Travel Vietnam By Our Trips

Tien Giang

2012-03-08T11:40:00.001+07:00

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

2012-03-08T11:39:00.002+07:00

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

2012-03-08T11:39:00.001+07:00

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

2012-03-08T11:39:00.000+07:00

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

2012-03-08T11:38:00.002+07:00

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

2012-03-08T11:38:00.000+07:00

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

2012-03-08T11:37:00.000+07:00

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.
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.
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

2012-03-08T11:36:00.000+07:00

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

2012-03-08T11:35:00.000+07:00

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

2012-03-08T11:34:00.001+07:00

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

2012-03-08T11:34:00.000+07:00

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

2012-03-07T18:41:00.003+07:00

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

2012-03-07T14:23:00.003+07:00

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

2012-02-25T21:37:00.002+07:00

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)

Where the trees wearing number places

2012-02-25T14:51:00.000+07:00

Entering inner Tra Vinh town, the asphalted streets feature tiled sidewalks in the shape of squares and chessboards. They are lined with straight centuries-old trees. Though each street is given its specific name, the local people tend to name it after a tree species planted along pavements such as Hang Sao street, Hang Me street, Cay Dau Lon street… The town is home to 29 species of flora with millions of trees. Especially, there remain hundreds of sao (hopea odorata), dau (dipterocarpus alatus roxb), me (tamarind) trees of 80 to 100 years old.

It is not by nature that Tra Vinh has preserved such a vast number of perennial plants for hundreds of years. With ethnic Khmer people constituting two third of the population, most Tra Vinh residents are Buddhists. The town is circled by 141 Khmer pagodas, creating an ancient Khmer architectural belt. Leaning against the shadow of tower shaped pagodas is a looming forest that makes the manner of pagodas more ancient. The connection of pagodas and trees has deeply rooted in the people’s hearts and handed down through the generations. That has helped to create the habit of preserving, tending a cultivating plants as nowadays.

Since the 17th century, the pagodas have come into being here. They are located on the high and dry grounds which are airy. Local Buddhists worship three patrons of tree, water and flame. Especially, the places where locate numerous trees are believed to house several of deities. They digger wells around their neighborhood for watering the trees, by the way for the whole village to access drinking water. They have gradually made a habit of growing shady trees along the paths leading to their villages.

On the road to Luong Hoa commune on the outskirts of the town, remains the unique dau tree (dipterocarpus alatus roxb). The tree is so large that four persons putting their arms cannot embrace it. Its trunk is rough while its spiral grain projects in an oddly uneven way. The canopy of leaves stretches out like an umbrella shading a whole large area. It is locally called Dau Du tree. From 1998, the perennial trees have worn their own number plates which help the locals get to know their condition and inform the local tree management company when necessary. The company’s tree chart includes a system to keep track of the condition of each tree. The company also sets up a mail box and a hot line to get informed of tree conditions.

The present average density of trees in Tra Vinh town is 14.27m2 per capita, the highest among the Mekong Delta’s towns and cities.

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

Don Ca Tai Tu (Amateur Music Performance)

2012-02-25T12:35:00.000+07:00

Don Ca Tai Tu (Amateur Music performance), a genre of art is offered as a welcoming gift for most travelers to the Mekong Delta. Don ca tai tu came into being in the late 19th century and early 20th century in the South of Vietnam. Composers and royal musicians of the Nguyen dynasty as following phong trao Can Vuong (Royalist Movement) into the South brought Ca Hue (Hue traditional singing) on them. On their southward way, they stopped at Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Quang Nam provinces, from that time on, Hue’s singing and sound of musical instruments had mingled with some flavour of the Quang land. However, as soon as getting into the south, the sound of musical instruments of the central region had been undergone considerable alteration, even several songs of similar names quite differed in melody. The southerners’ liberal disposition and way of life have made Hue traditional songs non-identical to their former original ones.

Musical instrument players and singers both did not want to follow what they were taught by Hue – originated composers but always made some embellishment, adding a bit of their own creativeness, making the songs more charming and meaningful. On the other hand, for composers always longed for their homeland, the tunes and singing of don ca tai tu all sound vaguely blue.

The fact that who invented the southern amateur music performance remains controversial. However, several studies have traced back to royal musician Nguyen Quang Dai (also known as Da Doi in the south) who was considered as the grandfather boasting a number of disciples well-known in this form of art. Then in the year of 1919, the song titled “Da Co Hoai Lang” (awaiting one’s husband) is seen as the precursor of modern Vong co (a song or more appropriately a cycle of patterns, performed in cai luong (renovated theater). It is the key among 20 original pieces of amateur music performance composed by talented musician Cao Van Lau in his home province of Bac Lieu (1919). These traditional songs have spread over the south and now become popular throughout the country which promoted don ca tai tu to a higher level. By the most flourishing time, amid the people’s increasing demand for art enjoyment, the southern don ca tai tu is seen as the groundwork for creating a new art genre that had been quickly taken shape and won the hearts of the folks in the south in specific and over the country in general. That is the theatrical art form called cai luong (reformed drama). Other genres of art normally tend to fade or to be splited into different forms after they reach their peak and especially there is a substitute. Meanwhile, the southern don ca tai tu is quite different. It has deliberately existed along the development of cai luong. Moreover, don ca tai tu itself has undergone incessant development and helped to enrich the theatrical art form of cai luong as well.

It is just its high adaptability as well as such a both scholarly and popular nature that make don ca tai tu always present in the southerners’ life and in non-stop development. The fact that Can Tho university has received a vast number of American and European students who came to learn the southern don ca tai tu and vong co proves the attraction of this musical genre.

Once come here, please stay here! The following are excerpts of the two well-known songs of don ca tai tu.

Dạ cổ hoài lang (tiền thân của vọng cổ ngày nay) – sáng tác: Cao Văn Lầu:

Từ là từ phu tướng,

Bảo kiếm sắc phong lên đàng.

Vào ra luống trông tin chàng.

Năm canh mơ màng.

Em luống trông tin chàng,

Ôi gan vàng quặn đau.

Đường dù xa ong bướm,

Xin đó đừng phụ nghĩa tào khang.

Đêm luống trông tin chàng,

Ngày mỏi mòn như đá Vọng phu.

