Travel Guide: Sóc Trăng A to Z

If travelers want to immerse themselves in the cultural richness of the Kinh, Khmer, and Chinese communities, along with the longstanding residents, and enjoy the spaciousness of nature, let's pack our bags with Mytour and head to Sóc Trăng!

Travel Guide: Sóc Trăng A to Z

Overview of Sóc Trăng Tourism

Sóc Trăng is a coastal province in the Mekong Delta, situated at the upper reaches of the Hậu River, where it flows into the East Sea at the Định An and Trần Đề estuaries, ranking sixth in both population and area in the Mekong Delta region.

Sóc Trăng is quite an intriguing destination for travelers. Here, visitors can experience various festive activities, explore renowned ancient temples, and indulge in many famous local delicacies.

Transportation Options for Traveling to Sóc Trăng

From Ho Chi Minh City:

+ Bus to Sóc Trăng: Travelers can purchase bus tickets at the Western Bus Station. Ticket prices range from 160,000 to 200,000 VND, with a travel time of about 4-5 hours. It's recommended to choose reputable bus companies such as:

Phuong Trang – Phone: 1900 6067

Mai Linh – Phone: 08. 39 39 39 39

+ From Hanoi: Travelers can take a flight, train, or bus to Ho Chi Minh City and then follow the directions from Ho Chi Minh City to Sóc Trăng, which will be more convenient.

Getting Around in Sóc Trăng: Travelers can move around the city using various means of transportation, such as personal vehicles, motorcycles, buses, taxis, etc.

Some taxi companies in Sóc Trăng:

Mai Linh Sóc Trăng: 0299 3686868

Vinasun Sóc Trăng: 0299 3888888

When is the Best Time to Visit Sóc Trăng?

The climate in Sóc Trăng is divided into two distinct seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. Typically, the dry season lasts from the end of the year to the beginning of the following year.

Travelers can visit during the full moon of October to witness the Ok Om Bok Festival, which is a captivating event featuring boat racing with strong Khmer influences. Alternatively, travelers can explore Con Dao in April or May, as the weather during this time is ideal for exploration.

Fun Places to Visit in Sóc Trăng

Bat Pagoda

Bat Pagoda is a temple with a blend of Vietnamese and Cambodian architecture. Its name originates from the surrounding forest, mainly consisting of starfruit and cajuput trees, where thousands of bats reside and return to the temple grounds every evening, covering the sky.

Address: Van Ngoc Chinh, Ward 3, Sóc Trăng.

Tan Long Egret Garden

This place is renowned as a conservation area for numerous species of wildlife, boasting highly favorable natural conditions for the habitat and development of various flora and fauna, especially birds and storks. Additionally, visitors can indulge in many rustic specialties of Soc Trang or the Mekong Delta region in general.

Address: Long Binh Commune, Nga Nam, Soc Trang Province

Nga Nam Floating Market

Nga Nam Floating Market is a bustling market on the river, strategically located at the intersection of five branches: Ca Mau, Vinh Quoi, Long My, Thanh Tri, and Phung Hiep. Visitors not only immerse themselves in the vibrant trading activities on the river but also observe the daily life of local residents. The market is most lively from around 3-4 am to 7-8 am.

Address: Nga Nam, Thanh Tri, Soc Trang Province

Sa Lon Pagoda (cup-shaped pagoda)

This is one of the ancient pagodas with unique architecture, where visitors can also admire a part of the heritage of Bac Lieu's affluent son. Coming to Sa Lon Pagoda, tourists will immerse themselves in nature, breathe fresh air, find inner peace, and feel more relaxed.

Address: Dia Tam Commune, My Xuyen, Soc Trang Province.

Mud Pagoda

Inside the pagoda, there are many Buddha statues made of mud, and even the columns of the pagoda are made of mud. At first glance, Mud Pagoda resembles ordinary houses. The house is not large, with a tiled roof, wooden walls, and frames made of ironwood, dipterocarpus alatus wood. The front of the pagoda faces inward, and the back faces the street. Here, visitors can experience and touch the statues as a keepsake of their visit.

