Coming to An Giang during flood season, my heart feels like it's filled with joy.

It would be a shame to miss these breathtaking roads and fields lined with majestic, vibrant palm trees.

The row of palm trees by the field near my homestay - Photo: NGUYET PHAM

When mentioning An Giang, people immediately think of Chau Doc, famous for its spiritual tourism , and the Ba Chua Xu Temple, known throughout the country. But An Giang has much more to offer. I've visited An Giang several times, and each time it has given me beautiful and unique feelings. Returning this time during the flood season, An Giang holds a different kind of beauty for me. Driving along the road, I gazed at the rice fields on both sides, all covered in water. On the banks of the fields were fruit trees, or sometimes trees planted by the locals for shade during their lunch breaks while working in the fields... All the trees stood in the water, reflecting themselves in the water's surface, creating a melancholic scene.

The Mekong Delta is the perfect travel season for travel enthusiasts.

People in the Mekong Delta always find joy in the floodwaters. They paddle boats to cast nets and catch fish, pick water lilies, water hyacinths, and other wildflowers – specialties of the flood season. In the afternoon, couples bring their children, along with life jackets, and friends, neighbors, and students flock to a gathering point to bathe in the flooded fields. Native Mekong Delta residents say the flood season coincides with the rainy season, which runs from May to October in the lunar calendar. However, tourists often head to the Mekong Delta provinces, especially An Giang, from the end of September to the end of November. This is the most beautiful time of the flood season. Fish and shrimp are abundant and delicious; there's plenty of snakehead fish and wildflowers to enjoy. The weather is also pleasant; although it's the rainy season, the rain stops quickly and usually starts in the afternoon and evening. This time, we chose to visit the Tri Ton - Tan Chau route to admire the beautiful scenery and have the opportunity to experience Khmer culture. In Tan Chau, we chose to stay at Mai La Farm, where we had Linh, a non-professional tour guide who was surprisingly knowledgeable about the culture, people, architecture, cuisine , and scenic beauty of An Giang. He also designed the tour and guided us during our stay in An Giang.

Ms. Rofiah, a skilled baker of Vietnamese steamed rice cakes - Photo: NGUYET PHAM

About 1km from Mai La Farm, at the foot of Chau Phong bridge, is Rofiah's grilled rice cake stall. She is a famous Cham rice cake artisan who has participated in folk cake festivals. In the morning, she sets out her pre-mixed batter along with a charcoal stove, pan, and clay pot lids. In the mornings, the Cham people in the area often eat grilled rice cakes for breakfast, so she quickly makes the cakes and tends the charcoal, but sometimes customers still have to wait. Despite being busy, Rofiah always smiles and chats very openly. If you want to try making the cakes yourself, don't hesitate to ask; she'll show you how.

Wooden houses, ancient temples, and mosques.

The grounds of Krang Kroch Pagoda in An Giang - Photo: NGUYET PHAM

Around this area, there are many beautiful old Cham wooden houses. There is also a mosque. Spending part of the morning wandering around here is quite pleasant. Near noon, we headed towards Tri Ton and came across a large field dotted with tall palm trees. In An Hoa hamlet, Chau Lang commune, on road 955B, we found Krang Kroch Pagoda (locally known as Hang Cong Pagoda). This place is particularly impressive because the path leading to the pagoda is lined with two rows of ancient banyan trees, planted in 1965. Since then, whenever a tree gets old and decaying, the locals cut it down and replace it with a young one. The ancient banyan trees and the pagoda have become a destination for many tourists who enjoy exploring and discovering . Visiting at noon, walking under the shady banyan trees, with the breeze from the fields blowing, made me feel like I had wandered into a fairytale garden. Krang is a Theravada Buddhist temple. The main hall is painted a vibrant pink, complemented by gold-painted decorative reliefs. To the left is a large pond, and behind it is the living and meditation area for the monks. The temple grounds are quiet, tidy, and full of greenery. The temple gates are always open for people to freely enter and exit, and the main hall's doors are always slightly ajar.