Vọng phu vọng luống trông tin chàng.

Sao nỡ phũ phàng…

Chàng là chàng có hay?

Đêm thiếp nằm luống những sầu tây.

Bao thuở đó đây sum vầy,

Duyên sắc cầm lạt phai.

Là nguyện cho chàng

Hai chữ an bình an.

Mau trở lại gia đàng,

Cho én nhạn hiệp đôi.

Tình anh bán chiếu – sáng tác: Cố soạn giả Viễn Châu

Hò ơ… chiếu Cà Mau nhuộm màu tươi thắm

Công tôi cực lắm mưa nắng dãi dầu

Chiếu này tôi chẳng bán đâu

Tìm cô không gặp

Hò ơ… tìm cô không gặp, tôi gối đầu mỗi đêm

Vọng cổ

1. Ghe chiếu Cà Mau đã cắm sào bên bờ kinh Ngã Bảy, sao cô gái năm xưa chẳng thấy ra… chào. Cửa vườn cô đã khóa kín tự hôm nào. Tôi vác đôi chiếu bông từ dưới ghe lên xóm rẫy, chiếc sáo nhuộm bùn đã lấm tấm giọt mồ hôi. Nhà của cô sau trước – vắng tanh trong gió lạnh buổi chiều đông, bỗng có ai dạo lên tiếng nguyệt cầm như gieo vào lòng tôi một nỗi buồn thê thảm.

2. Cô đã đặt đôi chiếu bông bề dài hai thước, có lẽ để điểm tô ở chốn loan phòng. Nhưng rồi hôm nay, cô đã quên tôi để cất bước theo chồng. Cô ơi! Đôi chiếu này tự tay tôi dệt lấy, tôi đã lựa từng cọng lác sợi gai. Nhưng khi tôi đến nơi thì cô đã rời bỏ quê nhà sang xứ khác, tôi đứng trước cổng vườn xưa với nỗi buồn man mác, còn đôi chiếu này tôi biết tặng cho ai?

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

Discover The Islet's Land

2012-02-25T01:11:00.000+07:00

Ben Tre is made up of three islets: Minh, Bao, An Hoa which are separated by four branches of Tien river (My Tho river, Ba Lai river, Ham Luong river and Co Chien river). As a product of Ben Tre Travel Joint Stock Co., the Mekong tour allows tourists to discover the beauty of rivers, canals and lush orchards on An Hoa islet. Joining this tour, visitors gather in Phong Phu tourist site located 14km north of Ben Tre town. After getting ashore from a Rach Mieu ferry, make a right turn and go for some 300m, one will see Phong Phu.

Boarding the motor boat, go along Mieu Nho canal about 100m, one will catch sight of vast Tien river. Across the river is My Tho city (Tien Giang province). The boat quietly breaks waves on the river, east bound for Quoi An – a tourist site lying in the longan orchard of An Hoa islet. All houses here are roofed with nipa palm leaves while their walls, doors, windows, ridge beams, purlins, battens, and even rain gutters are all make out of coconut wood.

This house displays many alien coconut species, tools for harvesting coconut fruits and around 200 products made of coconut wood. Next to it is the house of hand embroidery, covering 120m2 too, which is built in the shape of J (ding, 4th heavenly stem) character and included the main and secondary compartments. It was known that making this house required up to twenty over 30-year-old coconut trees with straight, smooth trunks and 12 meters in height of which 8 meters of their stumps were used for not being termite or worm-eaten. This house is mainly used for presenting Ben Tre’s hand embroidery products and selling coconut made handicrafts.

Walking on the gravel path through the luxuriant orchard for about 150m, visitors set foot on the village path where 13 carriages are available. This kind of vehicle with plastic wheels was formerly used as a means to transport local agricultural products to the town market for sale. Today, they have been transformed in to “tourist vehicles” which are favorites of both domestic and foreign travelers. Such a ride costs 20,000 VND.

Ben Truc tourist site, which is also located on An Hoa islet, has a band of amateur singers available performing several genres of southern traditional music for visitors. Under thatched camps, the sweet singing (of the amateur performers) penetrating into the hearts plus the sweet smelling of baby bananas, rambutans, green dragon fruits, pineapples with a cup of steaming hot honey tea make visitors feel more relaxed, almost carefree. Ben Truc also has twenty hand-rowing sampans which each is capable to carry 4-5 passengers. Both home and international tourists find it pleased to be served by a pretty girl rowing the sampan in ao ba ba (southern women’s traditional shirt that is long-sleeved, button-down, split at the sides of the waist forming two flaps and has two pockets at the very bottom of the front) with non la (palm-leaf conical hat) on the head. The boat cleaves through the water, making its way between two lines of verdant nipa palms showing off their brown globular seed clusters. The boat fee is 1,500 VND per person for groups and 3,000 VND for a single visitor.

Tourists board back to Hao Ai restaurant. As coming near it, one will feel a bit puckish because of mouthwatering cooking aroma. As sitting at the table, on is served with ca tai tuong chien xu (giant gouramy deep-fried over high heat) with rice papers and green fresh vegetables, lau ca hu (mixed vegetables and pangasius conchophilus – a kind of catfish – hot pot), ca hu kho to (pangasius conchophilus braised in earthenware pot). These specialties are so tooth some that one may feel bewitched! After the meal, if you wish, you can rent a bicycle for a ride on the stone path under the shady trees.

The restaurant has 30 mountain bikes for rent with 1 USD per ride. You can ride anywhere you like till the time to leave back.