Address: Ward 5, Soc Trang Province.

Som Rong Pagoda

This is a Khmer temple with a giant reclining Buddha statue, a favorite destination for tourists and photographers. From afar, visitors can see the reclining Buddha statue gazing at the rising moon, which has attracted a large number of visitors for sightseeing and photography.

Address: Ton Duc Thang Street, Ward 5, Soc Trang.

Truc Lam Monastery

Truc Lam Soc Trang Monastery is not only a vivid symbol with spiritual significance but also an impressive architectural masterpiece, creating a solemn spiritual space for Buddhist followers in the heart of Soc Trang city.

Address: Hamlet 5, Soc Trang Province.

Soc Trang Museum

The provincial museum is a place that houses many cultural and historical treasures of the three ethnic groups: Kinh, Khmer, and Chinese. Currently, it is exhibiting 730 valuable artifacts, including many items donated by local residents. This is a construction built with exquisite architecture reflecting the spiritual and rich daily life of the ethnic people here.

Address: Hung Vuong, Ward 6, Soc Trang.

Freshwater Lake

Soc Trang Freshwater Lake consists of 2 lakes: a small lake (formerly Tinh Tam Lake) and a large lake (formerly a hydraulic project dug manually by thousands of Soc Trang residents after 1975). The Freshwater Lake is considered the lung of Soc Trang City, where most of the cultural activities of Soc Trang province take place.

Address: Hung Vuong, Ward 6, Soc Trang.

Mo O Beach

At Mo O Beach, tourists can enjoy the cool, fresh air, suitable for sightseeing and indulging in freshly caught seafood harvested by local fishermen.

Address: Tran De, Trung Binh, Soc Trang Province.

My Phuoc Islet

This is a famous destination in Soc Trang, where visitors can indulge in delicious fruit orchards and gather with friends on weekends to relax.

Address: Nhon My, Ke Sach, Soc Trang Province

Dung Islet

Cu Lao Dung is surrounded by water on all sides, with flat terrain and a dense network of rivers and canals. At the tip of the island, visitors will be amazed by the lush fruit orchards, perfect for family trips. It is also the largest flooded forest area in the Mekong Delta region, boasting a diverse and rich ecosystem that attracts many wild plant and animal species.

Address: Cu Lao Dung, Soc Trang Province.

Four-Faced Pagoda

The Four-Faced Pagoda is one of the oldest temples in Soc Trang and the Mekong Delta region. What's remarkable is the appearance of the stone Buddha statue with intricate and unique carvings that seem beyond human craftsmanship. Visitors here have the opportunity to experience and explore the ancient and famous architecture of this temple.

Address: Phu Tan Commune, My Xuyen, Soc Trang Province

Binh An Ecotourism Area

When mentioning Soc Trang, one cannot overlook the Binh An Soc Trang tourist area with its unique features that attract thousands of visitors. Here, tourists will experience modernity and freshness different from the temples they have visited. Additionally, visitors can participate in cultural activities, listen to Southern folk songs, admire the traditional Khmer dances of Soc Trang, and get a glimpse of the highland region with comfortable guesthouses on the hills equipped with modern amenities.

Address: Ward 2, Soc Trang Province.

What to Eat in Soc Trang?

Banh pia

When it comes to banh pia, Soc Trang banh pia cannot be missed. It's a blend of Chinese and Western cuisine, with a soft crust filled with green beans, durian, salted eggs, and more, creating a delicious treat for visitors.

Savory banh u

The ingredients for making the cake include glutinous rice, peanuts, coconut milk, dried shrimp, pork, shiitake mushrooms, Chinese sausage, and especially salted duck egg yolks. The cake is usually wrapped in banana leaves, shaped like a triangle, and tied with strings. Visiting Soc Trang without enjoying savory banh u is truly regrettable.

Cong cake

Cong cake is made from rice flour mixed with mung beans and eggs, filled with minced pork marinated with spices. Cong cake tastes delicious when eaten with various fresh vegetables such as mint, lettuce, cabbage, and ginger from the region.

