binh Thuy Communal House is a valuable monument of art and architectural style in the newly-expanded South Western area.

• Binh Thuy Ancient House is along Highway 91 towardLong Xuyen, cross Binh Thuy Bridge and turn left you will see this 135 years old house. Binh Thuy ancient house is 7km from Can Tho city center. Architecture of this house is a combination of French exterior and Vietnamese interior. This house had captured in film “Nguoi dep Tay Do”

• My Khanh Tourist Village is along highway 1 toward Soc Trang, turn right at Cai Rang Bridge to My Khanh Commune. Address: 335 My Nhan Village, My Khanh Commune, Phong Dien District – Phone: 0710.3 864 260. This village is 10km from Can Tho city center. This tourist garden has many kinds of fruits. Visitors can tour the garden, go fishing and enjoy the specialties of the garden. There are restaurant and guest house for visitors.

Festivals

• Binh Thuy Communal House Festival takes place at Binh Thuy communal house. It falls into two parts: descending from the rice field, on the 14th and 15th of the 12th lunar month, and ascending to the rice field on the 12th and 14th of the 4th lunar month.

• Ong Pagoda is located on Hai Ba Trung Road, Ninh Kieu district. Ong pagoda was in institution by efforts of a segment of Hoa people in two chief towns Quang Chau and Trieu Khanh of Quang Dong, China for worshipping Quan Cong. Quan Cong, a General of the three-kingdom period in ancient China and an example of loyalty to his King, Nam Hai Bodhisattva Kwan Yin, Thai Bach Tinh Quan, the Genie of the earth, and Dong Vinh are all worshipped here. Every year there are 4 festivals: Birthday of main deity Phuc Duc (sir Bon) occurring on 2nd of the second month every lunar year, Birthday of Thien Hau Thanh Mau on 23rd of the third month every lunar year, Birthday of Quan Cong on 24th of the sixth every lunar year, Birthday of Tai Bach Tinh Quan (Deity Tai) on 22nd of the seventh month every lunar year.

Specialties

Can Tho City has many specialties, delicacies such as Cai Rang fermented pork roll, fermented fish hot pot, Rice pancake folded in half (and filled with a shrimp, meat and soy bean sprouts)…

(Mekong Delta Tourist Portal) 

Ben Tre

Ben Tre

Area: 2.322 km2

Population: 1.401.600 people (2008)

Ben Tre is adjacent to East Sea, the coastline is 60 km. Tien Giang province is on the North, the West and Southwest border Vinh Long province, the South border Tra Vinh. Ben Tre is 85 km from Ho Chi Minh city.

Ben tre comprises 9 districts: Ben Tre town, Chau Thanh, Cho Lach, Mo Cay Bac, Mo Cay Nam, Giong Trom, Binh Dai, BaTri, Thanh Phu.

Ben Tre’s tourism strength is characterized by the natural scenery, the ecological environment, coconut groves, and vast orchards

Monuments – Landscapes

• Phung islet (Mr. Dao Dua islet): Tan Trach commune, Chau Thanh district, Con Phung tourist area is on the floating isle in the middle of Tien River. There is Dao Dua monument with unique architecture. The inhabitants in Con Phung do handicraft with the materials from coconut palms and farm fruit trees for their living.

• Oc Islet (Hung Phong Islet): Hung Phong Commune, Giong Trom District, there are many coconut grove and orchards.

• Tien Islet: Tien Phong commune, Chau Thanh district, is a long and beautiful beach. Every year on May 5 (lunar) thousands of people come here to entertain.

• Vam Ho Bird Yard: My Hoa and Tan Xuan commune, Ba Tri district, about 500000 stocks and many kinds of birds live here with date palm forest and abundant vegetation.

• Cai Mon Orchard: Vinh Thanh commune, Cho Lach district, famous for many kinds of fruit such as mangos teen, durian, rambutan…

Festivals

• Phu Le Communal House Festival: Phu Le communal house is in Phu Khuong village, Phu Le commune, Ba Tri district. This is a place for Thanh Hoang Bon Canh worship. Every year, this festival take place twice, Ky Yen ceremony on March 18 to 19 (lunar) to pray for rain and wind (or for peace) and Cau Bong ceremony on November 9 and 10 (lunar) to pray for good crop. The festivities include a procession and a prayer consecrated to the village spirit who taught the inhabitants how to grow useful plants. At night, there is Hat Boi (a form of traditional drama) and amateur singing.

• Nghinh Ong (Dolphin Greeting) Festival is the festival for coastal village which takes place on 15th and 16th days of the Sixth Lunar month in Binh Dai and Ba Tri District. During the festival all the fishing boats anchor to participate in this ceremony.

• Fruit Festival is taken place at Cho Lach commune very year on the fifth of May (lunar). This is the exhibition and contest of the delicious fruit in Ben Tre. Visitors can come and enjoydelicious fruit on this occasion.

Specialties

Some specialties of Ben Tre are coconut, coconut candy, My Long rice paper, Son Doc chips, Cai Mon mangosteen, Cai Mon flowers, Chin Hoa durian, Phu Le alcohol….

(Mekong Delta Tourist Portal) 

An Giang

An Giang

Area: 3.406,2 km2

Population: 2.253.865 people (2008)

An Giang is in the South West of Vietnam. Northwest of An Giang border Cambodia, the Southwestern border Kien Giang province, Can Tho city is on the South and on the West is DongThap Province.

