Top 10 Most Alluring Tourist Destinations in An Giang Province

Sam Mountain, also known as Vinh Te Son or Ngoc Lanh Son, is a mountain located in the Seven Mountains region, just 5km from the center of Chau Doc city. Nothing is more fascinating than following the winding road to admire the bushes, roadside shoots, especially the elegant flowers here. The Ti Gon flower is a characteristic flower of this Sam Mountain area, its bright pink flowers clinging to the betel palm, the bangle tree... harmonizing with the melodious chirping of birds will make you forget your fatigue, making you mesmerized, stopping, closing your eyes, silent, and listening.

Near the Fortress Tower is a small temple of Dr. Mo, a noble figure of the Duy Tan movement against the French. This villa has harmonious, elegant architecture, nestled on the mountainside. The house is built from granite stones, red tiles imitating the European medieval fortress style.

Long Son Pagoda is a beautiful temple with many majestic Buddha statues, bodhisattvas, and self-contained figures as if overlooking the world. Occasionally, the temple bell rings echoing in the pristine mountains, tranquility, making the wandering guests feel as if they have transcended. Along the mountain road, there are many huts, stalls nestled under ancient trees, where tourists can relax, listen to the wind rustling through the leaves and the melodious chirping of birds. Or if inspired, tourists can also stop by the roadside to enjoy the specialties of this region such as stir-fried beef with sesame leaves or delicious and attractive sour soup.

Tuc Dup is a solid stronghold of the An Giang people and army during the resistance against the US, with a height of about 300m and a circumference of about 2200m. Tuc Dup Hill is generously endowed by nature with a system of countless caves like great beehives, connected by myriad passages and rocky outcrops.

More than 30 years have passed since the guns fell silent, but the scars of the enemy's destruction still linger on the rocks, with only the lush greenery returning. The four seasons bring clear and vibrant watercolors. The caves, the passages, still intact as before, will give you the most authentic images of the blood-drenched struggle for independence, the victory of our forefathers. Each cave has its unique beauty, intertwined in various styles. After a few hours of exploration, you can follow the old path down to visit the museum here. But with a bit of adventurous spirit, you can explore dozens of separate paths, crossing many rocky outcrops. You will reward yourself with the thrill of sneaking around, exploring, and ultimately standing on the rocks proudly like a commanding general observing the surrounding landscape.

You can breathe in the fresh air and take in the fascinating scenery that nature has generously bestowed upon Tuc Dup.

Shrine of Lady of the Realm is located at the foot of Sam Mountain. The statue of the Lady was discovered and carried down from the peak of Sam Mountain by 9 virgin girls, according to the teachings of the Lady through the mouth of 'Ms. Dong,' so people built a shrine to worship. The shrine is a beautiful and solemn architectural work, a famous landmark throughout the Mekong Delta attracting nearly 2 million visitors every year. Pilgrims and tourists from all over the country create a lively festival season that lasts for months.

There is an annual festival held here from the 23rd to the 27th of April lunar calendar, called the Lady of the Realm Festival or Lady's Parade. During this occasion, people gather to attend ceremonies and participate in various activities such as: classical opera, martial arts performances, traditional music, chess playing, etc. Today, Shrine of Lady of the Realm - Sam Mountain in Chau Doc is not only a sacred pilgrimage site but also a very attractive tourist destination. Amidst the bustling atmosphere filled with belief and reverence, here are magnificent views from Sam Mountain, bringing refreshing breezes that rejuvenate the soul and fill everyone with joy and happiness.

Mubarak Mosque is another fascinating destination in An Giang with unique artistic architecture imbued with the religious colors of the Cham people and the characteristic festivals of Islam. The spacious and airy exterior space of the mosque, inside the mosque no deity is worshiped but there is a sanctuary - where clergy guide the faithful in worship. Quietly located on the banks of the Hau River, Chau Giang village with its white mosques is like a peaceful place amidst the hustle and bustle of the border town of Chau Doc.

After exploring a short section of the sanctuary area, visitors will encounter many local people wearing traditional costumes going about their daily lives in the village. In the evening, visitors can enjoy local delicacies from street vendors here such as: 'banh tam' cake, steamed bananas, cassava sticky rice,... You should also treat yourself to 1 - 2 portions to enjoy on the way to explore the next landmarks of An Giang.

Tay An Ancient Pagoda is a Buddhist temple located at the intersection at the foot of Nui Sam, representing a unique intersection of Vietnamese and Indian cultures. The temple is built in the 'Tam' style, constructed with durable materials such as brick, cement. At the triple gate is a statue of Quan Am Thi Kinh, the front of the temple is a two-story Buddha shrine, the main hall is a spacious house, tiled with large tiles, carved wooden columns, on both sides are balconies and drums adorned with artistic statues.

Visiting Tay An Ancient Pagoda, one feels as if transported to a peaceful time away from the bustling life outside, sitting amidst a serene landscape, listening to the resonating temple bell - the heart suddenly feels unusually light.

If visitors prefer not to visit Tay An Pagoda during the day due to the sun and crowded pilgrims, they can also visit and worship in the evening. With its unique architecture compared to other temples, the temple is equipped with yellow lights to illuminate, making it majestic and splendid like castles in the night.

Heading down to An Giang to visit the Tra Su Melaleuca Forest, an area with a typical ecosystem of the Western river region. For just 48,000 VND per visitor, it's advisable to rent a small boat here (carrying 3 - 4 people) to venture deep into the melaleuca forest to fully enjoy the beauty of this place. The locals here are both boatmen and enthusiastic guides who will tell you the history of this melaleuca forest. The boat will move very slowly, giving you enough time to fully appreciate the pristine and mysterious beauty of this place.