Ancient banyan trees at Krang Kroch Pagoda - Photo: NGUYET PHAM

Grilled chicken, a local specialty, is served by O Thum Lake.

Grilled chicken enjoyed by O Thum Lake is truly wonderful - Photo: NGUYET PHAM

Leaving the temple, it was already lunchtime, so we continued for about 25km to reach O Thum Lake to enjoy grilled chicken. The secret to this dish lies in the free-range chicken, marinated with spices and betel leaves. When grilled, the skin is crispy, the meat is juicy and flavorful, with a sweet, tender, and slightly chewy texture. Grilled chicken dipped in sweet and sour green chili sauce and served with a simple cabbage salad is incredibly delicious. My friend in the group exclaimed, "I've never eaten chicken this good in my life!" It was definitely worth the trip. Around O Thum Lake, there are many restaurants selling grilled chicken with similar quality. You should choose restaurants with a lake view for a spacious seating area and a wide view.

My heart rejoices by the Ta Pa rice fields.

Rows of trees by the Ta Pa rice fields - Photo: NGUYET PHAM

In the afternoon, we had planned to go up the mountain to watch the sunset over the Ta Pa rice fields. However, due to rain and fog, we changed our plans and drove towards the Ta Pa rice fields, through the fields themselves. The road to Ta Pa rice fields wasn't far, and there was little traffic. Both sides of the road were lined with trees. At one point, driving through the fields, I felt like I'd wandered into a strange land, with low mountains on one side and rice fields and endless rows of palm trees stretching as far as the eye could see on the other. Standing before this scene, I couldn't believe I was in Vietnam. Right there, there was a small, rather unique homestay called Th'not Homestay - Khmer Food. Following Linh's directions along a winding road, we arrived at the Ta Pa rice fields. I had already seen photos of the fields from above, but as the car glided along the small road, with the young green rice plants on both sides, my heart swelled with joy at this peaceful scene. Interestingly, besides rice, this field is dotted with many tall trees growing wild or planted along the edges for shade. The main trees are mango and rosewood. The trees are tall, but their branches are low and wide. The road through the fields is quite narrow, only wide enough for one car, but it's very beautiful, winding and curving. Sitting in the car, driving slowly, with the windows open to let in the breeze from the fields, it feels like drifting through a dream. After the small road across the Ta Pa fields, we reached the main road and headed towards the center of Chau Doc for dinner, a rickshaw ride, and some palm juice before Chau Doc market, ending a day filled with many emotions in this incredibly captivating land of An Giang.

The Tien River during the flood season - Photo: NGUYET PHAM

A guide for your trip to An Giang.

- Th'not Homestay: Stay for 79,000 VND/night with no check-in or check-out time restrictions. A 5-course Khmer dinner costs 150,000 VND/person. The homestay offers tour design services around the area. - Ga O Thum: The area around O Thum Lake has many restaurants; a consistently good one with a lake view is Ga Ngot Thao Nguyen. Recommended dishes include: grilled chicken, mixed vegetables, papaya salad. A large chicken (2-3kg) costs 350,000 VND. - Local Souvenirs: Along the road to Tri Ton, locals sell palm sugar, mangoes, rattan, wild grapes, bamboo shoots, and various wild fruits. You can buy them as souvenirs. - Mai La Farm: Offers accommodation, tour design, and guidance tailored to customer needs. The owner is knowledgeable, friendly, enthusiastic, and a good cook. However, tourism is just a hobby for him, not his main job. You should contact them about two weeks in advance. - Palm chopsticks: In An Giang, besides buying various types of fish sauce, you should buy palm chopsticks at tourist spots or Chau Doc market, priced at around 60,000 VND per dozen.

Tuoitre.vn

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ve-an-giang-mua-nuoc-noi-long-nhu-muon-reo-vui-20241028094859458.htm