An Giang province comprises 1 city (Long Xuyên), one town (Chau Doc), 9 districts (An Phu, Chau Phu, Chau Thanh, Cho Moi, Phu Tan, Tan Chau, Thoai Son, Tinh Bien, Tri Ton).

An Giang is a place that is very potential for tourism, some typical landscape are:

Monuments - Landscapes

• Chau Doc is famous with Ba Chua Xu temple, Sam mountain resort with many historic monuments like Thoai Ngoc Hau tomb, Tay An pagoda…

• Chau Doc Raft village: famous with catfish, basa longstanding. There are hundreds fish farm on the river which is home to hundreds of families.

• Cam Mountain Park: Tinh Bien District, there are a road for cars to go up the mountain; there are Phat Lon pagoda and the largest Buddha statue.

• Tra Su Melaleuca Forest: this eco-tourism zone is wider than 700 ha, in Long Xuyen quadrangle (Van Giao commune, Tinh Bien district)

• Bung Binh Thien: (also known as the heaven lake) is a freshwater lake in An Phu District, the site for the annual festival.

• Ton Duc Thang President Monument: located at Ong Ho (tiger) isle, where president Ton Duc Thang lives childhood. This monument display pictures, artifacts and documents of life and career of the late president of Viet Nam.

• Historic Tuc Dup Hill: An Tuc Commune, Tri Ton District, this high hill is belong to Co To mountain. During the war, the USstrikes during 128 days and nights, the amount of bomb cost up to 2 million USD but has not captured the hill. Currently, Tuc Dup hill is named “2 million-dollar hill”, which is visited by a large number of visitors.

Festivals

• Ba Chua Xu Festival is held annually on April 23 to 25 (lunar calendar) at Ba Chua Xu temple.

• Chol Chnam Thmay Festival is known as Khmer New Year, in mid-April each year.

• Cow Racing Festival is held annually in late August early September (lunar calendar) at Bay Nui (seven mountains).

• Hat Gi (a kind of Vietnamese traditional singing) Festival: the festival of Cham people, was held December 7 to 12 (Islamic calendar).

Specialties

An Giang specialties are Chau Doc Mam (salted fish) and many other kind of salted fish (Tren fish, Sac Fish, Linh fish…); beef sausage (Cham call Tung-lo-mo), jaggery, dried beef, dried fish, Sau Dau salad, Vinh Trung noodle…

(Mekong Delta Tourist Portal) 

Ca Mau

Ca Mau

Area: 5.331 km2

Population: 1.205.108 people (01/4/2009)

Ca Mau is the province located in the south pole of Vietnam, with the coast of 307 km and three sides bounded by the sea. It is bounded by Kien Giang in the North, Bac Lieu in the Northeast, EastSea in the East and the South-East, and the gulf of Thailand in the West and the Southwest. Ca Mau is a new land with many rivers such as Ong Doc, Bay Hap, Cua Lon, Ganh Hao, Trem, Dam Cung, Cai Tau, and Bach Nguu forming many big estuaries.

There are 1 city and 8 districts in Ca Mau: Ca Mau city, Dam Doi, Ngoc Hien, Cai Nuoc, Tran Van Thoi, U Minh, Thoi Binh, NamCan, Phu Tan district. Ca Mau city is 179 km from Can Tho city and 380 km from Ho Chi Minh city.

Ca Mau has the potential and advantages of forest and sea forthe development of eco-tourism.

Monuments – Landscapes

• Ca Mau Cape: Ca Mau cape locates in the South Pole of Vietnam which belongs to Ngoc Hien commune, about 120 km far from Ca Mau city. It takes you about 2.5 hours to go from Ca Mau city to Ca Mau headland by high-speed boat. Every year, it is consolidated by Mekong River’s alluvium so as to extend to the sea from 80 to 100 meters. From Ca Mau headland, tourists can see Hon Khoai group of islands in the sea. Mui cape is mentioned as a sacred land in Vietnamese consciousness and everybody desires to come here once in their life.

• Khai Long Beach: This sea area is located in the South-east of Ca Mau cape, belongs to Khai Long village, Dat Mui commune, which is 100 km from Ca Mau city and it takes 2 hours to travel by high-speed boat. Khai Long has an immense sand beach with 3km in length. Ca Mau province establishs in Khai Long an ecological area. In a near future, Khai Long will become the seaeco-tourism attractions include relaxation, entertainment, beach...

• Silver Rocky Island: It has the area of 6.4 hectares approximately, belonging to Kinh Hon village, Khanh Binh Tay commune, Tran Van Thoi district. The island is about 50km from Ca Mau city and it takes more than an hour to travel by car. Tourists can see numberless granite rocks heaped up together and kneaded into unique forms by the hands of the Creator such as fairy yard, fairy well, fairy foots, fairy hands ... Silver Rocky Island also attracts the tourists thanks to plentiful seafood source such as oysters, shrimps, fishes, squids, crabs… Currently, Silver Rocky Island is recognized as national historic sites, has invested in hotels and restaurants cater to tourists. Silver Rocky Island is becoming a destination resort and recreation of Ca Mau province

• Biodiversity zone of 184 enterprise of forestry aquaculture: Covering an area of about 86 ha, belonging to Tam Giang Commune, Ngoc Hien district. It provided conservation and development of many species of flora and fauna typical of mangrove ecosystems. There are many special mangrove system trees and birds’ species and most popular tree species of this zone is mangrove. This is a very attractive eco-tourism.

