Buzz
If you're looking to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life, or simply to forget about the city's chaos, what could be better than returning to the charming simplicity and warmth of Chau Doc, a border city in An Giang province?
I. Overview of Chau Doc
Chau Doc, formerly a provincial capital, is now a city under the administration of An Giang province. It sits at the picturesque confluence of rivers, overlooking Con Tien Island and Chau Giang hamlet with lush green orchards. A renowned tourist destination in An Giang and the Mekong Delta, life here strikes a balance between the vibrant hustle and bustle of prosperous markets and the tranquil charm of the Mekong Delta with its vast waterways, fertile fields, abundant fish and shrimp, and rich fertile land.
Chau Doc's vast green rice fields are always a symbol, a source of pride for the people of An Giang (photo collection)
Chau Doc City currently has a population of 119,000 people, consisting of 5 wards: Chau Phu A, Chau Phu B, Sam Mountain, Vinh My, Vinh Nguyon; and 2 communes: Vinh Te, Vinh Chau. Over the years of renovation and with a greater focus on tourism development, the rural city has transformed itself with the criteria of 'green - clean - beautiful' being prioritized and increasing the awareness of the people, welcoming visitors from afar with an increasingly gentle, friendly attitude.
II. When to Visit Chau Doc?
The favorable weather makes visiting Chau Doc easy at any time of the year. May marks the beginning of the rainy season. If you want to fully experience the life of the western rivers and waterways, the period from August to November is the most suitable time with typical activities of the flood season like floating markets. However, if you want to avoid inflated prices, it's best to avoid visiting during the Tet holiday when crowds are high and prices tend to rise.
Chau Doc, blending urban beauty with the serene charm of its waterways (Photo: Pedro Nascimento)
III. How to Get to Chau Doc
For those in Ho Chi Minh City, Chau Doc is approximately 250km away, so you can easily travel there by motorbike. Ensure safety and consider traveling in groups for security, or opt for a car for added safety.
For adventure enthusiasts, there are two main routes to choose from:
- Route 1: From Saigon, take National Highway 62 towards Binh Hiep – follow the road along the border towards Hong Ngự – Tan Chau – Chau Doc (this route may be long but offers beautiful scenery, allowing you to enjoy the journey).
- Route 2: Saigon – National Highway 1A – My Thuan Bridge – National Highway 80 – Sa Dec – Vam Cong Ferry – Long Xuyen – National Highway 90 – Chau Doc.
For those who prioritize safety, you can opt for passenger buses such as:
- Phuong Trang Bus (08 38333468): Departure from Mien Tay Bus Station, ticket price around 170k/way.
- Hue Nghia Bus (08 39553353): Departure from the office in Ho Chi Minh City, ticket price around 140k/way.
- Kim Mai Bus (08 54052575): Departure from Mien Tay Bus Station, ticket price around 120k/way.
For those coming from Hanoi or other provinces, it's necessary to first travel to Ho Chi Minh City before heading to Chau Doc.
IV. Getting Around in Chau Doc
There are plenty of transportation options for getting around the city.
1. Bicycle
Cycling along the Mekong Delta's roads is a truly worthwhile experience, allowing you ample time to immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of every corner of Chau Doc. If you want to explore the city at a leisurely pace without the effort of pedaling, there's also a unique type of bicycle here that few other places have: the pedicab.
Exploring Chau Doc, An Giang by pedicab is also a cultural highlight (image source: collected)
2. Bus
Since the attractions in Chau Doc are relatively close to each other, you can use a bicycle or a motorbike. However, there is a bus route from the city center to Mount Sam, Tinh Bien, so you can also use this mode of transportation. Bus stations are easy to find right in the city center.
3. Taxi & Motorbike
Similar to other cities, you can rent a motorbike from travel companies in the city center or book a tour at hotels. If you prefer taking a taxi, you can contact
- Mai Linh Taxi – Tel: 076 3922266
- Saigon Hoang Long Taxi – Tel: 076 3688688
- Long Xuyen Taxi Company – Tel: 076 3858788
- Duc Thanh Taxi – Tel: 076 3852403.
