'Unbelievable' Bac Lieu tourism, a destination 'absolutely amazing'

Bac Lieu is a land blessed by nature with vast white sandy beaches, majestic mountains, endless mangrove forests, and coconut palms. Amidst the bustling and lively atmosphere of the Mekong Delta, Bac Lieu tourism remains as peaceful as ever with buildings echoing the spirit of the Southern Provinces, and gardens laden with fruit trees alongside poetic coastlines, making it 'easy to come - hard to leave'

Bac Lieu is increasingly developing tourism (photo by ST)

1. Introduction to Bac Lieu

Bac Lieu is a province located in the Mekong Delta region, situated on the Ca Mau Peninsula, the southernmost part of Vietnam, characterized by flat terrain, crisscrossed with rivers, streams, and narrow canals.

Bac Lieu is increasingly attracting many tourists (photo by ST)

Visitors to Bac Lieu not only get to visit the Bac Lieu mansion but also have the opportunity to enjoy the traditional music of 'đờn ca tài tử' with the melodious tune of 'dạ cổ hoài lang' performed by local artists. Additionally, tourists can explore historical relics, ecotourism destinations, and spiritual tourism sites intertwined with landscapes and ancient stories, and indulge in many famous local specialties.

The hardworking and diligent people of Bac Lieu (photo by ST)

Travelers can visit Bac Lieu at any time of the year, but if you want to fully experience and understand the local customs and beliefs, it's best to go around February or March in the lunar calendar, which is festival season.

Bac Lieu is tranquil and picturesque (photo by ST)

2. Transportation

Bac Lieu is approximately 290km away from Ho Chi Minh City center, taking about 5 hours by car. Travelers can choose reputable bus companies for this route such as Phuong Trang, Hoang Yen, Kim Yen... with ticket prices ranging from 190,000 VND to 210,000 VND.

Bac Lieu's wind turbine field (photo by ST)

From the North, you can fly to Can Tho by air, then take a coach to Bac Lieu with ticket prices around 80,000 VND to 100,000 VND

Map of the route from Saigon to Bac Lieu (photo by ST)

3. Places to visit in Bac Lieu

• Bac Lieu Mansion

Address: 13 Dien Bien Phu, Ward 3, Bac Lieu City

Bac Lieu Mansion always intrigues many tourists. This house was built in 1919, designed by a French engineer with all materials imported from France. The mansion consists of a ground floor and an upper floor adorned with many decorative motifs, including intricate trim, embossed patterns, comprising 4 rooms and 4 grand halls surrounded by wide corridors, making the house always cool and breezy. Upon completion, it was considered the most majestic house in the Southern provinces at that time. Besides sightseeing and exploring its architecture and historical artifacts, visitors also have the opportunity to hear stories about the extravagant life of the richest playboy in the region back then.

Opulent interior of the Bac Lieu Mansion (photo by ST)

• Nha Mat Tourist Area

Address: Nha Mat Ward, Bac Lieu Town

Nha Mat Tourist Area is a resort, ecotourism, and entertainment complex, the largest in the Bac Lieu region. The entire tourist area includes an artificial beach, caves, and a large hammock. Upon arrival, visitors will be impressed by the octopus-shaped entrance gate to the beach area, with a boat lifted by the octopus, which looks quite picturesque.

Panoramic view of Nha Mat Tourist Area (photo by ST)

• Xiêm Can Pagoda

Address: Hiep Thanh Commune, Bac Lieu City

The Xiêm Can Pagoda, showcasing Khmer architecture in Bac Lieu, was built in the 19th century on a sprawling 50,000m2 campus. From a distance, visitors can observe the golden gate of the pagoda, tall and close to the roadside, with exquisite and distinctive architecture. Above the gate are three Angkor-style towers adorned with intricately carved multi-headed serpents, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship.

Showcasing the cultural beliefs and customs of the Khmer people in Bac Lieu (photo by ST)

The temple features a spacious, serene, and cool courtyard with two rows of trees lining the pathways, serving as a spiritual destination for those devoted to Buddhism. It comprises the main hall, pavilion, residences of the monks, and a tower housing relics. The temple vividly showcases the cultural beliefs and customs of the Khmer people in Bac Lieu.

Image of Xiêm Can Pagoda with Khmer architecture in Bac Lieu (photo by ST)

• Bac Lieu Bird Sanctuary

Address: Hiep Thanh Commune, Bac Lieu City

The Bac Lieu Bird Sanctuary covers an area of approximately 160 hectares of mangrove forest, serving as a habitat for over 40 bird species with more than 60,000 individuals. It is a completely natural and wild bird sanctuary scattered across the districts of Dong Hai, Phuoc Long, and Gia Rai in Bac Lieu province. Birds often gather here in large numbers during the rainy season from May to October. The bird sanctuaries and bird gardens in Bac Lieu are favorite ecotourism destinations for domestic and international tourists.