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

Southern Cuisine - Rooting Taste

2012-02-05T11:02:00.001+07:00

Exhaustedly nostalgic one may feel. It turns out that under the gorgeous cover of cuisine culture is the core of the Vietnamese’s affection and moral principles. The Southern food is special in the way it is made that bears its own nuance and distinctively sweet flavour from the smell of vast countryside soil, the sweetness of impetuous rivers and canals during flood seasons, the immense Southwestern nautical wind, and the somber solemnity of layers after layers of prime forests and mountainous areas. That is the initial “row material”, reserving only for this delta where becomes “dat lanh chim dau” (good land for birds to perch) with favorable weather and more and more prosperous as a saying: “Ruong dong mac suc chim bay/ Bien ho lai lang ma bay ca dua” (Paddy fields boundless for birds to fly/ Rivers and lakes profuse for flocks of fish to race). Therefore, one cannot fine “Cho Dao rice”; the salted fish hot pot in “magnificent Ha Noi” even made by a An Giang chef may not surpass “the original” in the Southern land…

Bánh khoai mì

It is remarked that the Southern land’s cuisine is likened to a countryside girl that is naturally beautiful despite not wearing her make-up. Once talking about the dish of ca ro kho tieu (anabas braised with fish sauce and black pepper), Son Nam, the famed culturist, described like this: “Anabas is the king of freshwater fish, fish sauce is the cream of the ocean, sprinkling with a little black pepper is to take mountainous flavours…” Just as a popular dish but it collects all the nature’s flavours and represents the culture of a country. On this southernmost land, people have made the best of the nature for creating unique specialties at will in order to express the manner and hallmark of those once reclaiming the region – that is pioneering, carefree, not finical and nor standing on ceremony in disposition.

Banh u

Cá kho tộ

The fine cuisine of the Southern land (and Vietnam) implies the profound cultural strength which links not only space and time, tradition and modernity but human spirit and thought as well. In the framework of the program “Mekong River: Connecting cultures” organized in Washington D.C (USA) in 2007 by Smithsonian Institute, Artisan Nguyen Thi Xiem (67, from Tra Noc ward, Binh Thuy district – Can Tho) demonstrated the skill of making banh xeo (rice pancake folded in half filled with shrimp, meat and bean sprouts), banh tet (cylindrical sticky rice cake filled with green bean paste and fat pork), banh it tran (sticky rice patty)… which received great acclaim. Many audiences invited her to their houses, offered gifts… Not to mention the tastiness of the cakes she made, the fact she selected on her own the rice for grinding into flour, finding banana leaves for fastening cakes aroused the faded memory of Vietnamese overseas and revived their national love. Enjoying her cakes all of a sudden recalled them to the images of river and wharf in their childhood, their dedicated mother being wrapped up in cooking banh tet on the days approaching the lunar New Year, the fragrant smoke of burning rice straw spreading at sunset, the homeland flavour featuring cau khi (monkey bridge – a bridge make from a single tree trunk), pond unwavering, bunches of sweet carambola and storks gently gliding…

Bánh ít trần

“Love towards the country is the longing and craving for the dishes fed by our parents when we were young”. As the time goes by, those plain foods and charming flavours sill imprint on their mind despite how far they may go. And strange as it is, the further one goes, the more anxiously.

Goi tep

Bánh chuối nướng

The program “Fine cuisine of South reclamation” has given rise to the trend towards origin cuisine of the former reclamation period amid the Vietnam integration into the world. Plain dishes such as ca loc nuong trui (grilled-straw snakehead fish), ran nuong leo (snake baked on the fire), mam kho (cooked salted fish), mam song (raw salted fish), chuot dong ro ti (roasted field mouse in coconut juice), luon hap trai bau (eel steamed with gourd), ech xao lan (frogs stir-fried with little or no water), ca ro kho to (anabas braised in earthenware pot), ca bong dua kho tieu (sand goby simmered in fish sauce with black pepper), canh chua ca loc (snake-head fish sour soup), hu tieu My Tho (My Tho – style thin rice noodle), tom lui Bac Lieu (Bac Lieu – style roasted shrimp sticks), nam tram Phu Quoc (Phu Quoc cajuput mushrooms)… still rise to fame as specialties which win the heart of diners right in prosperous urban areas. They also choose to enjoy those dishes in the most popular way possible. As for broiling, there are so many various ways: broil under burning charcoal, broil with a stick, plain broil, broil in jar, broil with straw, broil with clay cover, broil in bamboo tube…

Gỏi cá trê vàng

Bánh tét Trà Cuôn

For Chau Doc – style salted fish hot pot, it is fashionable for diners to consume with two dozens of rural herbs and vegetables like cu neo, tai tuong, cang cua, so dua flower, dien dien flower… The “Ca com de nhat name” (number one anchovy fermented roll) is typical for the delicacy of countryside dished. Fresh anchovy is washed off scales, and then soaked in salty water until their bodies are spliced. After taken out of the water, the fish is boned before steeped in fresh coconut juice for some time. Again get the fish out to dry and filter through a very thin cloth, squeeze dry then pounding them well with broiled garlic and many different spices (salt, sugar, fat, ground black pepper, galingale extract and powdered grilled rice…). After being rolled into galls, they are first wrapped in young leaves of chum ruot (a kind of fruit tree), then vong nem leaves and finally banana leaves, and stringed in the cruciform… The fine cuisine of Southern Vietnam is filled with the world of rural produce rich in materials, colors in harmony with the breath of expansive gardens and long rivers.

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

Mekong Delta

2012-02-05T11:02:00.000+07:00

Mekong delta map

Situated in the lower section of the legendary Mekong River, the Mekong Delta (known as the Nine Dragon River Delta in Vietnam), Southern of Vietnam, covers 40,000 square kilometers and houses 17.5 million people. Embracing 13 provinces and cities, the Mekong Delta borders HCM City in the north, and the Gulf of Thailand and Cambodia in the west. The East, South and Southwest are encompassed by sea with a length of more than 700km.

Can Tho bridge is under construction

Floating market

The Mekong Delta has distinct advantages over other regions in Vietnam. That is mild weather (average 28 degrees Celsius), high sunshine intensity (2,226 – 2,709 hours of sunlight per year) and less vulnerability to natural disasters. The Mekong Delta currently is the colossal granary of all Vietnam, annually accounting for over 50% of the nation’s rice production, 90% rice export, 65% seafood production and 70% fruit production, making it one of the three largest economic areas of Vietnam.

Originating in snow-capped mountains of the Tibetan Plateau, the 4,200 km-long Mekong River has two tributaries running through the Southern plains which are called Tien River and Hau River. The lower Mekong River region belonging to Vietnam has more than 1,200 species of fish, including over 60 species with economic value focusing on the carp family (Cyprinidae) and the giant catfish family (Pangasiidae), with an estimated output of 2 million tons/year. The Mekong River annually discharges into the region over 460 billion cubic meters of water, carrying some 150 – 200 million tons of silt which are 7 – 8 times than that of Hong River in the North. That makes this delta more fertile and affluent.