4. Boats and Ferries
To visit some areas like Bung Binh Thien, fishing villages, and Cham villages in Chau Giang, you will need water transportation. You can take a ferry or rent a boat at the Chau Doc Tourism Port – 03 Le Loi, Ward Chau Phu, Tel: 0763550949.
V. Destinations in Chau Doc
1. Sam Mountain
Covering an area of approximately 280 hectares, with a moderate height of 241 meters, Sam Mountain is an extremely famous tourist destination that anyone visiting Chau Doc must visit. This mountain is covered with lush green trees all year round, and in summer, it is adorned with the vibrant red color of phoenix flowers, nestled beside winding canals. Sam Mountain is also home to a system of ancient temples, pagodas, and fascinating caves, creating a beautiful and idyllic landscape amidst the fertile delta region.
Sam Mountain in An Giang Chau Doc is covered by the green color of thousands of trees (sourced image)
The road to Sam Mountain in Chau Doc (sourced image)
2. Lady Xu Temple
Arriving at Sam Mountain is arriving at Lady Xu Temple, a famous spiritual tourist destination in the Western region located right at the foot of Sam Mountain, welcoming about 2 million pilgrims annually. Visitors from afar often come to the temple from January to March of the lunar calendar to pray for peace and prosperity at the beginning of the year.
Visiting Chau Doc An Giang Lady Xu Temple at dusk (sourced image)
Lady Xu Temple at night (sourced image)
To meet the needs of pilgrims, local residents also provide services such as selling offering items, renting roasted pigs, releasing birds, and fortune telling for the new year. However, make sure to inquire about the prices before purchasing to get the best deals.
3. Hang Pagoda
Situated on the slopes of Sam Mountain and built around 1840 - 1845, Hang Pagoda (also known as Phuoc Dien Tu) is both an ancient temple and a famous scenic spot in An Giang province, as well as a national historical relic. Nestled in a solemn and serene location, Hang Pagoda exudes ancient solemnity with numerous legends and myths passed down through generations, making it an attractive destination for those seeking a tranquil and venerable atmosphere.
Hang Pagoda is a renowned sanctuary in Chau Doc, An Giang province (sourced image)
4. Tra Su Melaleuca Forest
When it comes to rivers and wetlands, the Tra Su Melaleuca Forest cannot be missed. It's an amazing eco-tourism destination with many rare and precious species of animals. What could be more wonderful than just letting yourself go, drifting on a wooden boat along the water, immersed in the cool shade of the melaleuca trees? Above, there's a canopy of leaves, below the boat, there's a carpet of water hyacinths swaying gently with the flow, nature embraces humans completely, softly accompanied by the chirping of birds overhead, a prominent sound in the peaceful tranquility that's hard to find in bustling urban areas.
Admire the beauty of the cool green melaleuca forest (sourced image)
5. Floating Village in Chau Doc
The floating village in Chau Doc is perhaps the most typical symbol of the charming culture deeply rooted in the Mekong Delta. Every early morning, the village seems to be tinted golden under the morning sky. Life on the water doesn't separate people but rather brings them closer together with their boats. The people of the Mekong Delta are honest and simple, sometimes spanning two or three generations living together on a single boat. Life may not be luxurious, but they live slowly with simple happiness.
The enchanting beauty of the Chau Doc floating village at night (sourced image)
6. Chau Giang Cham Village
Chau Giang Cham Village is the renowned village of the Cham community in An Giang province, captivating not only for its ethnic charm but also for the cultural beauty of this remarkable land. For those who seek to understand the culture and people of the Cham community, this is undoubtedly an unmissable destination.
Chau Giang Cham Village stands out with its picturesque wooden stilt houses, exhibiting unique and distinctive architecture. The stilt houses here are typically small, featuring special architectural designs and constructed from precious woods known for their durability. In front of each house, there is a wooden ladder, and the entrance is deliberately lower than head height, symbolizing respect; guests must bow upon entering.
Chau Giang Cham Village (sourced image)
In this Chau Giang Cham Village, there are around ten ancient stilt houses, each with significant historical value. These houses have been preserved and maintained for many years, serving not only as tourist attractions but also as part of history, providing insight into the Cham culture and its people.
Ancestral stilt houses adorned with distinct ethnic characteristics (sourced image)
The majority of the village residents adhere to the Islamic faith, so the mosque is a place imbued with Cham culture. After crossing Chau Giang Ferry, we will visit the historic Mubarak Mosque, which is hundreds of years old and holds significant value, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of this religious belief. The mosque boasts unique architecture with a circular tower and an arched main gate. Its roof features a large two-story oval-shaped tower, with the tower base shaped like a crescent moon and star, symbolizing Islam.
Mubarak Mosque, a centuries-old landmark of the Cham village (sourced image)
7. Forbidden Mountain
Forbidden Mountain, also known as Heaven's Ban Mountain, is located in An Hao commune, Tinh Bien district, with an altitude of about 710 meters above sea level. It stands majestically with unique geological features, surrounded by lush green forests and countless vibrant flowers. You can choose to stay overnight to fully enjoy a night amidst the drifting clouds and serene tranquility atop the mountain.
Moreover, this mountain is home to monumental religious architectural works such as the largest reclining Buddha statue in Asia, nearly 34 meters tall, or Van Linh Pagoda, Great Buddha Pagoda, and more.
Panoramic view of the Forbidden Mountain area in Chau Doc (sourced image)
The statue of reclining Buddha stands out amidst the drifting clouds of Forbidden Mountain (sourced image)
Exploring Chau Doc's Vạn Linh Pagoda during a tour (sourced image)
Visitors here can take the cable car to behold the panoramic scenery of the entire mountainous region.
The splendid inauguration of the Cấm Mountain cable car took place on February 14, 2015 (Image: angiangtourist.vn)
8. Vĩnh Tế Canal
In Chau Doc's tourism itineraries as well as general journeys across the Mekong Delta, the Vinh Te Canal unfolds a captivating saga, from its inception to the enduring values it holds today, enriching the lives of the region's residents.
The Vinh Te Canal spans both An Giang and Kien Giang provinces, running parallel to the Vietnam-Cambodia border, commencing from the western bank of the Chau Doc River. Initiated by King Gia Long in 1819 and completed in 1824 under the command of General Nguyen Van Thoai, also known as Thoai Ngoc Hau, the canal stretches over 80km with a width of 30m and an average depth of 3m.
With its scale, the Vinh Te Canal has made significant contributions to the development of waterway transportation, agriculture, commerce, and border security in the Mekong Delta region. Today, it continues to hold its intrinsic value, contributing significantly to waterway transportation and economic development in the modern era.
Life along the banks of the Vinh Te Canal in An Giang (sourced image)
9. Thoai Ngoc Hau Mausoleum
Visitors to Chau Doc often get lost in its natural beauty, temples, and the pilgrimage to the Lady Xu Temple, sometimes overlooking other invaluable treasures like the Thoai Ngoc Hau Mausoleum, situated within the historical complex at the foot of Sam Mountain, Nui Sam Ward, Chau Doc Town.
The Thoai Ngoc Hau Mausoleum, also known as the Son Lang, is a rare intact architectural marvel from the Nguyen dynasty era in the Southern region, holding significant cultural and historical importance. It exudes a serene and solemn beauty, steeped in reverence. The mausoleum serves as both a tomb and a temple dedicated to Nguyen Van Thoai, also known as Thoai Ngoc Hau, a high-ranking official appointed by the Nguyen dynasty to explore and govern An Giang, and the direct supervisor of the Vinh Te Canal construction project.
Exploring the Thoai Ngoc Hau Mausoleum, a solemn relic from the Nguyen dynasty era (sourced image)
10. Chau Phu Temple
Chau Phu Temple (Chau Phu A Ward, Chau Doc City) is a cultural landmark that preserves distinctive cultural imprints, reflecting the spiritual beauty of the local people.