• U Minh Ha (lower U Minh) National Park: U Minh forest is considered as the place where has the highest biomass value in comparison with forest forms, with about 158 varieties of animals with 21 mammal species, 96 bird species, 30 reptile species and 11 amphibian species ... Nowadays, there are still many species exist as wild pigs, monkeys, turtles, snakes, pythons, white neck cranes…U Minh Melaleuca forests also have honey as a significant resource.Visitors come to the U Minh forest will witness the hanging treepropolis.

• Ba Phi house: Uncle Ba Phi with real name was Nguyen Long Phi (1884-1964). Uncle Ba Phi reputation associated with his funny joke of Ca Mau. His house and grave is located in Duong Ranh village, Minh Hai commune, Tran Van Thoi district, Ca Mau province. 

Festivals

• Nghinh Ong (Dolphin Greeting ) Festivals: takes place in mid-March at Doc River, Tran Van Thoi district, Ca Mau province.
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• Ca Duong Festival takes place in April and Ba Khia festivaltakes place in August in Rach Goc, Tan Hung commune, Ngoc Hien district, Ca Mau province.
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• Via Ba Festival takes place on March 23 (lunar). This is the festival of the China ethnic, culture of the China in Ca Mau.

Specialties

Some specialties of Ca Mau are U Minh salted snakehead fish, honey, dried fish, Rach Goc special crab, Bai Boi oyster, Bay Hap dried shrimp, and chopped cuttle spawn in ending land, Ca Mau crab, and grilled snake head fish.

(Mekong Delta Tourist Portal) 

Hau Giang

Hau Giang

Area: 1.608km2

Population: 756.625 people

Hau Giang is 240 km from Ho Chi Minh City to the Southwest. Vi Thanh town is the center of Hau Giang, 60 km from Can Tho city. Hau Giang is bordered by Can Tho in the north, HauRiver and Vinh Long in the East, Kien Giang and Bac Lieu in the West.

The province comprises 2 towns (Vi Thanh, Nga Bay) and 5 districts (Chau thanh, Chau Thanh A, Long My, Phung Hiep, Vi Thuy).

Hau Giang is known as the granary of the Southwest of Vietnam.With the strength of fertile soil, rice and fruit trees of all kinds, Hau Giang has great potential to develop ecotourism and watery tourism.

Monuments – Landscapes

• Nga Bay Floating Market: belongs to Nga Bay town, is 30km from Can Tho city. The market opens at about 5:00 in the morning, with thousand of boats arriving with farm produce from 7 branches of Mekong River: Mang Ca, Kenh Xang, Bun Tau, Lai Hieu, Cai Con, Xeo Vong, Xeo Mon… Nga Bay was mentioned in a very famous traditional opera piece “Tinh anh ban chieu” (Love of a sedge mat seller) performed by Ut Tra On (a very famous traditional singer in Vietnam).

• Ngoc Hoang Swamp Nature Reserve: with the area of 2805 ha, this reserve belongs to Phuong Binh commune, Phung Hiep district. There are diversifying flora and an abundant fauna of more than 200 species such as tortoises, snakes, eels, typhoons, fishes and 153 bird species... Currently, Ngoc Hoang swamp nature reserve is invested to be an eco-tourism, is the last monument of wetland ecosystem.

• Tam Vu Monument: belongs to Thanh Xuan Commune, Chau Thanh A District, is 16km from Can Tho city. Tam Vu statue which is 8m tall is the center of this historic victory monument. This is the picture of Tam Vu historic victory on April 19, 1948, the victory help Vietnam army get the first 105mm canon from French army. This area is invested to be a historic monument.

• Ecological area of Vi Thuy indigo & bird Forest: belongs to Vinh Tuong commune, Vi Thuy district, with the area of 200 ha. Currently, this area is invested to be an eco-tourism.

• Ho Chi Minh Temple belongs to Luong Tam commune, Long My district, is 60 km from Can Tho city. This temple was built in 1969, was destroy by the war many times, and was rebuilt in 1990. Ho Chi Minh temple structure is like some southern communal house, surrounded by trees and bonsai,

• Tay Do Ecotourism: Locates along the provincial highway No. 61, is more than 25 km from Can Tho city, in Phung Hiep area. Tay Do ecotourism is a big tourist area of 20 hectares with bonsai –flower gardens, luxuriant sweety fruit trees, airy lakes, diversifying entertainment services such as: fishing, the south amateur music, visiting bonsai-flower gardens …specially, visitors can try some specialties of the countryside.

Festivals

• Chol Thnam Thmay Festival: This is New Year festival of Khmer ethnic, take place in 3 days (March 13th to 15th in lunar calendar).

• President Ho Chi Minh incense offering ceremony: this is a traditional ceremony of Hau Giang province. The ceremony takes place on May 19 (birthday of President Ho Chi Minh), September 2 (National day), Nguyen Dan New Year. On these days, thousands of people from many provinces come to offer incense to president Ho Chi Minh.

