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An Giang, one of the most well-known provinces in the Mekong River Delta, is an ideal tourist destination in southern Vietnam. Not only famous for its river system, the area wins travellers' hearts for its idyllic beauty, cultural diversity and colourful ethnic peoples. With a border of more than 100km with Cambodia, it is a must-see stop for those who want to visit both countries. What to see and do in An Giang, specifically Long Xuyen district and Chau Doc district? Let's take a look together in this article.
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Things to do in Chau Doc
1. Ba Chua Xu temple - Xu Lady temple
Ba Chua Xu Temple at the foot of Sam Mountain is one of the most important relics in An Giang Province. It is the traditional worship belief of Vietnam - the worship of the Mother Goddesses. Located at the altitude of 300m above sea level, Ba Chua Xu temple is a suitable place to enjoy the fresh air and admire the scenic beauty of Chau Doc. The temple not only attracts visitors because of the beautiful scenery, but also has a very unique and eye-catching architecture.
Once arriving in the area, travellers can also immerse themselves in the sacred environment, listening to the legends and mysterious stories of the temple and especially of the famous statue of Ba Chua Xu.
2. Hang Pagoda
Also located in Sam Mountain, Hang Pagoda is a major religious attraction in the area. Always offering a fascinating panoramic view, the pagoda is also a place for all Buddhists.
3. Tay An Pagoda
Also located in the Sam Mountain complex, the ancient Tay An Pagoda is a symbol of the architectural interaction between Vietnam and India. With an area of 15,000 square metres, the pagoda impresses all tourists by its main facade with three round onion-shaped roofs, colourful but harmonious colours. The pagoda is also famous for thousands of the statues, most of them made of well-elaborated wood showing not only cultural values but also preserving the art of Vietnamese sculpture in the early 19th century
4. Chau Doc floating village
Located about 4km to the west of the city centre, Chau Doc Floating Village encompasses the typical cultural traits of the Mekong River area, but it is also a famous freshwater fish breeding place of An Giang Land. The houses in Chau Doc floating village have a very unique architecture with the wooden walls painted in bright colours, the roof of the house is covered by the like. The interior of the house is fully furnished with a kitchen, bedroom and living room like other normal houses. The bottom has a 5m deep wooden bottom, surrounded by a stainless steel net to create a fish farm.
5. Thoai Ngoc Hau Mausoleum
The mausoleum of Thoai Ngoc Hau, also known as Son Lang, is a rare intact architectural work typical of the Nguyen Dynasty left in the southern land, with many meanings both culturally and historically. This place always carries a quiet, dignified and respectful beauty. The mausoleum is both a mausoleum and a temple, in honour of Nguyen Van Thoai also known as Thoai Ngoc Hau, a mandarin of the Nguyen Dynasty to explore and deforest An Giang area, who was also the commander of the construction of the Vinh Te Canal.
6. Cham villages: Chau Giang and Chau Phong
Not far from Chau Doc city, Chau Giang and Chau Phong villages are residences of the Cham ethnic community in the Mekong Delta. Although they are located right in the territory of Vietnam, their own dialectical language is spoken here. Majority of the inhabitants in these villages practise Islam, which explains why An Giang is home to some of the most beautiful shrines of Islam in the country such as: Jamiul Azhar Mosque shrine, Mubarak shrine, Masjid Jamiul Azhar shrine.
Local people still maintain their traditional costumes very well, they dress so far the opinions, women wear abaya & hijab.
Things to do in Long Xuyen
7. Long Xuyen Floating Market
Located in a 2-km area from O Moi Pier on the Hau River near the centre of Long Xuyen, the Long Xuyen Floating Market is a must-see attraction when travelling to An Giang. This is a place where visitors can penetrate into the daily life of the locals. Normally, the market is open very early, from 05:00 AM until 08:00 AM so do not hesitate to get up early to fully enjoy the market at its most spectacular time at dawn, when the streaks of pink and white clouds entwined on the sky and see the lively scenery of buying and selling on the river. So far, the market still retains typical traits of the traditional Mekong Delta floating market with advertising poles, friendly and trustworthy people, and restaurants on boats selling local dishes to be enjoyed right on the boat.