The melaleuca forest is most beautiful during the flood season, with duckweed covering the water surface in a green carpet, with the melaleuca trees on both sides like two cool embracing arms; occasionally, the sound of paddles, fish, birds.. stirs up the whole cool green forest. In the forest area, there is an observation tower for visitors to have an overview of the entire melaleuca forest. From this observation tower, visitors can see some mountains in the Seven Mountains range in Chau Doc city such as Ong Ket mountain, Ong Cam mountain, the statue of Buddha Di Lac,...

After exploring the entire forest area, visitors can stop by and rest at the cottages, enjoying the local dishes here such as grilled snakehead fish in reed leaves, sour soup with crazy linh bong fish, grilled field mice with salt and chili.

According to the local dialect here, 'Bung' means lake, pond, 'Binh' is because the water here is always calm, occasionally with small ripples, and 'Thien' means bestowed by the heavens. Bung Binh Thien - An Giang transforms during the flood season, the season of returning water, creating a new breeze in the charming Western landscape. Visitors coming here will experience the tranquility, peace, and coolness amidst the intense green of the water and sky. Still covered in rich sediment, but somehow the water here remains a fresh green like a giant mirror reflecting instead of the yellowish fatty color of the rivers in the West. To fully enjoy the feeling, visitors can rent a boat to cruise Bung Binh Thien, enjoying the thrill of gently paddling in the lake. The price of a boat ranges from 350,000 to 400,000 VND, and can accommodate from 3 to 4 visitors.

If you visit at the right time, you can also participate in the Bung Binh Thien festival, from cultural activities such as boat racing, swimming competitions to traditional water season games such as boat pushing races, fish catching,... At night, visitors can enjoy the melodious tunes at the stage on the lake, not too flashy but remarkably intimate.

When visiting An Giang, it's worth stopping by Tinh Bien Market - this particularly unique border market. After leaving the border supermarket, visitors often stop by Tinh Bien Market for a meal, purchase some local products before heading back. Tinh Bien Border Market looks similar to domestic markets but offers a rich and diverse range of goods. Here, they specialize in bulk sales for traders and supply goods to wholesale markets in the Mekong Delta region.

The merchandise is displayed in stalls and shops lining the market, offering a wide variety of products. However, one of the items that often amazes visitors the most is watches. There are many beautiful and modern styles of both men's and women's watches, manufactured in Thailand and China, with prices ranging from 300,000 to 600,000 VND per piece on average. The same items are usually priced double in domestic supermarkets despite being identical in design and quality.

Vietnam has many border trade areas, trade gateways with neighboring countries, but a visit to this prosperous southwestern border region will be the most interesting journey, especially for those from other regions outside the Mekong Delta when they have the opportunity to 'travel to the South'. Vietnam has many border trade areas, trade gateways with neighboring countries, but a visit to this prosperous southwestern border region will be the most interesting journey, especially for those from other regions outside the Mekong Delta when they have the opportunity to 'travel to the South'.

Ta Pa Reed Field is located 1km from Tri Ton town. Viewed from a distance, Ta Pa resembles a vast painting covered in the fresh green of young rice paddies, dotted with the towering peaks of palm trees. Palm trees can grow up to 30m tall with tall, straight trunks, and when viewed from afar, the trunks of palm trees resemble coconut trees. In some areas where only a few trees are planted among the rice fields, the palm trees stand tall in the fields like majestic guardians, bravely guarding the plots of land.

The simple and rustic palm trees and the expansive fields paint a picturesque landscape, imbued with the rustic tranquility of the Mekong Delta countryside. Stepping into the reed forests at the beautiful dawn moment, you will immerse yourself in a captivating scene with the early morning sun rays shimmering through each leaf. The enchanting beauty of the thin morning mist blending with the vibrant brightness of the dawn moment is sure to enchant and seduce travelers from afar, leaving you floating in your own flow of emotions.

This final top introduces travelers to the specialties of An Giang:

• Chau Doc Fermented Fish Sauce is one of the must-try specialties when visiting this land. You must try it once to say, 'It's no exaggeration to say, Chau Doc Fermented Fish Sauce is number one.' Visitors can buy fish sauce at large stalls in Chau Doc market or at the foot of Sam Mountain. Price ranges around 100,000 VND per kilogram.
• Long Xuyen Soft Broken Rice is not cooked in the usual way but steamed rice, cooked through steam, so the rice will never be tough or mushy. Maybe because of the soft rice, everything is small and delicate: from rice grains as big as a thumbprint to small slices of lean pork, which are not as long as a finger as in ordinary broken rice dishes we eat. A plate of rice ranges from 15,000 to 20,000 VND. There are many soft broken rice restaurants in Long Xuyen city for you to choose from.
• Chau Doc Fermented Fish Hotpot: A characteristic feature of Chau Doc cuisine, Chau Doc Fermented Fish Hotpot impresses anyone who tries it with the harmonious combination of fish sauce and other ingredients, creating a delicious and irresistible hotpot. Chau Doc is called the land of fish sauce, famous for its Chau Doc fish sauce village that has been around for many years, so dishes made from fish sauce are also not surprising. The creation of fish sauce hotpot is perhaps inevitable when people from the Mekong Delta in general and Chau Doc, An Giang in particular, are so adept at kitchen work. From garden leaves like sour figs that can be combined with dried snakehead fish to become a very delicious sour fig salad with dried snakehead fish, there is no reason to miss the famous Chau Doc fish sauce hotpot. An average pot of hotpot costs around 200,000 VND and can serve 3 - 4 people. Some famous fish sauce hotpot restaurants in Chau Doc city such as: Bay Bong rice restaurant, Dong Que hotpot restaurant are all located on Trung Nu Vuong street - Chau Doc city.