Specialties

Ghost Knife Fish, Cau Duc pineapple, Phu Huu pomelo, Long Tri sweet tangerine, Climbing Fern…

(Mekong Delta Tourist Portal) 

Kien Giang

Kien Giang

Area: 6.299km2

Population: 1.683.149 people

Kien Giang is a coastal province in Mekong delta; the center is Rach Gia city, which is 250km from Ho Chi Minh City to the West. It is bordered on the Northeast by Dong Thap; by Can Tho and Bac Lieu on the Southeast; by Ca Mau on the South; by 200 kilometers of Gulf of Thailand coastline on the West; by 54 kilometers border with Cambodia on the Northwest. It also lays claim to 105 islands. Kien Giang province is divided into 1 city (Rach Gia), 1 town (Ha Tien) and 13 districts (An Bien, An Ninh, Chau Thanh, Giong Rieng, Go Quao, Hon Dat, Kien Hai, Kien Luong, Phu Quoc, Tan Hiep, Vinh Thuan, U Minh Thuong, Giang Thanh).

Kien Giang province has tourism potential advantages of themountains, forests and sea. This is a great advantage for Kien Giang to invest diversity tourism such as eco-tourism, sea-tourism…

Monuments - Landscape

• Rach Gia: It is amazing to watch the sunset from Rach Gia city. There is reclamation area, Phu Quoc quay, Hero Nguyen Trung Truc temple, Tam Bao pagoda…

• Phu Quoc: Phu Quoc is the largest island of Vietnamwith the area of 573km2, is 120km from Rach Gia coast. Phu Quoc has not only the beautiful coast line of 120km but it also has tropical forest, 99 mountains, rivers, streams… Phu Quoc is a destination for visitors from Vietnam and many others countries. Some landscapes in Phu Quoc are Dinh Cau, Bai Sao, Phu Quoc national park, Bai Truong, Ganh Dau, Tranh stream, Da Ban stream, place where people produce fish sauce, pepper garden… 

• Ha Tien: there are many landscapes and destinations such as Phao Dai mountain (Kim Du Lan Dao), Mac Cuu temple (Binh San Diep Thuy), Tam Bao pagoda (Tieu Tu Than Chung), Giang Thanh (Giang Thanh da co), Thach Dong limestone, Da Dung mountain, Dong Ho, Ot-Hon Heo beach, Mui Nai, Lu Khe beach…

• Kien Luong: there are many destinations such as Hang pagoda – Phu Tu islet, Ba Lua islands with 40 islands, Mo So mountains with many cave, known as national historic site…

Festivals

• Hang pagoda (cave pagoda) Festival: is held annually from 8th to 15th of the 4th month of lunar calendar. This is the day to celebrate Buddhism’s birthday.

• Hero Nguyen Trung Truc Anniversary Celebration: takes place at Nguyen Trung Truc temple, 18 Nguyen Cong Tru street, Rach Gia city from 26th to 28th of the 8th month of lunar calendar.

• Khmer minority group Festivals: There are four festivals a year: Chol Chnam Thmay (New Year festival in 3 days 13th to 15thof the 3rd month of lunar year), Dolta (ancestors’ anniversary celebration, in the 8th month of lunar year), Oc Om Boc (moon worshipping ceremony on 15th of tenth month lunar year). Some activities of this festival are traditional singing and dancing, releasing flying lights, ngo boat racing (ngo boat is a tree trunk carved in the shape of a diamond with curved ends)…

Specialties

Phu Quoc fish sause, Phu Quoc pepper, Phu Quoc dog, Phu Quoc Sim alcohol...

(Mekong Delta Tourist Portal) 

Long An

Long An

Area: 4.491,87 km2

Population: 1.436.914 people

Long An is located on 10021’-12019’ North and 105030’-106059’ East, is bordered with Tay Ninh and Cambodia on the North, Tien Giang on the South, Dong Thap on the West and Ho Chi Minh city on the East. Although it is belong to the Mekong delta,Long An is in the transition area between the South East and South West, the terrain tends to be lower gradually from Northeast to Southwest. North and Northeast have some hills, the center of the province is plains and Dong Thap Muoi marsh with a large mangrove forest is in the southwest.

Long An comprises 1 city (Tan An) and 13 district (Ben Luc, Can Duoc, Can Giuoc, Chau Thanh, Duc Hoa, Duc Hue, Moc Hoa, Tan Hung, Tan Thanh, Tan Tru, Thanh Hoa, Thu Thua, Vinh Hung).

The most attraction of Long An travel is the humane value of Oc-Eo culture, Dong Thap Muoi melaleuca forest. This is the advantages of Long An to develop the historic and eco-tourism.

Monuments - landscapes

• Binh Ta archaeological vestige: In Duc Hoa Ha commune, Duc Hoa district, Long An province, it is 40 km from Tan An to the northeast of Tan An town. The vestiges are remnants of the Oc Eo-Phu Nam culture from the first to seventh centuries AD. On a collection of 26 gold objects discovered in Go Xoai, there are thin gold leaves with 646 words of Buddhist sutra written in the ancient Sanskrit language. Other valuable objects were also excavated here. There are pieces of Oc Eo pottery, metal, precious stones, sandstone and a series of other relics from primitive man discovered around the temple. Architectural works discovered in Binh Ta's vestiges are a temple dedicating to the Siva deity of Brahmanism which appeared in India around the first century BC and was introduced to southern Indochina at the beginning of the Christian era.

• Monument of the one hundred column house: belongs to Long Huu Dong commune, Can Duoc district, which is 50km from Tan An city. The whole house was built of wood (including barian kingwood, red Go wood, honey Go wood) 100 years ago with a very special and unique architecture, the interior was delicately carved by 15 skillful and talent artists. Standing in this house, the visitors feel like standing in a garden with flowers, trees and birds. This house is known as a national historic cultural monument. One hundred column houses is a destination for tourist and many carving artists.

