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Traveling amidst the lush gardens of the Mekong Delta has always been a captivating experience for both domestic and international tourists. Among these, Thới Sơn tourism stands out as a preferred destination for many visitors exploring the rivers and waterways. So, what makes Thới Sơn tourist area so appealing? Let's delve into this fertile land of sweet alluvium in Tiền Giang province with Mytour!
1. Where is Cù Lao Thới Sơn located?
Cù Lao Thới Sơn, also known as Lân Islet, is one of the four sacred lands of Long - Lân - Quy - Phụng along the Tiền River, situated in Thới Hòa hamlet, Thới Sơn commune, Mỹ Tho, Tiền Giang province. This is one of the most attractive Tiền Giang tourist destinations visited by many tourists during weekends.
Cù Lao Thới Sơn is annually replenished by the rich red alluvium of the Tiền River, adorning the area with a vivid green hue from its lush orchards and thriving aquatic life. Previously, the inhabitants of Thới Sơn Islet mainly relied on fishing, aquaculture, and fruit cultivation,... Subsequently, thanks to the blessings of nature and the longstanding cultural values, the people of Cù Lao Thới Sơn have successfully developed eco-tourism and community tourism.
When visiting Thới Sơn Islet, you'll indulge in the flavors of authentic Mekong Delta cuisine and the sweetness of local fruits such as: longan, rambutan, sapodilla, durian, jackfruit, mango,... Additionally, you'll experience daily life activities of the locals like: catching fish in the canal, making puffed rice cakes, rice paper, coconut candy, enjoying traditional music performances, riding on a sampan....
2. How to get to Cù Lao Thới Sơn
2.1 Travel from HCMC to Mỹ Tho
If you want to go solo traveling to Thới Sơn Islet, you can use personal vehicles such as cars or motorcycles,... to reach Tiền Giang. Mỹ Tho city is about 70km away from HCMC and takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to travel. Additionally, you can take a coach from the Western Bus Station to Mỹ Tho for a ticket price of about 60,000đ - 90,000đ/person/way. If you don't want to worry about transportation, you can book a Thới Sơn tour to be served from A to Z!
2.2 Travel from Mỹ Tho to Thới Sơn Islet
From the center of Mỹ Tho city to Thới Sơn Islet, you can choose between 2 transportation methods: by road or by waterway. Most tourists prefer to travel by road for better control over time and more freedom of movement. You can use a motorcycle or car to get to Rạch Miễu Bridge, turn right at the middle section of the bridge onto a small road leading to Thới Sơn Islet tourist area.
For waterway transportation, you can go to the 30/4 tourist pier in Mỹ Tho city to catch a boat to Thới Sơn Islet. If you travel in a small group, it's advisable to join other tourists to share a boat with a price of about 20,000đ - 30,000đ/person. If you travel in a large group, you can rent a boat package with a price of 300,000đ - 350,000đ/boat.
3. What to do at Thới Sơn Islet?
1. Ride on a sampan
When visiting Thới Sơn tourist area, you must try riding on a sampan, a specialty of the Mekong Delta. The rhythmic rowing takes you on a journey around Thới Sơn Islet through small canals shaded by coconut trees. Sitting on the boat, you'll admire the serene and refreshing scenery of the Southern countryside through each house, canal, and garden,...
During the exploration of Thới Sơn tourist area, you'll hear folk tales and legends associated with the islet, understanding the simple and rustic life of the people in the Southwestern region. While riding on the sampan, prepare yourself with a unique hat as a trendy accessory for super virtual check-ins!
2. Explore Thới Sơn by horse carriage, bicycle
Apart from riding on a sampan, you can also explore Thới Sơn Islet by horse carriage or bicycle. The horse carriage will take you on a tour around Thới Sơn Islet to discover nature and visit the most famous attractions on the islet. Riding on a horse carriage will be an extremely enjoyable experience for you.
3. Visit fruit orchards
When talking about Mekong Delta tourism, we cannot ignore the abundant fruit orchards. As one of the areas with the most fruit trees in Tiền Giang, Thới Sơn Islet supplies fruits to many major markets. Therefore, the orchards here offer a variety of fruits for tourists to enjoy and buy as gifts.
According to Mytour's Thới Sơn Islet travel experience, the entrance fee to fruit orchards is quite cheap and there is no overcharging of tourists, so you can completely feel at ease!
