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Tiền Giang offers an ideal setting to immerse yourself in and relish the beauty of nature. Beyond historical landmarks, you will be captivated by the human landscapes in this place.
5 captivating spots to explore when traveling to Tiền Giang
Tiền Giang is located 70 km from Ho Chi Minh City, and the newly opened Mỹ Lợi Bridge has reduced the distance to about 25 km. You can travel here by motorbike to experience a unique feeling. You will arrive at a famous place with abundant fruit orchards, floating markets on the river, and numerous scenic spots.
Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda
When in Tiền Giang, tourists all want to visit Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda, the largest pagoda in the province, about 5 km from Mỹ Tho city. Located on Nguyễn Trung Trực Street, Mỹ An Hamlet, Mỹ Phong Commune, the pagoda is an ancient and unique architectural monument, built in the early 19th century with a harmonious blend of Eastern and Western architectural styles in every carving detail.
The temple is constructed in the style of Chinese characters from Han script, like Chinese temples, but with decorative elements inspired by the Renaissance era, arched doorways reminiscent of Roman architecture, Japanese ceramic tile flooring, and ironwork in the French style. The classical Chinese characters are elegantly written, while the national script is in Gothic style. At first glance, the temple seamlessly blends elements of both Asia and Europe.
Despite incorporating global influences, Vinh Trang retains a distinct Vietnamese architectural identity with graceful Buddha statues and intricate details of twisting dragons and phoenixes. The gracefully curved roof creates the illusion of stepping into an ancient temple found only in foreign lands.
Surrounding Vinh Trang Temple are lush gardens with a variety of flowers and plants, ponds exuding the fragrance of lotus blossoms, and ancient trees providing cool shade. This harmonious blend of nature and architecture enhances the temple's venerable and majestic atmosphere.
Cai Be Floating Market
A unique feature exclusive to the Mekong Delta, floating markets represent the age-old tradition of trading goods on the water, where one boat exchanges goods with another. Cai Be Floating Market stands as one of the largest hubs in the Southern Mekong Delta, hosting the bustling trade of over 400 boats daily, operating from 4 AM to 3 PM. The best time to explore this vibrant market is between 5 AM and 7 AM.
Vinh Trang Temple is a masterpiece of architecture, blending traditional Vietnamese elements with global influences. The combination of cultural richness, intricate details, and serene surroundings makes it a must-visit destination in the Mekong Delta.
The primary business of the boat vendors here revolves around fruits and agricultural products. The goods are incredibly diverse and abundant, with fruits taking the spotlight. Cai Be is renowned for having the most fruit orchards in Tien Giang province, featuring delicious varieties such as oranges, pomelos, Cai Be tangerines, Lo Ren milk apples, and green-skinned pomelos. It serves as a major hub for transporting fruits to every corner of the country.
A unique feature is that each sales boat erects a pole, from which one or more items for sale are hung (whatever is for sale will be displayed). If you want to buy something, simply look at the top of the pole to identify the boat you want to make a purchase from, eliminating the need for verbal advertising. This leads to interesting sights like sweet potatoes or pumpkins seemingly growing upwards into the sky, arousing curiosity and delight among many tourists when they discover the reason behind it.
Cai Be Floating Market also offers amenities similar to onshore markets. Small boats selling food like rice, pho, hu tieu, groceries, etc., follow the boats to make sales. Sitting on the boat, tourists can instantly enjoy a hot bowl of hu tieu or a fragrant cup of coffee in the morning.
Dong Tam Snake Farm
Dong Tam Snake Farm, also known as the pharmaceutical company of Military Region 9, is situated along the banks of the Tien River, covering an area of approximately 30 hectares with a spacious and green environment. It stands as one of Vietnam's largest snake farms, housing over 400 species and serving as a virtual museum on snakes, attracting many domestic and international tourists for exploration and research.
Visitors can witness a variety of snakes, ranging from harmless to extremely venomous species. The snakes are bred in three distinct areas based on their characteristics: an area with a water pond, a zone for venomous snakes, and a section dedicated to pythons.
Raising these snakes and pythons, especially the venomous ones, requires meticulous care and involves significant danger. The staff at Dong Tam Snake Farm work with utmost caution, even when opening enclosures, being gentle and slow to prevent snakes from escaping or biting. Snake care is akin to caring for a child, as constant monitoring is necessary to detect any signs of abnormality or illness for timely treatment.
The purpose of Dong Tam Snake Farm is to breed snakes for exporting venom, alongside cultivating medicinal plants and conserving rare and precious species like pythons, crocodiles, otters, foxes, bears, and more. Moreover, it serves as an effective center for treating snakebites for people in the Mekong Delta and nearby provinces, attracting many tourists whenever they visit Tien Giang.
My Tho Hu Tieu
One of the top three renowned brands in the South, My Tho Hu Tieu may appear similar to other types of hu tieu at first glance, but its distinctive qualities become apparent only when you taste it.
The defining feature of My Tho Hu Tieu noodles is their small, dry, chewy, and fragrant strands, unrivaled by any other. The accompanying ingredients are diverse, allowing you to freely choose between meat, offal, bones, or seafood according to your preference. The most enticing aspect is the broth. Besides the sweet taste of bone broth, there's the salty richness of dried shrimp and the subtle sweetness of turnips, creating a soothing sensation on the palate.
For an authentic experience, visit Hạnh Hu Tieu shop (Nguyen An Ninh Street). The place is always bustling with customers due to its preserved traditional flavors, drawing people in for a delightful culinary experience. The price is around 40,000 VND.
Additionally, there are many other delightful hu tieu eateries along the roadside, such as squid hu tieu, meatball hu tieu, with prices as low as around 20,000 VND.
Cai Be Ecotourism Orchards
Location: Cai Be Orchards stretch along the northern bank of the Tien River, in Cai Be district, Tien Giang province.
As the land of abundant fruits in the Southern Delta, blessed with fertile soil, ample alluvium, and a mild climate, fruit trees thrive year-round. Recognizing the region's strengths, locals have mastered various fruit cultivation techniques, turning it into a major fruit hub for both domestic consumption and international export.
Currently, Cai Be district boasts nearly 15,000 hectares of fruit orchards, featuring diverse varieties such as Four Seasons durian, Milk Apple durian, Nam Roi pomelo, Pink Pummelo, Láng pomelo, Longan, Lychee, and renowned varieties like Hoa Loc mango. In addition, there are various other fruit trees including sapote, guava, apple, kumquat, jackfruit, plum, and peach.
Cai Be Orchards are among the richest, offering fruits in all four seasons. Regardless of when you visit Cai Be, you'll have the opportunity to savor a variety of ripe and delicious fruits. The local residents are friendly, sincere, and hospitable.
Moreover, you can indulge in Southern-style dishes here, such as deep-fried elephant ear fish, boneless snakehead fish rolled in rice paper, duck cooked with rice porridge and morning glory, grilled snakehead fish...
The cuisine is delicious, rich, set amidst a charming landscape. Exploring the orchards of Cai Be, immersing yourself in the daily life of the locals, visitors will find relaxation, harmonizing with nature while listening to traditional folk music, gaining insights into the Southern hospitality. A visit here leaves an unforgettable impression.
According to Zing News
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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourOctober 16, 2015