The Mekong Delta is famous for its boundless rivers and interlacing canals. Over 700 km of seashores, some 28,000 km of rivers, thousands of km of canals, hundreds of green islets floating on the water and nine estuaries like nine mouths of the dragon keeping on impetuously pouring water into the sea make it convenient for rowboat-combined-with-pleasure boat tours penetrating deep to the canals system…

Floating market (namely Nga Bay, Phung Hiep – Hau Giang, Cai Rang, Phong Dien – Can Tho, Cai Be – Tien Giang…) that have come into being for a hundred years are regarded as “the spiritual element”, the advancement of the Southern river civilization. A lively atmosphere is created by convoys of boats fully loaded with countryside products gathering in one locality, thousands of “bẹo” (a long bamboo pole set up on the boat used to hang up samples of what it sells) dangled high above the boat bow, inviting fellow traders even before the sun has emerged. Both buyers and sellers move by boat in the middle of the immense river. That countryside life picture is so specific to the South of Vietnam. There is even a “boat culture” diversified with sampans, wooden barges, junks and many kinds of fishing boats in different sizes and shapes.

The Mekong River Delta becomes more pristine, natural and lively at the arrival of flood season. The first spell of the flood occurs around June to July, the crest of flood comes in September or October but flood waters gradually rise. The flood season arrives. Stretching as far as the eye can see, submerged rice paddies look dazzling white against brilliant yellow of blossoming “điên điển” flowers. From the distance appear fishmen on small boats placidly dropping their lines, casting their nets…

The Mekong River Delta’s countryside and its horticulture methods have been evidenced by more than 2.000 rice species. Over 130 year ago, Go Cong round grain rice or Vinh Long long grain had represented Vietnam’s rices to become the first one exported to the West. Cai Mon, Cho Lach situated in the three large islands called An, Bao, Minh of Ben Tre province have been noted for fruit – tree grafting. Bonsai gardens and especially fantastic ornamental plants grown in the shape of animal designations associated with lunar years like rat, ox, tiger, dragon… are regarded as one of the special creations of the delta’s countryside. The artists develop their own grafting and shaping techniques which are distinguished from those of the Chinese, the Midland or the North.

The Mekong Delta boats the land of biodiversity and rich produce. Taking a boat ride throughout the 700,000-ha Dong Thap Muoi, one will discover the wildly inundated low-lying area or explore Ca Mau mangrove forests which ecological system is similar to that of the Amazon estuary, and extensive U Minh cajeput forest. Being “Dat lanh chim dau” (good earth, bird land), the Mekong Delta is home to a great number of bird species, particularly migrating ones. 7 large breeding sanctuaries of herons, striped storks, egrets and bitterns have been discovered. Phuong Dong red-beaked cranes get together in Tam Nong – Dong Thap. Tram Chim Reserve has 92 known species of birds while U Minh forest is home to 81 species and dozens of bird sanctuaries where thousands of birds glide through a blue sky as the sunset comes.

Ba Dong Sea (Tra Vinh), Khai Long Sea (Ca Mau)… which boast magnificient natural beauty are flooded with sunlight all year round. Ha Tien sea, especially Phu Quoc (Kien Giang), the Vietnam’s largest island sited in the Gulf of Thailand are a special favour which the Creator specifically dedicates for the heavily silted Mekong delta.

The Mekong Delta is a place of converging and exchanging cultures of 4 ethnic groups: Viet, Khmer, Chinese and Cham, taking the place of the vanished Oc Eo culture as well as bearing the hallmark of the ancient Kingdom of Funan (Phu Nam in Vietnamese) which was once celebrated. Therefore, it is fascinating to arrange culture, custom, belief exploring tours. The life of local people is not confined to their village’s bamboo hedges but a wide open space, stretching along rivers and canals. That helps create their nature which is honest, open-minded, moral, hospitable, “tu hai giai huynh de” (within the four seas all men are brothers).

Vong co (a special style of singing using the whole breath without any break), cai luong (reformed drama) are unique traditional art forms which are so specific and only exist in the South of Vietnam. Despite over 80 years passed, the song entitled “Da co hoai lang” (yearning for one’s husband upon hearing midnight drumbeats) still win the audience’s heart because of its noble humane nature: “Tu la tu phu tuong/ Bao kiem sac phong len dang/ Vao ra luong trong tin chang/ Nam canh mo mang/ Em luong trong tin chang/ Oi gan vang quan dau” (Ever since you received the call/ Took on your duty in war/ I keep walking back and forth, awaiting your news/ Staying awake throughout the night/ I have been longed for your news/ How painfully my heart throbs).

A long with ancient Vietnamese communal houses are Chinese temples and pagodas. The magnificent Islamic mosque (known as Mubarak mosque) for the Cham minority community with its graceful onion-shaped dome stands reposefully along the Chau Giang River. The theravada-Khmer pagoda roofs are colorfully striking and sharp-pointed curved with images of the Krud Garuda mythical bird and the Naga snake engraved in a highly sophisticated way. Con Phung (Phoenix islet) in Ben Tre is the “holy land” of Dao Dua (Coconuts) featuring a court decorated with 9 dragon-carved pillars and a tower; Tay An ancient pagoda situated in the mysterious That Son mountain range (An Giang) is a worship place of the founder of Buu Son Ky Huong religion… Noted among hundreds of ancient houses standing along the Mekong is a 130-year-old house with five compartments and two rooves in Binh Thuy (Can Tho).