• Long An museum: Locating in the center of Tan An town, ward 4, many valuable and rare antiques of cultural and artistic significance are displayed here, in which there are many exhibits excavated from the local cultural remains, which is very exciting for sightseeing and researching.

• Dong Thap Muoi ecologic tourist area: about 50km from Tan An, belonging to Moc Hoa, Vinh Hung, Thanh Hoa and Tan Thanh districts. Coming here, tourists will see thick and interminable forests by your own eyes, and there are also large lotus fields with a great many lotus flowers showing their color under sunlight. Many valuable and rare animal species have been protected in Dong Thap Muoi such as storks, red head cranes, turtles, snakes, etc; which makes the ecologic region more beautiful.

• Dragon fruit garden: locating in Chau Thanh District, which is 5km form Tan An city. This is an interesting destination with many dragon fruit trees and friendly owners.

• Dong Thap Muoi Research Center: locating in Binh Phong Thanh commune, Moc Hoa district. There is area of 1041ha, of which more than 800 ha is melaleuca forest. There are more than 100 higher plant species (vascular), 100 aquatic plant species, 200 fauna and aquatic animals. This center do research on medicine from plant in Dong Thap Muoi area such as melaleuca oil, honey…

Festivals

• Lam chay festival (a festival for deliverance of dead's souls): Taking place in Tam Vu commune, Chau Thanh district, on the 15th of the first month of Luna calendar. This is a big festival supported by Long An province.

• Tong phong festival is held annually on the 6th of the third month (lunar) in Tan Phuoc Tay commune, Tan Tru district, and Binh Lap – Tan An city. This celebration is to chase bad wind out of the village for villagers a better and healthier life. There are many ways to celebrate this festival: release banana canoe with foods and gifts, greeting Te Thien to chase goblin…

• Cau mua festival (a festival held to pray for good season): held in Can Duoc, Can Giuoc, Vam Co, as a boat racing competition. In the past, this festival is held when the weather is not good. Nowadays, this festival is held annually to say thanks to God. Besides, people also do the Dragon greeting ceremony to ask for more water form the heaven.

Specialties

Long An is famous with Nang Huong rice, Long Tri watermelon, Ben Luc pineapple, Duc Hoa peanut, Thu Thua sugarcane, Go Den rice alcohol, dragonfruit…

(Mekong Delta Tourist Portal) 

Soc Trang

Soc Trang

Area: 3.312,3 km2

Population: 1.289.441 people

Soc Trang is a coastal province, bordered by Hau Giang province in the North and Northwest, Bac Lieu province in the South and Southeast, Tra Vinh province in the Northeast, the sea on the East and Southeast with the coast line of 72 km. Soc Trang city is 231 km from Ho Chi Minh city.

Soc Trang comprises a city (Soc Trang) and 8 districts (Chau Thanh, Long Phu, Cu Lao Dung, My Tu, Thanh Tri, Vinh Chau, NgaNam, Ke Sach, My Xuyen).

The strength of Soc Trang is agriculture and fishery. Visitting Soc Trang, tourists will enjoy the view of immense rice fields, laden orchards, ancient temples, unique architecture…

Monuments – Landscapes

Bat pagoda 

• Bat pagoda: The bat pagoda is also called Ma Toc or Mahatuc pagoda. It is located at ward 3, Soc Trang city, Soc Trang province, on Le Hong Phong Street to My Xuyen, 1 kilometer from the city centre. This pagoda was built on 2ha area. The bat pagoda is a quiet beautiful pagoda with green nature and is also a living place for ten thousands of flying fox bats.

• Clay Pagoda is Buu Son Tu pagoda, is located in Soc Trang city. Clay pagoda was built in the late 18th century. Such works as Buddha statue, supernatural animals, Tram peak (Dinh tram), towers etc. are created from clay and seem to be made from real materials at first sight. Especially, there are 8 candles of which 6 big ones are not lighted yet and the 2 smaller ones are on fire. The weight of each candle is about 200 kilograms and its height is 1.6 m. Each big candle is estimated to be on constant fire for 70 years. There are also 3 scented incenses with 2 meter high each…

• Sa Lon Pagoda (small porcelain bowls pagoda): Sa Lon pagoda is located on the national highway 1A, 12 kilometers from Soc Trang city in the direction from Soc Trang city to Bac Lieu. It was built in 1815 with special structure and unique carving. In 1980, it was rebuilt and the special trait of the pagoda is to use pieces of broken porcelain bowls and dishes to veneer on the walls for decorating the pagoda, which is so called the Small Porcelain Bowls pagoda.

Kleng pagoda

• Kh’leang Pagoda is located at No. 71, Mau Than Street, Hamlet 5, Ward 6, Soc Trang city. This pagoda is featured in architecture, which is very majestic, magnificent, pure, and solemn.

Tan Long Stork Garden 

• Tan Long Stork Garden is belonging to Long Binh Commune, Nga Nam District, Soc Trang Province. This place has become a bird garden for nearly 30 years with thousands of storks living in bamboo trees, coconut trees familiar to Mr. Huynh Van Muoi family. The storks here include such varieties as white heron, nga stork, lbis, cormorant etc. The owner erects an observing tower with more than 10 metres high for tourists to contemplate storks in his garden with an area of 1.5 hectares.