The Bac Lieu Bird Sanctuary hosts thousands of birds (photo by ST)

4. Culinary Delights in Bac Lieu

When visiting Bac Lieu, don't miss the chance to savor the local delicacies such as Ba khia (fermented small crabs), banh cu cai (radish cake), spicy beef noodle soup, con xai (mud creeper), xa bau (lemongrass stew)… You will surely be impressed by the distinctive flavors and unique culinary culture of this Southern land.

Bac Lieu boasts a wide array of local specialties (photo by ST)

• Pickled Bottle Gourd

This is a familiar dish among the people of Bac Lieu. The pickled bottle gourd has a sour and crispy taste, often enjoyed with soy sauce, braised fish sauce, shrimp paste, or mixed in shrimp and meat salad. Bottle gourd is also used in other dishes such as stir-fried shrimp, stir-fried meat, sour soup with snakehead fish or carp… The price for each kilogram of pickled bottle gourd ranges from 40,000 to 50,000 VND.

Image of pickled bottle gourd, a Bac Lieu specialty (photo by ST)

• Bakhia

At first glance, many people might mistake bakhia for crabs due to their distinct resemblance to field crabs. However, bakhia are smaller and primarily inhabit brackish water areas. From bakhia, numerous delicious dishes can be made. The simplest one is salted bakhia, which involves cleaning, tearing into small pieces, then mixing evenly with sugar, chili, garlic, MSG, and lime juice to enhance its sweetness. Additionally, bakhia can be processed into various other dishes such as sweet and sour bakhia, tamarind stir-fried bakhia, bakhia fish sauce, papaya bakhia salad…

Bakhia in Bac Lieu (photo by ST)

• White Radish Cake

Made from a mixture of wheat flour and white radish flour, rolled thinly into bite-sized pieces. This cake has a subtle and unique taste due to the combination of wheat flour, white radish, and the filling made from minced shrimp, minced pork, mixed with mung bean vermicelli, seasoned, and stir-fried. It is served with various fresh vegetables and herbs, dipped in a sauce made of lime juice, garlic, and chili.

Image of white radish cake (photo by ST)

• Vinh Hung Sour Fermented Fish

When visiting the ancient Vinh Hung tower, locals will introduce you to the unique Vinh Hung sour fermented fish. It is made from various types of fish such as snakehead fish, carp, small catfish... along with salt, sugar, roasted rice powder, rice wine, galangal, garlic, and chili. The fragrant aroma, sour and salty taste, combined with the intense flavors of rustic fruits like jujubes, guavas, starfruits, bitter bananas, green oranges, cucumbers, and spicy chili will mesmerize you when served with home-cooked meals. Unlike other salty fermented fish, Vinh Hung sour fermented fish is only consumed within 10 - 15 days to ensure the freshness of its flavor. If refrigerated, it can last a little longer.

Vinh Hung Sour Fermented Fish (photo by ST)

• Duck and Coconut Tằm Cake

The duck and coconut tằm cake is one of the signature dishes of the Mekong Delta region, and any visitor to Bac Lieu would certainly want to try it. This cake comes in two varieties: savory and sweet, with the richness and chewiness of the cake batter complemented by the savory and fragrant taste of minced meat, boiled lean pork, crushed roasted peanuts. Sitting around the street vendor, depending on your taste preference, you can enjoy the rustic flavors of Bac Lieu. The duck and coconut tằm cake has become a unique and enticing dish for travelers from afar.

Image of duck and coconut tằm cake (Photo by ST)

5. Accommodation in Bac Lieu

Bac Lieu offers a variety of hotels and guesthouses with prices suitable for travelers to choose accommodations that fit their budget. The average room rates range from 180,000 to 300,000 VND per night. Below are some hotels in Bac Lieu that you can consider:

Hotels in Bac Lieu (photo by ST)

• Bac Lieu Hotel

Address: 4-6 Hoang Van Thu, Bac Lieu City

• Thai Hoang Bac Lieu Hotel

Address: 207 National Highway 1A, Chau Hung Town, Vinh Loi District

• Dat Ngoc Hotel

Address: 488 Vo Thi Sau, Bac Lieu City

• Nhu Toan Hotel

Address: 5/252, Hamlet 4, Ward 2, Bac Lieu City

• Le Minh Hotel

Address: 137D/4 23 August National Highway 1A, Bac Lieu City

• Anh Hong Hotel

Address: 91A National Highway 1A, Bac Lieu

Inside view of Cong Tu Bac Lieu Hotel (Photo by ST)