Chau Phu Temple has a unique formation process, closely associated with the Le Cong clan (also known as the Cuu Long Great House). Originally built to express gratitude to the esteemed deity Nguyen Huu Canh, who made significant contributions to the Southern region's expansion, the Le Cong clan mobilized the local residents and contributed funds and effort to construct a wooden leaf-thatched temple (at the location of the former Chau Doc Regional General Hospital) to worship him. However, during the French colonial period, for the purpose of building a hospital, the temple was relocated and rebuilt at its current location.
Chau Phu Temple holds both historical and architectural significance. The temple is built in the three-bay, two-ridge style typical of the Southern region. The roof has three tiers, adorned with various mythical creatures such as dragon and phoenix, lion, etc., all representing strength and grandeur. The temple features many windows designed in the French architectural style. Inside, there are 40 precious wooden columns, adorned with pairs of meticulously crafted golden couplets praising the virtues of the divine Nguyen Huu Canh.
Chau Phu Temple reconstructed with grandeur and magnificence (image source)
11. Tay An Pagoda
Tay An Pagoda, also known as the Ancient Tay An Pagoda, stands as a symbol of architectural exchange between Vietnam and India, situated at the crossroads at the foot of Sam Mountain (now in Nui Sam Ward, Chau Doc City), with a spacious campus covering an area of 15,000 m2. With the green color of Sam Mountain as its backdrop, the most impressive feature of the pagoda is its main facade with three ancient towers resembling onion domes, vibrant yet harmonious in color. The pagoda follows the 'tam' shape, combining Indian artistic style with traditional Vietnamese architecture, constructed with durable materials such as bricks, and cement.
Exploring Tay An Pagoda in Chau Doc against the backdrop of Sam Mountain (image source)
12. Chau Doc Floating Market
Experience the charm of the bygone era at Chau Doc Floating Market, showcasing the unique beauty of the An Giang river region. The rustic boats of all sizes ply the waters, ferrying locals and visitors alike to navigate the bustling market scene.Locals rarely refer to it as the “Chau Doc Floating Market” but simply as “ra ghe,” which succinctly denotes the exchange and trade activities here. What sets this market apart is the absence of vocal vendors; instead, goods are displayed on boats, with sellers simply 'beo hang' by hanging their merchandise out for display. The market offers a rich variety of local produce, with an emphasis on orchard fruits.
Make sure to rise early to catch the liveliest market activity around 6 – 7 in the morning.
The primary offerings at the floating market are locally grown fruits (image source)
VI. What to Eat in Chau Doc
1. Chau Doc Snakehead Fish Noodle Soup
Anyone visiting the Mekong Delta and exploring An Giang province must not miss the chance to savor the unique flavor of a bowl of snakehead fish noodle soup. Despite its simple preparation, this dish, made from ingredients unique to the Mekong Delta, carries the distinctive taste of Chau Doc. The sweetness of fresh snakehead fish, the fragrant aroma of water celery, and the crispy water lilies floating atop the soup make Chau Doc snakehead fish noodle soup an unforgettable culinary delight.
A bowl of snakehead fish noodle soup has enchanted countless travelers (Image: ngoisao.net)
2. Palm Sugar Steamed Rice Cake
Palm sugar steamed rice cake is a favorite dish of people in the Mekong Delta and is also a famous specialty of An Giang province. The delicious aroma and sweet richness of palm sugar make travelers nod in approval even after just one taste. Although this cake is a simple dish, it is considered a specialty of Chau Doc, made from local, humble ingredients by the skilled hands of honest farmers from the Seven Mountains region.
The characteristic shiny yellow color of palm sugar steamed rice cake, a specialty of Chau Doc tourism (Image: collected)
3. Chau Doc Fermented Fish
When visiting Chau Doc, you should explore the famous floating market known for its various types of fermented fish, dried fish, cakes, fruits, and more, typical of the Mekong Delta. The most famous specialty of Chau Doc market is fermented fish. There is a dedicated area in the market selling different kinds of fermented fish, from anchovy paste to fermented shrimp paste, mixed fermented fish, sliced fermented fish, and more. The barrels of fermented fish emit a distinctive aroma and are neatly arranged on clean, clearly priced shelves.