Mè lao candy

Mè lao candy is made from thinly sliced taro sun-dried for about 3 days. When eaten, the taro is cut into rectangular pieces and mixed with beaten sugar water to form candy, then rolled in roasted sesame seeds.

Shrimp inflated cake

Composed primarily of wheat flour, ground shrimp or prawns with a hint of ground pepper. After mixing these ingredients together, they are stuffed into long tube-shaped cloth bags. Once steamed until cooked, the mixture is sliced into rectangular or circular pieces and then dried. Before consumption, the cakes are deep-fried in hot oil until they expand and become crispy.

Vermicelli with crab spring rolls

The ingredients for a bowl of vermicelli with crab spring rolls include pork ribs, freshwater shrimp, and pork belly. While bun rieu has the rich flavor of crab, and bun nuoc leo has a strong fish sauce taste, a bowl of vermicelli with crab spring rolls carries the distinctive aroma of freshwater shrimp and ground shrimp paste, both sweet and savory, blending with the flavors of broth, vegetables, bean sprouts, and coriander.

Duck vermicelli soup with pepper

This is a dish brought to Vietnam by the Chinese, and the people of Soc Trang have adapted the spices in the duck vermicelli soup to better suit Vietnamese tastes while still retaining the unique flavors of the dish.

Soc Trang roasted calf

After being cleaned, the beef is left whole and skewered along its length with an iron rod, then placed on an X-shaped rack pressed down to the ground, with a charcoal fire underneath to grill the beef to medium rare. The meat is wrapped with rice paper, vermicelli, raw vegetables, bitter banana, starfruit, and dipped in a slightly sesame-flavored fish sauce. This is a delicious dish that locals often refer to as grilled skewer beef or fresh rare beef.

Xa Bau

Xa Bau is made from white radishes, cut into bite-sized pieces, sun-dried, and mixed with sugar to ferment for a few days before consumption. This is considered a favorite dish of the locals here because of its ease of eating and preparation.

Bone noodle soup

The broth is cooked from bones to make it clear and sweet, which is the secret to making the noodle soup outstanding, served with some vegetables, a little sourness from lime, and spiciness from chili, making the bowl of bone noodle soup even more delicious.

What to bring back as gifts when visiting Soc Trang?

Nam Roi Pomelo from Ke Thanh

Nam Roi pomelo is the flagship fruit of Ke Sach district, known for its attractive appearance and delicious taste. With thin skin, shiny golden color, sweet and rich flavor, seedless when ripe, Ke Thanh pomelo is highly favored by consumers.

Vinh Chau Purple Onions

Vinh Chau purple onions are favored by consumers because they contain many essential oils and beneficial substances for health, used as food, additives, and medicinal materials. If you have the opportunity to visit here, don't forget to buy some Vinh Chau purple onions as gifts for your friends and family!

Flat Green Sticky Rice

Flat green sticky rice is no longer unfamiliar to people in the Mekong Delta, especially in Soc Trang. The rice used to make flat green sticky rice must be long, fragrant, and sticky. Then it is roasted evenly and ground until it's just right. All the rice is then sifted to remove the husk, making the rice delicious and letting it dry out. For even better taste, mix flat green sticky rice with grated coconut, a little coconut water, and white sugar.

Thạnh Trị Buffalo Jerky

Buffalo jerky is found in many areas in Soc Trang, but to get a piece of jerky with a sweet glaze when grilled, you can only find it at Thanh Tri buffalo jerky. Making buffalo jerky is an extremely meticulous process: clean, cut into bite-sized pieces, thinly pound, marinate with garlic, sugar, and ground pepper for the meat to absorb the spices, then sun-dry for 3 days.

Where to Stay in Soc Trang?

Thien An Hotel

Address: 593 Tran Hung Dao, Soc Trang province

Things to Note When Traveling to Soc Trang

Dress respectfully and modestly when visiting temples.

Bring a hat and sunglasses before visiting.

Always inquire about the prices before making purchases or using services.

Remember to maintain order and cleanliness in public areas.

As per Mytour

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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour