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EXPLORING CHAU DOC – MEKONG ECO TOUR

An Giang is a province in Vietnam that borders Cambodia. It is most popular for being the place where one finds Chau Doc. The city is situated at the intersection of a tributary linking the Bassac and Mekong Rivers. Chau Doc may be a little city, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in colours and is probably the only place where pastel colours are chosen to beautify store fronts. Chau Doc is close to the river border of Vietnam and Cambodia. Anyone who travels to and from Phnom Penh by boat will pass by the city in Mekong delta tours, and staying overnight is highly recommended.

Aside from the colours, visitors will also captivated by the locals; the people in Chau Doc, including the xe dap loi drivers, are nice and friendly. Foreigners need not worry too much about a language barrier—English is spoken in most hotels and guesthouses, while most restaurants have an English-language menu.

The main attraction in Chau Doc is the Sam Mountain, which is about seven kilometres north of town. The mountain is not really high, it just seems that way because of the plains of Mekong. This tourist destination is considered a local pilgrimage site because the mountain is home to many shrines and temples and there is a colourful temple at the base, and smaller places of worship on the way up the mountain. However, the most religiously significant is the Ba Chua Xu Temple, which has its own festival held between April and June. An attraction history lovers would surely appreciate is the Tuc Dup Hill. This is where the U.S. forces failed to stop the small-scale insurgencies in the delta. The hill was guarded and dominated by the Viet Cong during the U.S. assault, which lasted for four months. Near the hill, one will see graves and memorials.

Another attraction worth visiting in Chau Doc is the Tra Su Bird Sanctuary. It has a 23-metre high observation tower, enabling visitors to see over the reserve and the stunning countryside that surrounds it. Everyone who visits Chau Doc must go on a boat trip and an experience in this town would not be complete without it. Those who are interested to go on this trip will have no difficulty; all one has to do is walk along the Bassac River in the direction of the Victoria Chau Doc Hotel; here, there are many people who will persuade tourists to hire the boat to go out and see the fish farms. The best time to go on a boat trip is in the early morning, so that one can catch the river market. Chau Doc can also be a place of relaxation. In the aforementioned Victoria Hotel, there is a rooftop spa and there are massage therapies that last for less than an hour, which is perfect for tourists who do not have a lot of time in their hands. Those who can stay longer should try the Relaxation Package (three days/two nights). The spa is open from 09:00 to 21:00.