Buying fruits in My Phuoc dune

• My Phuoc Dune is belonging to Nhon My Commune, Ke Sach District, Soc Trang Province and in the middle of Lower Mekong River, about 10 kilometers from Ke Sach. With the cool immense space and poetic charming waterways, this is a site attracting a lot of tourists. This dune land has been famous for such fruits as sapodilla plum, mango, durian, orange, tangerine, longan, etc. Every year, on the 5th of the fifth lunar month, thousands of tourists come to this place to visit.

Festivals

• Dolta festival: The Dolta festival or the ancestors worship is one of three great festivals of Khmers. It is organized during three days, from August 28 to 30 every year. First day, people prepare flowers, fruits, Tet cake (glutinous rice cake filled with green bean paste and pork), and rice to worship the ancestors. The second day, family prepare meal and bring to the pagoda for monks to worship their ancestor. The last day, each family still prepares the meals and the fruits to worship the ancestors and to say goodbye to them. Thenlisten to the preaching, pray for family peace and pray for thedeceased.

• Ooc Om Boc festival: This is the biggest festival of Soc Trang province. Ooc Om Bok festival or Moon worshipping ceremony takes place at 15th of the tenth lunar month by Khmer people. There are many traditional activities such as releasing flying lights and floating lights, tasted com dep (a kind of young sticky rice), Ngo boat (wooden boat carved on both bow and stern) race.

Specialties

Pia cake

Some of Soc Trang specialties are Pia cake, Chinese sausage, me lau cake (made of glutinous rice flour, taro, malt, sugar and sesame), bun nuoc leo (rice vermicelli with sauce)….

(Mekong Delta Tourist Portal) 

Vinh Long

Vinh Long

Area: 1.479,1 km2

Population: 1.028.365 people

Vinh Long is bounded by Tien River and Hau River, Tien Giang province on the north, Dong Thap province on the Northwest, Ben Tre province on the East, Tra Vinh province on the Southeast, Hau Giang and Soc Trang province on the South and Can Tho city on the Southwest.

Vinh Long comprises 1 city (Vinh Long) and 7 districts (Binh Minh, Binh Tan, Long Ho, Mang Thit, Tam Binh, Tra On, Vung Liem). Vinh Long city is 136km from Ho Chi Minh City.

Oranges

Vinh Long land is fat by Hau and Tien rivers’ yearly silt so its advantage is cultivation. With many islets, laden orchards and many historic cultural monuments, Vinh Long is a destination for watery and garden tourism.

Monuments – Landscapes 

Catching fish

• An Binh Isle: is in the center of Tien River, the isle area is about 6000 ha. The soil is fine and fat, it has fresh water all year round, and the farmers plant many kinds of fruit trees such as rambutans, mangoes, longans, durians… It is a place chosen for lunch and staying overnight.

• Vinh Sang Tourist Site is on an isle on Tien River. Tourists come to Vinh Sang tourist side by boat. Coming to Vinh Sang farm, tourists can join in strong feeling games: fishing crocodile, riding ostrich, sailing canoe, catching fish by net, casting net or draining a pond to catch fish.

• Truong An Tourist Site: with the area of 16 ha, Truong An tourist site is on Tien river bank, 4km from Vinh Long city center along highway 1A to My Thuan bridge. The landscape here is very great with many trees, villas, guest houses, restaurants….

Van Thanh temple

• Van Thanh temple of literature: Locating in ward 4, Vinh Long town. The works was built from 1864 to 1986. Van Thanh temple was rebuilt twice. Currently, it consists of two main parts: Van Mieu and Van Xuong Cac. Van Thanh temple of literature is known as a national historical monument.

• Long Thanh Communal House: This Communal Housewas built in about 1754. In 1852, Long Thanh Communal Housewas granted by royal decree the title of Bon Canh Thanh Hoang (Local Tutelary Deity). Wholly looked, this is a multi-roofed house. In the center is the Sanctorum, at the back is the guest house; in the front of the house are Vo Qui and Vo Ca; to the left is the kitchen. It is fair enough to say few communal houses are so beautifully decorated with wonderful carvings and lacquered beams and pillars like this. Most noticeable is the ornamental lacquered board with golden letters “Long Thanh Mieu Vo”, set in which was displayed and got a bronze medal at the Marseille 1992 Fair of French colonies. Long Thanh Communal House was recognized as a National historical heritage.

Phuoc Hau pagoda

• Phuoc Hau Pagoda: locates in Ngai Tu commune, Tam Binh district. This pagoda was built in 1850. Phuoc Hau pagoda is a place that many famous monks such as Hoang Chinh, Khanh Anh, Thien Hoa have visited.

Festivals

• Ky Yen Festival: Ky Yen festival lasts 2 days and 1 night. The worship ceremony is for Buddha, gods, talented and righteous men called tien hien and hau hien. It commences with prayers for peace and performances of traditional dance and martial arts, as well as other rites based on southern tradition.

Oc Oom Boc

• Oc Oom Boc Festival: is also known as Moon worshiping festival of Khmer minority group in Vinh Long province. Oc Oom Bok is held in 2 districts: Tra On and Vung Liem, where many Khmer people live. It takes place on the 15th of the tenth month of lunar.

