An Giang In the flood season, coming to Chau Doc, visitors will have a clearer feeling about the life of people in the river region of the West.
Chau Doc is a large city of An Giang, located near the Vietnam - Cambodia border. This is a land of cultural exchange between Kinh, Cham and Khmer people with rich nature, spiritual stories, and characteristics of river life.
September to November, the flood season, is the best time to visit Chau Doc. The itinerary was suggested by Ly Thien Phong, a local tour guide, and the experience of a VnExpress reporter.
Day 1
Morning
Breakfast with the famous Chau Doc snakehead fish noodle soup. The dish has a rich broth, fragrant with shrimp paste, lemongrass, chili, garlic and the yellow color of fresh turmeric. If you like to eat the fish head, you can order it separately. The side dishes are typical of the West such as sesban flowers, lotus flowers, bitter vegetables, banana flowers, shredded water spinach, bean sprouts. Many diners also eat roasted pork or sausage.
Some addresses for reference: Be Hai fish noodle soup, Chau Doc fish noodle soup Co Nga, Roundabout fish noodle soup on Phan Dinh Phung street. Each bowl of noodles ranges from 25,000 VND to 30,000 VND, not including side dishes.
Raft village on Hau River. Photo: Nhat Minh
Boating on the Hau River to visit the colorful floating village is the latest experience in Chau Doc. Since mid-September, thanks to a community project, 161 fish cages stretching over 1 km have been covered in colors such as red, yellow, orange, green, blue, and purple. Phase 1 has about 80 rafts completed. The floating village is on the sightseeing route to learn about and experience the river life and culture of the Cham community in An Giang. You can stop to buy souvenirs, see how to raise fish, experience the life of fishermen...
Another destination near the wharf along the Hau River is the basa fish monument. The work honors the fish that is closely associated with life and praises the fishermen who domesticated fish and other aquatic species to bring a prosperous life.
Near noon, if you want to know what Chau Doc has to offer, you should definitely visit the central market. The market opens from 5:30 to 18:00 every day, with a full range of items from food to souvenirs, traditional Khmer clothing, and An Giang specialties. A highlight of the market is the eye-catching and "smelly" fish sauce stall.
Have lunch at one of the famous restaurants with Western dishes. Some recommended addresses include: Bay Dong restaurant, Dong Que restaurant, Hong Phat restaurant.
Afternoon
When coming to Chau Doc, you cannot miss Sam Mountain, with Ba Chua Xu Temple. This is a destination that attracts many tourists to An Giang, located about 5 km from the city center. On the occasion of the New Year and the full moon or the first day of the lunar month, this place is always crowded with visitors from all over the country. With a sacred and solemn space, Ba Chua Xu Temple is a place to express the Vietnamese people's belief in Mother Goddess worship.
The time you stay at Ba Temple depends on your needs, whether it is just sightseeing or going to the temple and other experiences.
In the late afternoon, watching the sunset from the top of Sam Mountain is the next experience. This place is considered one of the most beautiful sunset viewing spots in the Mekong Delta region because of its wide view, with rice fields below.
Sunset at Sam Mountain. Photo: Linh Huong
The road up to Sam Mountain is steep but quite easy to walk. You should arrive before 4:30 p.m. to not miss the sunset. At the top of Sam Mountain, visitors will have the opportunity to experience mountain climbing as well as breathe in the fresh air.
Dinner at La Giang restaurant on top of Sam mountain with buffet menu and return to Chau Doc.
Take a night stroll with My Van pomelo sweet soup at the mobile sweet soup cart at the beginning of Trung Nu Vuong street. This is a snack shop recommended by locals. Each sweet soup costs from 10,000 VND to 25,000 VND. Stay overnight at Victoria Hotel in the center of Chau Doc city, with a view straight to the Hau River junction, near Chau Doc market and convenient for travel.
Day 2
Morning and noon
Have breakfast in Chau Doc with noodles, vermicelli with fish sauce or vermicelli with rice noodles at the food stalls along Hau River wharf and Chau Doc market.
Depart for Tra Su cajuput forest. This is a "must-see" destination when coming to An Giang, especially during the flood season. Travel time from Chau Doc city center to the forest is about 30-40 minutes. Visitors will buy an entrance ticket of 100,000 VND per person.
Walking on the bamboo bridge brings a feeling of relaxation. Photo: Linh Huong
There will be two forms of experience. If you are short on time or just want to check in, you just need to buy an entrance ticket of 100,000 VND and 50,000 VND for a 30-minute motorboat ride.
If you are a nature lover , spend as much time as possible here, from morning to afternoon. You should experience walking on the longest bamboo bridge in Vietnam leading to the center of the forest. It is best to walk on the bamboo bridge once, then transfer to a motorboat to go further and further into the forest. You will witness rare flora and fauna with your own eyes. You can ask the boatman to stop to feel the quiet space.
Go up to the observation tower to see the entire Tra Su cajuput forest using the 25 km telescope to have a more comprehensive view of this "valuable" forest of the West. The observation tower is located in the premises of Tra Su restaurant, so stop here to enjoy lunch.
The delicious and outstanding dishes include grilled snakehead fish, linh fish hotpot with water mimosa flowers, crispy fried linh fish, fish sauce hotpot, coconut neck salad, and banh xeo. The restaurant is located in a cool green area, with beds of water mimosa flowers growing tall all around.
Afternoon
Rowing boats in the area of small canals. Photo: Linh Huong
Return to the Melaleuca forest by sampan. After experiencing the motorboat and walking on the bridge, transfer to the sampan, you will take a shorter trip, weaving through small canals. The afternoon is also the time when many birds, storks... return to the forest. Sitting in the sampan and going slowly will help visitors feel the most peaceful nature in the Melaleuca forest.
Return to Chau Doc city around 16:00.
In addition to the above itinerary, visitors can choose alternative destinations such as: Chau Phong Cham Village along Hau River, Chau Phong Mosque, weaving workshop, Hang Pagoda (Phuoc Dien Tu).
Linh Huong
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