The famous and diverse Chau Doc Fermented Fish, with enthusiastic and welcoming locals (Image: collected)
Three-striped crab fermented fish (a distinctive type of large crab from the Southern region) is also a famous fermented fish loved by many for its easy consumption and preparation. Image: Minh Hang.
4. Star Fruit Salad
The star fruit tree, also known as the starfruit tree, is a wild-growing species, most abundant in Chau Doc and the Seven Mountains region of An Giang. The star fruit leaves are small, long, and thin. When young, the shoots are purple. Star fruit salad is known as the most characteristic specialty when it comes to star fruit trees, from shrimp salad, meat salad, fish salad to dried salad, everything is excellent.
After grilling until cooked, dried snakehead fish is torn into small pieces and mixed with star fruit shoots, then dipped in thick, spicy, sour tamarind fish sauce, not too salty, enhancing the rich flavor. The mild bitterness of star fruit and the salty, sweet, chewy taste of fish blend together, elevating the taste buds thanks to the unique, unfamiliar aroma, completely different from any other salad.
The culinary Star Fruit Salad with a characteristic flavor typical of the Mekong Delta (Image: collected)
5. Seven-course Beef
Seven-course beef on Sam Mountain includes boiled beef heart, beef simmered with rice vermicelli, beef porridge, beef stir-fried with sesame bread, beef stir-fried with giang leaves, beef sautéed and beef steak. The main ingredient for these dishes is beef from the Seven Mountains region, tender, sweet, and extremely delicious. A characteristic feature when making seven-course beef is that people rarely buy pre-prepared beef at the market but instead purchase whole live cattle, which must be young calves (or cows, young bulls, only one cow is still young or about to mature). After the beef is cooked, straw is used to tighten the beef skin, called 'thui calf,' the piece of meat including the skin is eaten fresh, sweet, and chewy.
The plate of seven-course beef on Sam Mountain, a specialty of Chau Doc tourism An Giang (Image: collected)
6. Water lily stems
Anyone who has traveled to Chau Doc must be familiar with this famous characteristic flower of the Western rivers. From August to October every lunar year, the flood season is when water lilies are most abundant, especially in the Tra Su cajuput forest. The water lilies in Chau Doc have slightly thicker petals than those in other regions, considered a special kind of vegetable, providing ingredients for many delicious dishes with a strong local flavor such as pickled water lily stems, water lily stem soup, water lily stem salad, and most commonly used as an accompaniment to other dishes in richly flavored Western-style fish hotpots.
Water lily stems in Chau Doc (Image: collected)
Snakehead fish hotpot with water lily stems always attracts tourists in An Giang (Image: collected)
7. Palm sugar
Chau Doc, An Giang is considered the land of palm sugar, so there are many dishes made from palm sugar that make Chau Doc cuisine much richer.
The palm sugar tree, a species cherished most by the people of An Giang (Image: collected)
The simplest dish made from palm sugar that tourists can find anywhere is sweet and refreshing palm sugar water, with a few soft palm sugar kernels floating inside, deliciously unique. Fresh palm sugar is a naturally refreshing beverage that is as delicious as coconut water. Palm sugar is not only used fresh like this, but also used to make desserts and palm sugar syrup, fragrant and sweet, used like other common types of sugar. Chau Doc palm sugar has a light yellow color, is fragrant, and has a slightly fatty taste, used extensively in cooking, making dishes have a special fragrant sweetness.
8. Tung Lo Mo
Tung Lo Mo, a name that arouses much curiosity among international tourists, is a traditional specialty of the Cham people in An Giang, also known as beef sausage. The Cham people follow Islam and abstain from pork, so the Tung Lo Mo dish they make only uses beef as ingredients.
In the area where the Cham people live in Chau Doc, tourists will see in front of the houses lines of long coils on red bamboo poles or wooden racks. That is the famous dish called 'tung lo mo' of the Cham people.
Tung lo mo comes in two types, sour and non-sour. The sour type has rice added to create a sour taste, so it has a very strange smell and taste. The non-sour type is for tourists who are not used to the sour taste.