The Mekong Delta is the land of festival as well. Thanh Minh (grave-sweeping) festival, in which people pays respects at their ancestors’ tombs, entices both the Vietnamese and Chinese. Cham people are proud of Hadji Festival, Ramadan. The Khmer community is jubilant with fine-toned music during festivals of Chol Chnam Thmay (New year), Dolta (Amnesty for the dead), Ok Om bok (Moon Prayer). There are also Via Ba Chua Xu (the birth anniversary of the local tutelary goddess) festival, Bay Nui (seven mountains) ox racing festival (An Giang), Nghi Ong (welcoming the whale) festival in coastal areas… The ancestors’ cultural identity has been preserved by hundreds of craft villages. An Giang has the brocade weaving village of Cham and Khmer people, the 100-year-old floating house village. Phu Quoc is most celebrated with nuoc mam (fish sauce) made with anchovies, peppers. Soc Trang boasts its mat craft. Go Den – Long An alcohol made with sticky rice has been renowned nationwide. There are also rice papers of Luong Hoa (Tra Vinh), the boat building village of Nga Bay (Hau Giang), the fishing net hamlet of Thom Rom, the bamboo fish trap of Thoi Long (Can Tho)…

It was used to be a famous place

Lau mam (salted fish hot pot) of Chau Doc, the fascinating delicacy of the Southern land, cannot be called excellent if not accompanied by two dozens of several fresh vegetables and aromatic herbs like cu neo, tai tuong, cang cua, so dua flower, dien dien flower,… Thit kho nuoc dua (braised pork in coconut juice), can chua ca loc (snake head sour soup), ca loc nuong trui (grilled-straw snakehead fish), ran nuong leo (plain baked snake), mam kho (preserved salted fish stew), chuot dong ro ti (roasted field mouse in coconut juice), luon hap trai bau (eel steamed with gourd), ca ro kho to (anabas braised in bowl), ca bong dua kho tieu (sand goby simmered in pepper sauce), hu tieu My Tho (My Tho – styled noodle soup), tom lui Bac Lieu (Bac Lieu – styled shrimps roasted in stick), nam tram (boletus) Phu Quoc, Tunglomo (beef sausage blended with cold rice), Hapaychal pastry (Khmer people), canh Sim lo (banana flower soup cooked with fried salted fish), bun nuoc leo (rice noodle in snakehead fish, shrimp, pork, lemon grass broth), mam (salted fish) Prahoc (Khmer people)… and many other delicacies make the delta’s beauty more charming, pervasive, and unforgettable to tourists.

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

A Short Trip To Nha Trang

2011-12-20T17:20:00.000+07:00

A short trip to Nha Trang (will be detailed later) :)

A Champa temple

'Stone' church

Yang Bay tourist

Yang Bay waterfall

Nha Trang beach

Nha Trang gulf

Doc Let beach at Van Phong gulf

Telepheric to Vinperl Land

DaLat tour

2011-11-18T00:41:00.000+07:00

In Vietnam, Da Lat is one of popular tourist destinations. At 1,500m (4,900ft) on Langbiang Plateau - a part of Central Highlands - Da Lat has a year-round cool weather, its temperate weather stands in contrast to Vietnam’s otherwise tropical climate. Mist covering the valleys almost year-round leads to its name “City of eternal spring”. Other specific signs are: pine wood, twisting roads with marigold, flower industry, many kinds of jam (strawberry, mulberry, sweet potato, rose...).

Coming to Dalat, just booking a ticket from Phuong Trang bus company or Thanh Buoi, Mai Linh. We prefer Phuong Trang. The bus starts almost every hour. This current time (12/2011), it costs 180,000VND/ticket and it takes about 6,5hrs to get there.

Ready to start the trip

Dalat Palace hotel

Xuan Huong lake

Dalat city from telepheric station

Breakfast with hủ tiếu and a bottle of soya milk

Datanla waterfall

Taking tour along the hang up to return to the gate

Gather marigold flowers

Tuyen Lam lake

Da Tien resort. Food price is so expensive.

Thanh Thuy coffee shop

Dalat at night

Bánh canh 04 Nha Chung is not delicious as before

Playing card

Breakfast

Mist covering the valley

On the way to Langbiang moutain

Trekking Langbiang mountain

After 2hours trekking the long road, we are on the top of the mountain! It's so cool.

Dankia dam

Dalat students

Bánh bèo Mrs Hường

Vietnamese rice pot. It's expensive.

Bún Công is also not delicious as before

Walking relaxed along the road around Xuan Huong lake in the morning

In front of the Catholic office

Strawberry tree

Escape from crazy house yeah!!!

Put put yard (a mini golf yard)

Take picture with hot girl

Let's have a try

"Yes!!! I win!"

The only pix includes all members of the trip

2:00PM the bus starts to return to HCMC. Finish the long trip (3days 2nights) with joy, funny, eating a lot of food, exploring new roads and places at Dalat. See you in the next short trip: Nha Trang.

Some other trips:

How about your trip? You want to contribute it to us? Don't hesitate to contact us at: vntrips@vietnambytrips.com. Thank you!

Buon Ma Thuot tour - Part 2

2011-11-04T14:49:00.002+07:00

As plan, destination for the second day is Buon Don. About 40km far way from Buon Ma Thuot. Buon Don for long has been famous for domesticating wild elephants. Visiting Ban Don you'll learn a lot about their long tradition of taming wild elephants and legends of the elephant-training King. Adventurous enough, you can get a dug-out canoe and drift along the Serepok River to visit the 7-branched waterfalls. There's also an option of riding elephant through the beautiful wild of Yok Don National Park. Elephants typically carry three people, but for heavier Westerners two is usually the limit. Booking direct costs from 100,000 to 200,000d per hour.

Also as plan, we must start going to Buon Don early, about 6:00AM. That was plan. Practice was different! :) Getting a long journey to Lak lake, everyone got tired especially female members. While waiting for their, others took pictures or got to Sunrise shop to enjoy a cup of coffee.

Some pix of the hotel

Until 10:00AM, the journey started. Let's have breakfast in a small restaurant at Phan Boi Chau street. The meal is so delicious.

Ok, we were full, we were excited. Come on everyone! Let's go!

Coffee trees with flowers

Dry cassava in the sun

Pass over some villages along the road.

The first spot was 7-branched waterfall.

Listen to the guide in front of the long house

A small shop in long house

Using Rhade music instrument

Cơm lam

It was over 3PM, everyone were full, felt a little tired and decided not to come other spots in Buon Don. The team came back to BMT city and came to see a friend of team at her home instead of going to waterfalls because it was late.

Snake wine

Sea-horse wine

Getting full then came back to BMT city, walking along streets, came to the city square, Trung Nguyen coffee village.

Enjoy happy time together

That is the second day in BMT with joy, happiness although missing some nice places. No problems, the team feels good is the most important!

As plan, team would come to waterfalls at the early next morning. Again, plan was broken because the time to come back to HCMC was changed sooner to 9AM. Team had breakfast while waiting for the bus.

Getting into the bus, began the 9hour-journey to HCMC along the national road 14.

The bus received passengers time by time caused us unhappy beside that the bus stopped at the restaurant that got much money from this lunch. They will be our experiences next trips in the future.

Arrived at Mien Dong bus station at 6:30PM. Complete the trip to Buon Ma Thuot with knowing new places in our beautiful country, happiness, everyone gets together and... although missing some nice places. It seems the successful trip. Cheer!!! See you in the next trip: Da Lat.

P/S: The trip was not finished! Some days after the trips, there was many calls from the wounded motor-bike's owner. We wondered "Why does he call?", "What does he want?". Ah ah, "You forgot to return security card of the motor-bike! Please send it for me!" Ka ka ka ka, "Sorry, we forgot it. We will send it to you right now by express service." :)

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Buon Ma Thuot tour - Part 1

2011-10-29T23:09:00.000+07:00

BUÔN MA THUỘT or sometimes Buon Ma Thuat or Ban Mê Thuột, is the capital city of Dak Lak province - center of the Central Highlands of Vietnam. This is the largest city and unofficial administrative city in this region. It is famous as the regional "capital of coffee".

FACT AND FIGURES
Population: 340,000 people
Total area: 377,18 sq. km
Distance:
Buon Ma Thuot - Hanoi: 1,399km (national road 1A)
Buon Ma Thuot - Ho Chi Minh city: 350km (national road 14)
Buon Ma Thuot - Da Lat: 193km (national road 27)
Buon Ma Thuot - Nha Trang: 194km (national road 26)
Airport: Fly to Buon Ma Thuot by Vietnam Airlines from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh city (Flight info here).

Ban Me six way crossroads

The majority of the local inhabitants are the Rhade people, one of the several groups of ethnic minority on the Central Highlands. The peculiar trait of the city is that there are many town houses made of wood in the inner city while many other houses in the suburbs are those on stilt. The city is also surrounded by fruit gardens, rubber plantations, coffee gardens, and vegetables.

Lak lake

Dray Nur waterfall

DraySap waterfall

Dak Mil lake

This is our first trip to Buon Me Thuot city where we had never come to before so that we encountered some untruthful problems.

As plan, the time that was ok for us was on holiday: Dec 31 2009 - Jan 3 2010. It was out of tickets so that there were so many passengers had to wait for selling these from bus company hours by hours. Fortunately, we had enough tickets for all members from Rang Dong express. The problem was the driver arranged other passengers 2 our seats regardless of they were sold to us. After an argument, they had to arrange other seats for us. It was unacceptable and we will never use service from this company!
Finally, all members had their seats and the bus started. It took about 8hrs to finish the trip from 10:30PM on Dec 31 in Mien Dong bus station.

Arrived at Buon Ma Thuot city in the early morning, it was so cool, not as cold as DaLat. Taking a taxi to hotel to start a few days in the capital of coffee.

Hotel services are ok

After check in hotel, the first work was to enjoy coffee at the Sunrise coffee shop.

Sunrise coffee shop

Sunrise coffee: coffee with ice, milk and an atiso tea cup! So tasty!

The next works? Having receptionist hire 5 moto-bikes 120k VND/day, having breakfast, booking return tickets, coming to the first place: Lak lake.

For us in this strange city, MaiLinh express is the most popular bus company to come back to HCMC. Unfortunately, they were out of tickets. We collected "piece by piece" of hope that they gave, even we rode to their branch. Finally, we called other companies but hopeless! Having no choices, let's use the last chance, coming to Buon Ma Thuot bus station, booked tickets from private company in spite of they will welcome passengers along the road and fill us into their bus. To this time, booking tickets was almost done. Phew... Another good experience to trip on holiday, huh? :)

Contact to bus companies

Riding moto-bike along national road 27 to the first destination about 56km far away from BMT (stands for Buon Me Thuot) at about 12:00PM.

All members (excluded photographer :))

A peaceful valley along national road 27

Riding leisurely along national road, joking together almost arriving at Lak lake bank, suddenly, the rear wheel tube of one iron horse gets flat.

It took almost 30 minutes to replace new rear wheel tube for this motor-bike

Arrived at Lak lake after 2hours riding. Lake lake carrying the legend about Y Lak brave guy. It is said that once upon a time, in scorching season, the rice fields are not planted any trees. Before the scene who died of starvation, because the sun, Y Lak brave guy went looking for water for villages. The young guy follow eels slithering trail that goes, until he met a deep blue lake opened.

On the road to Lake

This charming lake is encompassed the forested hills, famed for trekking, hiking, and fishing activities. Nearby, there situates the Jun minority village which offers a possibility of an overnight stay to visitors. Around the lake, one can take a canoe with one of the locals on the calm lake.

Lak resort

A corner of Lak resort

Everyone got very hungry but still smiled when the camera lifted.
Waiter, please serve us very quickly!!! :D

Oh yeah, we were full. Come on guys. Let's enjoy together!

All members ( excluded photographer again :))

This is "Lak style" hihi

Long house

Gather tamarind in Lak resort :)

There are many small village on the Lak lake bank

This is a huge lake and the wind blowed so strong. It was so cool to take fresh air huh :)

Wow...

Everyone looked so excited.

Walking around the lake and relaxing together satisfactorily. It almost got out of time to visit other beautiful places such as: Emperor Bao Dai palace, Jun villages (reveals an enigmatic slice of traditional M'nong life), the primitive forests of the Chu Yang Sin. But, on the way back to BMT, we got to Giang Son Mary hill where there're many peach trees with flowers along the road to the top of hill. It was a nice place!

This is the end of first day in BMT. Before going to bed, let's enjoy a little stem wine with jerky.

This is the end of part 1! Part 2 will lead you to the new place of Central Highlands: Buon Don.

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My Tho tour

2011-10-07T11:42:00.001+07:00

I usually come to my hometown Tra Vinh along National Road 60 over My Tho then Ben Tre by motor-bike and my group took a short trip a year ago to visit some nice places around the city. Here are some cool pix and information of this beautiful city.

Gate of My Tho at Trung Luong three-way crossroads

Rach Mieu bridge over Tien river

Sunrise in My Tho from Rach Mieu bridge

MỸ THO is the capital city and municipality of Tien Giang province, located in the Mekong Delta region of southern Vietnam.

FACTS & FIGURES

Total area: 79,8 sq. km.

Population: 250,000.

Distance:

My Tho - Ho Chi Minh city: 70km (included 60km of highway)

My Tho - Can Tho: 103km

My Tho - Long Xuyen: 130km (For more>>>)

My Tho is famous for its noodle soup Hu Tieu My Tho. Hu Tieu My Tho is typically a clear pork broth with rice vermicelli and wheat flour noodles (mì) combined. Sliced pork, meaty pork bones, offal such as intestines, liver, and heart and fresh shrimp, and possibly deep fried wonton. The soup is then garnished by the diner to the individual taste with salad leaves, garlic chives, beans sprouts, lime, fresh chili, soy sauce, and vinegar. The noodles can be served dry with the soup on the side, or as a noodle soup.

Hu Tieu My Tho

Also famous in My Tho is Bo Vien or beef balls. There are very busy stalls near the My Tho market that serve only Bo Vien in beef broth or with Hu Tieu noodle. It is eaten with very hot chili sauce (tương ớt).

Bo vien

As the regional capital My Tho is the main market dealing in all the produce from the region as well as fish and seafood from My Tho's large ocean-going fishing fleet. The very large and exuberant market is one of South Vietnam's biggest sources for dried fish and other dried seafood products such as Khô Mực (dried squid). At night the market is dedicated to the dealing and sorting of Mekong River fish, particularly catfish for Ho Chi Minh City's wholesale markets. Produce, especially fruit and vegetables, is delivered by boat directly to the market.

My Tho is a popular starting point for tourists to take a boat trip on the Mekong River then be around four islands: Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle and Phoenix. Thoi Son (Unicorn) and Phoenix island - where the path through the island is bordered with fruit trees bearing plums, mangoes, and longans; the tiled-roof houses surrounded by many generations of these fruit-bearing trees, the cozy little restaurants in bonsai tree gardens. Get to there we can enjoy honey tea, fresh fruits while listening to traditional music performance of “Tai Tu” - the lovely and romantic melody of one of the tribes in Mekong Delta, and a short visit to a coconut candy factory and savor the taste of this special.

Thoi Son (Unicorn) island

Longan

Rambutan

Pomelo

On the bridge before getting on the sampans

Rowing on sampans (small boat) along the canals of Mekong River.

(from http://tattybackpacks.wordpress.com)

Making coconut candy

Packages of coconut candy are completed and ready for sell

Taking a coach to visit around Phoenix island

VINH TRANG PAGODA is the greatest pagoda of Tien Giang Province, in an area of 2,000m2 with many beautiful trees. It was built in 1849 in My Phong village, My Tho City. The architecture of Vinh Trang Pagoda is a harmonious combination of Asian and European types of architecture, creating the splendid, but simple features of this Buddhist pagoda.

The pagoda is surrounded by gardens of ornamental trees, ancient trees and bonsai, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

Vinh Trang pagoda consists of five buildings, two ornamental yards and 178 pillars. There are two triumphal arches bearing an art of inserting bottle and porcelain fragments which create harmonious pictures illustrating the Buddha’s legendaries. Inside the pagoda, there is a set of pictures “eight angels riding on animals” another set of statues of the Amitabha Holy Trinity carved in bronze, as big as a man, and more particularly, the set of the eighteen Arhants, wood carving work, is the only one, not two, in the west of South Vietnam.

Worship place

Not far from Vinh Trang Pagoda, DONG TAM SNAKE FARM is one of the country’s largest snake-raising centers where venom is produced for local use and export. Located 12 kilometers from My Tho City, Tien Giang Province, the World of Snakes is a place for the animals to have a peaceful life without the impact of man. There are a lot of researched snakes which are extremely aggressive and even capable of spitting poison, and other snake-based medicines are produced to save lives.

Snakes twine the branch

The entire group is on a ferry for barges to cross the Tien river from Unicorn island. This station is about 2km far away from Rach Mieu bridge.

Peaceful road in country side

Enjoy durian, rambutan together

"War booty" :D

Enjoy fresh fruit while listening Don Ca Tai Tu

After a day exciting trip to islands, it's time to have dinner

To see the floating market activities, we must come to Cai Be early (about 5AM) but it rained in the morning, the plan to Cai Be floating market had to be delayed about 2hours so that we can not catch the time. What a pity!

Arrived at Cai Be town, we hired a boat tour to visit wine factory, rice flakes factory, shop sells products from coconut, fruit orchard...

Cai Be church

On a watermelon boat

Making rice flakes

Equipment for making wine

Durian

Ducks in chilli orchard

Get into guava orchard and "mum mum" together ;))

Finish Cai Be tour - it's time to come back My Tho

On the way back, visit Rach Gam Xoai Mut where Nguyen Hue defeated Siamese's invasion in 1785

Get into a restaurant to have dinner with crab soup. It's so delicious and cheap! (about 550k VND for 20 members)

It's the end of 2day 1night wonderful trip to Tien Giang. See everybody in next trip to Buon Me Thuot -Daklak.

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Trekking Ba Den mountain

2011-09-29T11:28:00.002+07:00

(from cailuongso.com)

(from nonghuyenson)

Black Virgin Mountain ("Black Lady Mountain") is a mountain in the Tay Ninh Province of Vietnam. To the Vietnamese the mountain is the center of a myth about Ba Den, a Vietnamese woman. After the Vietnam war the mountain turned from a battle ground to being famous for the its beautiful temples and theme park. There are trails to hike up the mountain but many people take the Núi Bà Đen gondola lift to the top.

At 996 metres (3,268 ft), the extinct volcano rises from the flat Mekong Delta jungle and farmland. The mountain is almost a perfect cinder cone with a saddle and a slight bulge on her Northwest side. The mountain is honeycombed with caves and is covered in many large basalt boulders.

Here're our the trip on Sept 24, 2011:
- Distance: Ho Chi Minh city - Tay Ninh town - Ba Den moutain: 100km
- Duration: 3h (by moto-bike 50km/h)
- Route: (on google map: here)

Etown building 364 Cong Hoa str - Truong Chinh str - Road 22 - Trang Bang town: 40km
Trang Bang town - Go Dau town: 14km
Go Dau town - Road 22B - Hoa Thanh town: 30km
Pham Hung str - Ly Thuong Kiet str - Cach Mang Thang 8 str - Dien Bien Phu str - Boi Loi - Ba Den mountain: 15km.