Specialties

Nam Roi pomelo

6 RI durian

Nam Roi pomelo, green orange, 6 RI durian, Vung Liem fermented pork roll, pottery…

(Mekong Delta Tourist Portal) 

Tra Vinh

Tra Vinh

• Area: 2.368km2
• Population: 1.000.933 people

Tra Vinh is a coastal city, bounded by Ben Tre province on the north, Soc Trang province on the south, Vinh Long province on the west and 65 kms of coast line on the east.

Tra Vinh comprises 1 town (Tra Vinh) and 7 districts (Cang Long, Chau Thanh, Cau Ke, Tieu Can, Cau Ngang, Tra Cu, Duyen Hai). The center of Tra Vinh is Tra Vinh town, is 200km from Ho Chi Minh city and 100km from Can Tho city.

On the bank of Long Binh river

Tra Vinh is bounded by Tien and Hau rivers. Rivers on Tra Vinh area confluence to the sea via two main estuaries of Co Chien and Dinh An. Tra Vinh is an attractive destination for its rivers, sea and diversity culture.

On the bank of Long Binh river

Monuments – Landscapes

Ba Om Pond

• Ba Om Pond is located in Luong Hoa commune, Tra Vinh Town, along the national highway No. 53 to the southwest, about 7 kilometers from Tra Vinh town center to the southwest. Ba Om pond is also called a square pond, the scenery is poetic, the placid pond is about 12 hectares covered with lotus, water-lily, and surrounded by thousands of star trees (sao tree), big old oil trees (dau tree) of strange looking shapes shading the green grass. This is the national famous vestige, landscape recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information in 1994.

• Ngheu (a kind of Clam) Isle attraction: Ngheu isle is in My Long Nam commune, Cau Ngang district. As a dune, it only appears when the tide is out and it is sunk under the sea when the tide is in. It is called Ngheu isle because there are much clam here. Clam is so much that you can pick them by your own hands and enjoy fresh clam at once.

Ba Dong beach

• Ba Dong Beach is 55kms from Tra Vinh town center; it is in the area of Truong Long Hoa Commune, Duyen Hai District. There are many works and infrastructures are invested for tourist potentiality development. Coming here, tourists shall enjoy the scenery, swimming and seafood.

Nodol pagoda gate

• Nodol Pagoda: Nodol pagoda is also called Stork pagoda in Giong Lon Hamlet, Dai An Commune, Tra Cu District, 40 kms from Tra Vinh town to the south. This is a big ancient pagoda with the unique architecture of Khmer culture in Tra Vinh. The sanctum section designed by the roofs bended in dragon tail shape, pointed tower peaks of Some mountain shape and familiar images such as Reihu, the god of four faces Mohabrom, god bird Kayno, Mahanok… The pagoda is surrounded by bamboos, rows of Sao, Dau (star and oil trees). The inhabitants call it Stork pagoda because for more than one hundred years, the pagoda precinct has been the domicile for thousands of birds of all kinds.

Ang pagoda

• Ang Pagoda is an ancient pagoda of Khmer, in the forest near Ba Om pond. There are hundreds of Budha statues with high astistic value. This pagoda is known as national historic cultural monument. You can see Ang pagoda in many Tra Vinh tour.

Ho Chi Minh temple

• Ho Chi Minh Temple is in Vinh Hoi village, Long Duc commune; it is 5kms from Tra Vinh town center. It was built in 1970. After the south was liberated in 1975, the temple was rebuilt many times to become one of the landscapes in Tra Vinh town.

Festivals

• My Long Sea Festival is held annually from 10th to 12thof the fifth lunar month in Ba Chua Xu temple, My Long town, Cau Ngang district. This is one of the biggest Nghinh Ong (Dolphin greeting) festivals in the Mekong Delta. This festival attracts thousand of people come to Tra Vinh to join some traditional games…

• Mr. Bon pagoda Festival is held solemnly in Mr. Bon pagoda, Cau Ke town, Cau Ke district from 15th to 18th of the seventh lunar month.

• Vu Lan Festival is held at Van Nien Phong Cung, Cau Ke town, Cau Ke district form 25th to 28th of the seventh lunar month. There are many folk custom in this festival.

Chol Chnam Thmay festival

• Chol Chnam Thmay Festival is the traditional New year of the Khmer minority group, held in the middle of the 4th month (lunar calendar).

Specialties

Cau Ke Sap coconut

Cau Ke Sap coconut (coconut with thick pulp), Ben Co noodle, Xuan Thanh rice alcohol, Vinh Kim dried shrimp, Tra Cuon Tet cake (glutinous rice cake filled with green bean paste and pork), Quach fruit, Cau Ngang watermelon…

(Mekong Delta Tourist Portal)

To the land of white rice and clean water

Day 1:

At first, one arrives at Ninh Kieu quay and hires a boat bound for Cai Rang floating market. Make sure the boat belongs to a travel agency and there are enough life jackets on it. Then only boarding once the written contract is signed with such details as itinerary, destinations, departing time and other services, if any. The cost is varied up to the number of visitors and your specific requirements. With a distance of some 5 km, you also can travel to Cai Rang by bus, taxi, or motorbike; a pedicab (if any) is also a good mean of transportation. From An Binh market or around Cai Rang bridge piers, you can hire a boat to the nearby floating market upstream.

