4 reasons to visit Chau Doc during your trip to Vietnam

4 reasons to visit Chau Doc during your trip to Vietnam

If An Giang is our preferred choice to discover the Mekong Delta in all beauty, Chau Doc is the first destination that comes to mind. Located upstream of the Nine Dragon River, along with Long Xuyen, Chau Doc is one of two key cities in An Giang for their significant position vis-à-vis the overall development of the Mekong Delta. From its border gate Tinh Bien, visitors can easily approach Cambodia to extend their stay by walking the other trails of the neighboring kingdom.
 

Chau Doc, An Giang Weather

The An Giang region has a fairly high annual average temperature between 26 ° C and 29 ° C. It is the hottest between April and May with a temperature of between 35 ° C and 36 ° C. The lower temperature is displayed between December and January, around 20 ° C - 21 ° C. Like other parts of the south, Chau Doc has two distinct seasons, the rainy season from May to November and the dry season from December to April.
 

When to visit Chau Doc ?

Each period convinces us with its peculiarities. For many, it is necessary to go there during its flood season to enjoy the scenes brimming with life. Varied landscapes, opulence of species, change of way of life, everything is at the rendezvous to be at the height of your thirst for change of scenery.
 

What to visit in Chau Doc?

Mount Sam, a tour rich in discoveries

Seven kilometers from the city Chau Doc, stands the mountain Sam covering 280ha that is admired from afar by its large greenery. Religious and cultural Mecca of Chau Doc and the southern delta in general, the top of 280m is punctuated by the remains and monuments hidden in a picturesque natural setting.

The summit of Mount Sam is accessible by car at the end of a five-kilometer trail. The place contains a good two hundred pagodas and temples flocking pilgrims from all over, especially during traditional festivities. You can visit them from the foot of the mountain to the peak of which the best known are the temple of the Goddess Xu, the Tay An pagoda, the tomb of Thoai Ngoc Hau and Phuoc Dien pagoda.

Erected in the early eighteenth century, the temple of Goddess Xu is dedicated to a legendary lady for her sacrifice to the peace of the region. The site is remarkable for its three-tiered roof inspired by a carefully decorated lotus flower. Its biggest party during the 23rd and 27th of the 4th lunar month has its biggest pilgrimage in which the statue of the goddess is bathed and changes clothes, as is the custom.

The tomb Thoai Ngoc Hau is known for its almost intact architecture that has remained standing since its construction dating back to the Nguyen Dynasty. Home to the tomb and tomb of a Mandarin who ruled An Giang at the time and recognized national vestige, this monument surrounded by ancient trees is worth seeing for its historical and aesthetic value.

Nestled on the side of Mount Sam and also called "Pagoda Hang", Phuoc Dien Pagoda invites you to a relaxing walk in full communion with nature. Built around the 1840s - 1845s, it is another Chau Doc site recognized as a national historic relic. Peacefully located in a beautiful vegetation, it gives a magnificent view of the rice fields with lost sight and carpets of cajeputiers by far.

Known as the country's first building combining traditional and Indian styles, the Tay An pagoda is renowned for its remarkable architectural value. High in color, this rich jewel of varied and harmoniously conjugated patterns is distinguished by three beautiful buildings with typical cupolas in the shape of an onion.

Forest Tra Su cajeputiers

Following the beautiful cultural visits, are you eager to go out for an out of the ordinary excursion? Some 30 km from Chau Doc is Tra Su which has everything to delight nature lovers with exceptional biodiversity. Its huge forest of cajeputiers will take you to an aquatic world full of species, many of which are of significant value. With an area of ​​almost 850ha, Tra Su is home to 140 plant species, 11 animal species and twenty species of fish. Go in flooded season to feel, in a relaxing stroll, an impressive painting created by its tracks of lettuce of water. You will be pleasantly surprised, early in the morning or at sunset, by the return of birds enlivening a whole corner of the jungle. Climb its observatory to offer you a superb panorama on the whole of this green lung as rich as refreshing.

Floating Village of Chau Doc

Heading the Chau Doc River, let yourself be swept up into the throbbing rhythm of life on the water of the fish village harboring the most fish cages, all over the Mekong Delta. Early, hundreds of rafts connected along the river beat full to make the happiness of the fish farmers as visitors. In recent years, the attached inhabitants settled in the floating houses, each one is 4 meters wide and 7 or 8 meters long. An excursion to the village tour will make you discover the authentic life in the recesses of three hundred cages abounding in catfish, stromaté, pangasius, serran ... as well as meet the friendly people.

Chau Giang Chams Village

Take the ferry to Con Tien where you will meet women and girls with the typical hairstyle of the Muslim population of Chau Giang village. When you arrive, you will see, in such a peaceful atmosphere, the Mubarak mosque and the houses on stilts. In addition, An Giang has eleven Chams villages with about 13,000 faithful. This is an opportunity to approach the preserved traditions of the Chams through lifestyle, weaving, music, local cuisine ... discovering so many surprises.

What to eat in Chau Doc?

Chau Doc has no shortage of culinary flavors to discover by going to the local market or staying with locals, namely fish noodles, fish "qua" (grilled ophiocéphale maculé) grilled, beef seven flavors ...

Situation of Chau Doc:

About 245km from Ho Chi Minh City or 6h drive and Chau Doc is the most stopover for your Vietnam Cambodia combined tour. From Chau Doc, you can travel to Cambodia by speed boat.