4. Fishing in the canal
One of the most enjoyable activities at Thới Sơn Islet tourist area is to personally fish in the canal, experiencing the life of a real farmer. Roll up your pants and wade into the pond to catch fish to experience the 'hardship' of farmers and enjoy the unique joy found only in the countryside.
For those who have never fished, especially those living in urban areas, the experience of fishing in the canal will be extremely novel and exciting. The slippery snakehead fish wriggling and maneuvering 'tricky' will bring excitement, suspense, and laughter to you and your family when visiting Thới Sơn Islet.
Additionally, you'll get to enjoy the delicious grilled snakehead fish that you caught yourself and reap the rewards after a dive into the canal. The cost of the fishing experience is quite cheap, only about 100k/person (including lunch).
5. Visit traditional craft villages
The lives of the people in Thới Sơn are closely connected with the long-standing traditional craft villages preserved through many generations. When visiting Thới Sơn, you'll explore villages specializing in making coconut candy, producing rice paper, honeybee farms, coconut handicraft villages,... These seemingly simple products require meticulous handcrafting by skilled artisans in the area.
You'll witness firsthand the process of making the products and experience some stages yourself to appreciate the craftsmanship of the artisans in these craft villages. If possible, consider purchasing some products to support the people of Thới Sơn and contribute to the preservation of these traditional craft villages!
6. Listen to traditional Southern folk music
Southern folk music, known as đờn ca tài tử, is a famous traditional art form of the Western region. At Thới Sơn tourist area, you can sign up to listen to đờn ca tài tử performed by local people. By listening to đờn ca tài tử, you will understand the profound sentiment of the land and its people.
7. Visit nearby attractions around Thới Sơn Islet
In addition to Thới Sơn Islet, you can also visit some nearby tourist attractions to enrich your travel experience, such as Phụng Islet, Quy Islet,... These are popular destinations often combined with visits to Tiền Giang - Bến Tre. When visiting Thới Sơn Islet and Phụng Islet, you can experience the life of the people in the coconut land of the Mekong Delta. Thới Sơn Islet and Phụng Islet tourist areas will be an ideal choice for a weekend getaway to find peace and relaxation in the countryside for you and your family.
4. What to eat at Thới Sơn Islet?
1. Grilled snakehead fish
When visiting Thới Sơn Islet, you must taste the famous grilled snakehead fish, renowned across all regions. The plump snakehead fish caught right from the canal is cleaned and grilled over charcoal until it emits a fragrant aroma.
Grilled snakehead fish is often served with vermicelli, fresh vegetables, herbs, sweet and sour fish sauce, and peanuts. All wrapped in a piece of chewy rice paper, a specialty of the Western region, creating a taste that is unmatched anywhere else.
2. Deep-fried elephant ear fish
The delicacies of Thới Sơn Islet tourism must include the crispy and fragrant deep-fried elephant ear fish. Thới Sơn Islet is one of the major aquaculture areas in the Mekong Delta, so it offers plenty of delicious fish dishes that tempt many tourists.
The deep-fried elephant ear fish at Thới Sơn Islet is caught and prepared on-site, preserving the freshness of the fish. Dip a piece of tender white fish into a bowl of sweet and sour fish sauce, true to the style of the Western region. This dish is also served with mango salad - a popular fruit on Thới Sơn Islet.
3. Crispy pancakes
Bánh xèo is perhaps one of the most popular dishes among Vietnamese people throughout the country. Each region has its own way of making bánh xèo with diverse ingredients according to the specific local characteristics.
When visiting Thới Sơn tourist area, besides the familiar bánh xèo with shrimp and pork, you can also enjoy a unique and delicious dish called bánh xèo with snails. The snails in Thới Sơn are nestled under the sweet alluvial layer, giving them a rich and fragrant taste. The snails are soaked to remove sand, then lightly boiled before being added to the bánh xèo batter.
4. Crispy fried sticky rice
Crispy fried sticky rice is a very interesting dish in the Mekong Delta that makes every visitor want to try it at least once. The sticky rice is made with a special recipe from the locals, so when fried, it puffs up like a bubble. The exterior of crispy fried sticky rice is crunchy, while the inside is soft and filled with delicious mung bean filling.
Thới Sơn tourism is an exciting destination for those who love the culture of the Southwestern region of Vietnam. Hopefully, with the helpful information above from Mytour, you will have a complete and joyful trip with your loved ones. If you want to book a Thới Sơn tour or budget tours, please contact the hotline Mytour for free consultation and fastest support!