Making rice paper

Depending on your own interests, the cruise is estimated to last around 3 - 4 hours. In case o your first trip to the Mekong Delta, it is recommended to go in company with a tour guide for better understanding the South Vietnam’s river culture. You yourself can sense the living environment imbrued with delta activities: hundreds of merchandisers’ sampans and boats in close proximity to one another and dealing in fruits and agricultural products of all kinds. In the summer time, Cai Rang floating market is glowing with fresh colors of fruit specialties in ripening season: durians, mangos teens, rambutans, longans… piled up on boats and sampans of all kinds. Sightseers also have a chance to witness the river – based life of many merchandising families.

Meat roll

From Cai Rang floating market, the trip goes on by both river and road along the provincial road No. 923 (locally called Vong Cung road) towards Phong Dien district. In order to see the real life of orchardists, one of the sites you can drop by is Sau Tuan durian garden (crossing My Khanh bridge, go for a short distance, you will reach Rach Sung wharf. Take a ferry over the river, get ashore and go straight for a while before turning right and crossing a bridge, again you turn left, keep going for around 4 km and there you are). This orchard offers no tourist service. There is only a small coffee shop in front as a stop-over for guests. The owner will guide visitors across the 6 ha wide orchard of yellow – flesh flat – seed durian and mangoes teen. You can choose by yourself newly fallen durians or ripe mangos teens in reddish purple, then have them weighed for payment. Tourists can either savour fruits right in the orchard or bring them home.

Fishing-net

Day 2: 

In case of staying overnight in Can Tho, you can come to Phu Sa resort or alternatively visit traditional craft villages west of Can Tho.

Can Tho cruiser

At Ninh Kieu wharf No. 2; Phu Sa Resort’s boats are available for free. If you wish to control your time or don’t want to wait, you can hire a boat and reach the resort after 10 minutes. After paying for an entrance ticket, you can immediately immerse yourself in the spicily pleasant scenery of Au islet in which Phu Sa resort covers 30 hectares, featuring fruit trees, bonsais, flowers and many ponds with lotus and water lily. The whole area is surrounded by cork forests. Familiar services are available like crocodile fishing, canoeing through cork forests, swimming on Hau river…

Phu Sa tourist area

Visitors will have an opportunity to take part in many highly thrilling games such as flying parachute pulled by motor canoe (which helps the player flying in the air, enjoy the view of Hau river and Can Tho city at an altitude of tens of meters) or riding water motorbike, motor canoe cruising, water-skiing… Phu Sa resort serves a variety of well-known folk cakes such as banh xeo (rice pancake folded in half filled with shrimp, meat and bean sprouts), banh duc (dessert in the form of gelatinous blocks made from non-glutinous rice flour, colored green by the addition of Pandanus amaryllifolius leaf extract), banh tet (cylindrical sticky rice cake filled with green bean paste and fat pork), banh cung (a kind of rice cake wrapped in banana leaves) and numerous unique dishes like lau ban Phu Sa (Phu Sa – style cork hot pot served with several seasonal catfish or crabs, tortoise, and various kinds of fresh herbs and vegetables), mon Tu Quy (4-season dish consisting of several kinds of salted fish served with baked snake-head fish, boiled pork and fresh vegetables). Feeling a little tired, you can rent a tent, a hammock hanging in the shade of trees to enjoy the cool air watching Can Tho bridge, listening to don ca tai tu (traditional music played by amateurs).

Kniting bamboo fish trap

Alternately, you can make a tour on your own to original craft villages by motorbike. From Can Tho city, riding along the national road No. 91 to the three-way intersection fronting Song Hau Farm, one will see a right turning into Bang Tang road – the area is home to many traditional craft villages of O Mon district and Thot Not district. The first is Di Tho bamboo fish trap weaving village, located some 3 km from the three-way intersection of Bang Tang road which belongs to Thoi Long ward (O Mon district). Lop (bamboo fist trap) is a popular tool for fishing during flood season starting from July to October of lunar calendar. Following the concrete path along the Di Tho canal, visitors will reach Ba Rui village specializing in making earthen stoves for witnessing the skill of craftsmen who knead clay and model it into popular stoves widely consumed in Hau Giang province. Keep going along Cut canal, Thom Rom canal, and one will come to the rice-paper making village of Thuan Hung commune (Thot Not district). Many visitors find it excited to see the skill of women who spread liquid rice flour over a steaming hot flat pan to shape a very thin and round piece.

Cork soup

Lau ban Phu Sa

After leaving craft villages, continue to follow the shady path leading to the pier and take a boat to Tan Loc islet (Thot Not district), one will stop by Sau Tia’s eco-garden or Don Thanh Nam’s bonsai garden, visiting ancient houses built in the 1900s. In the summer time, Tan Loc islet charms visitors with fruit specialties ripening on trees, especially in the festival of fruits held in Tet Doan Ngo (lunar mid-year festival) on the 5th day of lunar May. In case you travel in group, it is recommended to choose a travel agency and feel free to make a selection among their designed tours. Wish to go nowhere? So let dine! Select a restaurant suiting your taste, such as lau mam Da Ly (on 3-2 street) serving lau mam (mixed vegetables and fermented fish flavored hot pot), nem nuong Thanh Van (Hoa Binh avenue) serving nem nuong (grilled pork roll). Alternatively, come to Hem 1 on Ly Tu Trong street to taste vit nau chao (mixed vegetables and duck with soya cheese hot pot) or dine in any restaurant around Bai Cat, on Tran Van Kheo street, around Can Tho Water Park. At these restaurants, you can stay as long as you wish!

(Mekong Delta Tourism Guidbook – VCCI Can Tho – www.vccimekong.com.vn)