Grill the piece of 'tung lo mo' on the stove, when it's cooked, cut it into small pieces and then pick up a hot piece and dip it in soy sauce, you will feel the unique taste in your mouth. From the aroma of grilled beef, the rich taste of beef fat, the slight sourness of sausage, to the sweet, salty, spicy taste of soy sauce mixed with the aroma of basil, the sharpness of peppercorns, all create a unique and interesting flavor.
Tung lo mo, the famous specialty sausage of the Cham people (Image: collected)
9. Nị rice – pua eggplant
The dish Nị rice – pua eggplant is also a famous traditional dish of the Cham village in Chau Giang. These two dishes complement each other harmoniously, with a relatively elaborate cooking method, unique and quite unfamiliar to both Vietnamese and international tourists. Nị rice is cooked with rice mixed with milk, and sometimes dried grapes are added depending on individual preferences. The pua eggplant dish is made with beef, marinated in a very special way, using various ingredients such as wine, ginger, coconut milk, curry, onions, etc., creating a unique character for the ethnic dish.
Nị rice – pua eggplant, a unique and delicious dish of the Cham people (Image: collected)
VII. Notable hotels when traveling to Chau Doc
Victoria Nui Sam Lodge
Rating: 3 stars
Address: Vinh Dong 1, Nui Sam, Chau Doc City, An Giang
Located on the slopes of Nui Sam Mountain, Chau Doc City, about 60km west of An Giang center, Victoria Nui Sam Lodge nestles amidst the mountains and rivers of Chau Doc with a surrounding landscape of canals, temples, and pagodas.
This hotel charms international guests with modern amenities that seamlessly blend into the rustic and simple surroundings, offering a tranquil and cozy space for relaxing getaways.
Victoria Nui Sam Lodge nestled amidst the mountains (Photo: sourced)
Outdoor swimming pool overlooking endless rice fields of Chau Doc City (Photo: sourced)
Warm and cozy interior space inside the hotel (Photo: Vntrip.vn)
Each guest room features a spacious balcony for travelers to enjoy the scenery to the fullest. Photo: victoriahotels.asia
Victoria Chau Doc Hotel
Rating: 4 stars
Address: 1 Le Loi, Cai Dau, Chau Doc City, An Giang
Built in colonial style architecture, Victoria Chau Doc embodies a wonderful blend with the surrounding natural scenery. Situated on the banks of the Hau River, at the confluence of rivers in the Chau Doc area of the Mekong Delta, this place remains an ideal starting point for exploring the beautiful landscapes of the region. From Victoria Chau Doc Hotel, one can overlook the entire river life, from floating fishing villages with diligent fishermen, to bustling floating markets with trading activities, or peaceful and gentle Cham villages.
Hotel located right by the riverbank (Photo: Vntrip.vn)
Architecture style reminiscent of the French colonial era (Photo: Vntrip.vn)
Spacious, airy rooms with balconies overlooking the Hau River (Photo: Vntrip.vn)
VIII. What to Buy as Souvenirs
When traveling, everyone wants to bring back some souvenirs that carry the essence and uniqueness of the places they visit. Returning from Chau Doc without bringing along some dried fish sauce or a few pieces of tung lo mo is definitely a missed opportunity.
Various Types of Fish Sauce
For purchasing local specialties, you should head to the Chau Doc market, a bustling area with countless varieties of fish sauce for you to choose from.
Chau Doc Market, where a full range of typical products from the Mekong Delta is concentrated (photo collection)
Thot Not Palm Sugar
During the Mekong Delta travel journey that includes Chau Doc, tourists never forget to bring back some packs of fragrant Chau Doc thot not palm sugar as gifts, like a precious regional specialty that everyone cherishes.
Thot Not Palm Sugar, a specialty of the Chau Doc tourist area (photo collection)
Rattan Fruit and Thai Tamarind
When visiting Chau Doc, tourists easily become fascinated by the ripe and fragrant Thai tamarinds sold everywhere. Occasionally, they will also come across stalls selling rattan fruits (also known as Thai rattan, rattan apples), a rare fruit that is only common in An Giang. Along the roads leading to Chau Doc, there are many stalls selling rattan fruits.
Rattan fruit (photo collection)
Thai tamarind (photo collection)