- Places:

Trang Bang town to take breakfast/dinner
Cao Dai Greate temple
Ba Den moutain

- Plan:

7:00 AM: All members group at 5th gate on Ap Bac str. Start the trip.
8:30 AM: Arrive at Trang Bang town, take breakfast.
10:00AM: Arrive at Toa Thanh Tay Ninh (Cao Dai Greate temple) at the corner of Ly Thuong Kiet str and Cach Mang Thang 8 str.
11:30AM: Arrive at Ba Den mountain, take lunch
12:30PM: Start climbing to Ba Den pagoda, have Buddhist ceremony.
16:00PM: Going back to Ho Chi Minh city.
18:00PM: Arrive at Trang Bang to take dinner.
20:00PM: Arrive at Etown. Complete the trip.

- Members: 9 persons.
- Food:

Mayonnaise (1bottle): 30k
Chili sauce (1bottle): 12k
Chả (0.5kg): 65k
Giò thủ (0.5kg): 55k
Sandwich (3bags): 45k
Cheese (2 boxes): 60k
Cucumber (4 fruits): 12k
Water (6 x 1.5 litre - bottle): 50k
Fruits (1.5kg plum-tree + 1.5kg mango): 50k
Ticket for Ba Den resort (9tickets): 90k
Tay Ninh shrimp salt: 25k
Breakfast: 176k
Dinner: 607k

- Cost: Total: 1.259.000VND ~ 60.5USD (excluding gasoline for 5 moto-bikes).

As plan, all members must attend at Gate 5th of Etown building before 7:00. However, up to 7:30 the trip can be started because of Chau's lateness. 5 iron-horses run smoothly when suddenly Tram's one is holed in the back wheel tube. Team must wait for replacing new tube about 30 minutes. :(

Everyone then continues to go to the first place - Trang Bang town. Along the way, there are many calls between members because they don't know the road well or they run very fast although leader reminds these before starting. Conversations always like: "Where are you?", "We've just passed the bridge/crossroads.", "Ok, stay there and wait for us".

At 9:30 we arrive at Trang Bang, get into a mini restaurant roadside to have breakfast. Outside, it's lasting rain.

10:00 continuing the trip, suddenly, another horse stops. The driver almost walks with his iron-horse to find the garage. Phew, after 1 hour waiting for preparing it, the team goes on. Everyone seems discouraged hihi. There's an idea that missing the Cao Dai temple to direct to Ba Den mountain in time because it's late but others want to see the temple. Ok, no problem, let's go!!! Trip for relax! Trip for fun!

Toà Thánh Tây Ninh or Cao Dai Greate Temple (Holy See). Cao Dai, the full name is Đại Đạo Tam Kỳ Phổ Độ (Great Religion [of The] Third Period [of] Revelation [and] Salvation) - a religion found only in southern Vietnam that incorporates aspect of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and even Catholicism.

The major saints are Chinese revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen, the 19c French writer Victor Hugo and the 16c Vietnamese poet Nguyen Binh Khiem. Lesser dignitaries who have manifested themselves in seances include notables such as Joan of Arc, Descartes, V. I. Lenin, William Shakespeare, and Winston Churchill. The Great Temple or Holy See, the center of the intriguing Cao Đài sect. Cao Đài is a syncretist Vietnamese religious movement that incorporates aspect of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and even Catholicism. Like Muslims the they pray periodically throughout the day.

The temple is colourful, a blend of different styles of architecture. It was begun in 1933 in a unique architectural style that reflects its blended traditions. It is about 60 miles (100 kilometers) northwest of Ho Chi Minh City so that most people visit on a day trip.

Males must enter on the right and females to the left and shoes have to be removed before entering the massive main hall. Once you step into the temple, you seem to be removed from the hassle and bustle of the outside world and placed into a world of calmness, peace and light.

(by Luc D)

Services are held four times a day and visitors are welcomed to watch from the balcony above which runs the entire length of the cathedral. Rows and rows of gracefully attired devotees dressed in white stroll into the hall systematically, accompanied by the sounds of the gong. As if on cue, once inside the hall, the devotees kneel down together before the altar signaling the start of the prayers. The priests are easily identified by their white pointy hats decorated with the holy eye and are dressed in either red, blue or yellow flowing robes. The gongs are now joined in by the string instruments and harmonious chanting of the devotees. Photography is allowed here and is an excellent opportunity not to be missed as you will never find another moment like this anywhere else.

Our iron-horses:

It takes about 30 minutes to see the temple. And now, Ba Den mountain!!!!
Boi Loi street to the mountain:

Finally we get to Ba Den moutain after 5 hours from Etown. Some members lead the motor-bikes for the guard, others ask someone how to climb to the top of the moutain. Unfortunately, everyone should not do this because it's often rain, the trip becomes very dangerous. No other ways, the team have to delay the climbing to the dry season. Ba Den pagoda becomes the last destination.

The park at the bottom of the mountain:

Time runs, people get hungry, someone moans :D. Okie, let find somewhere in the park to eat prepared food in order to hike to the pagoda. It's 1:30.

15:00, everyone's full. LET'S GO BABIES!!!! One step, one step, another step, next step,... First tent, second tent.... last tent (10th).

Almost 30 degree slope - the last slope to the pagoda:

View of slope from its top:

The mountain with the cloud at the top:

The Southeastern delta view from the half-way to the pagoda:

Dau Tieng lake on the horizontal line:

This is our destination - pagoda. 2 members come into the cathedral to pray to Ba while others take rest beside.

18:30, we arrive at the bottom of the moutain. Starting the return.

20:30, we arrive at Hoang Minh restaurant in Trang Bang town to have dinner include: bánh tráng phơi sương cuốn thịt luộc, bánh canh giò heo. yum yum. What a beautiful life!!!!

22:15, we arrive at Etown, finish the joy and safe trip. See everyone the next trip in the spring - 2 days 1 night: Dau Tieng lake, climbing to the top of Ba Den moutain, Cao Dai Greate temple.

Some other trips:

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