8. Cu Lao Ong Ho - Mr. Tiger Island
Cu Lao Ong Ho Island, the old name is My Hoa Hung, is really a verdant oasis on the Hau River. With the favourable climate, nature endows this area with beautiful rice paddies, lush trees, a quiet and peaceful environment. Discovering the island you can explore the fish farmers' villages, floating restaurants, braided canals, fruit laden orchards, the memorial area of President Ton Duc Thang, the Ong Ho pagoda, the remaining villages of blacksmiths, carpenters, weaving mats... It is a perfect place to experience the real life of the people in the Mekong Delta.
Other interesting attractions in An Giang
9. Oc Eo Relic
Oc Eo is the name proposed by French archaeologist Louis Malleret for a site in Thoai Son district, located in the south of An Giang province in the Mekong Delta. At first, the name Oc Eo originally referred to a certain rectangular area, but later Malleret referred to the whole area. According to L. Malleret, the Oc Eo culture is mainly distributed in the low-lying areas west of the Hau River, including the provinces of An Giang, Kien Giang, Dong Thap, Can Tho, Bac Lieu... and part of southeastern Cambodia.
This Oc Eo site is a large site of ancient relics associated with the vestiges of the Funan kingdom, a powerful country in Southeast Asia about two thousand years ago. Therefore, this site not only welcomes tourists but also many collectors and archaeologists.
10. Tra Su Melaleuca Forest
This is one of the largest and most beautiful Melaleuca forests in Vietnam. It is really an interesting experience to take a boat ride through the vegetation-covered forest, immersing yourself in a totally green environment. A 2-hour boat ride will take you into absolutely fresh and wild nature. The Tra Su melaleuca forest is a must-see when visiting An Giang.
Important notes when leaving for An Giang
Best time to visit An Giang?
From December to May, An Giang is in the dry season with blue skies and very little rain. This is the ideal time to do outdoor outings such as cycling or a Xe Loi ride.
From May until October, it is the rainy season in An Giang but since it is the time of fruit picking, there is plenty of opportunity to enjoy the good tropical fruits picked right in the place. Since it is the rainy season, it is necessary to bring umbrellas and appropriate clothing.
However, if you wish to see the carpet of green water lentils in the Tra Su melaleuca forest during the flood season, you should go in October and November. From late November to early December, you can admire the lovely paddy fields.
In addition, there are two major festivals in the area in April and August of the lunar calendar, including the Ba Chua Xu festival on Sam Mountain (April 23-27 of the lunar calendar) and the Bull-running festival at the end of August.
Some suggestions for a trip to An Giang, Mekong Delta
For a trip to the Mekong Delta including An Giang province, we can make it in at least 3 days, with departure and arrival from/to Ho Chi Minh city:
- Day 01: Ho Chi Minh city - Ben Tre- Long Xuyen
- Day 02: Long Xuyen - Chau Doc
- Day 03: Chau Doc - Ho Chi Minh city
Besides, you can also go to other destinations without returning to Sai Gon. It could be Phu Quoc Island to spend a few leisure days by the beach:
- Day 01: Ho Chi Minh city - Ben Tre- Long Xuyen
- Day 02: Long Xuyen - Chau Doc
- Day 03: Chau Doc - Ha Tien - Phu Quoc
See more: 10 Best Things to Do in Phu Quoc Island
Otherwise, you can continue the journey, entering Cambodia via river. Departing in the early morning, you will arrive in Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh in the early afternoon and devote the rest of the day to exploring this land.
- Day 01: Ho Chi Minh city - Ben Tre- Long Xuyen
- Day 02: Long Xuyen - Chau Doc
- Day 03: Chau Doc - speedboat to Phnom Penh
If you would like to get suggestions or know the price of these excursions, please send us your inquiry to email: sm@izitour.com.
I hope that with these things to see and do in An Giang, you can get lots of ideas for your trip to the area. Not only beautiful as an area, An Giang is also a must-see for those who are looking for an off-the-beaten-path journey with the ease of reaching famous attractions in Indochina.
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