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VISIT THE VILLAGES OF CHAM IN AN GIANG

An Giang is a famous destinations appealing numerous visitors in Mekong River Delta. Coming here, visitors will have the chance to learn more about the religious life of Cham Muslims – the only ethnic group in Vietnam following the Islam.

Three destinations tourists can visit for Cham people in An Giang as list below:

Chau Phong village

-Located along the bank of Vinh An canal, opposite the town of Chau Doc, is the Chau Phong village of the Cham people. This is an old village which still preserves the characteristics of the Cham culture in the Mekong Delta.

Ancient Cham people had the custom of keeping girls of 10-12 years old at home to learn weaving. Cham girls were very skillful in weaving brocade. Today, this practice is no longer maintained, but Cham women in Chau Phong still preserve traditional crafts.

The main materials for weaving brocade are cotton yarns dyed with indigo and silk dyed with natural colors, extracted from latex, bark and fruit. The colors are only blue, white, yellow, and black, but they are always bright and impressive.

To save time, industrial silk is used more today. To deal with the weakness of industrial silk as thin and its tendency to lose color, the Cham create beautiful embroidery patterns so each product is unique.

Brocade is used to make bathing suits, floral sarongs, dresses, jewelry boxes, bags, and especially beautiful and interesting hair ties. Also, the Cham girls weave icat – a kind of towel as a dowry – before they get married.

With its rustic but exquisite and luxurious beauty, Chau Phong brocade has become more and more popular.

Mubarak Mosque – heart of An Giang Cham community

Located in Tan Chau Township, Mubarak Mosque is near Chau Doc City and can be reached by the river. After some minutes on Chau Giang ferry, tourists will see the onion-shaped peak in the distance and crescent moon patterns in – a typical feature of Muslim architecture.

If taking a boat cruise along the river, tourists can sense deeply the peace and fresh feeling of the sanctuary in the morning, at noon or sunset.

Ho Xa Ich, one of the leaders in the mosque, said that the mosque was built in 1750 with bamboo pillars and cottage-style roof. In 1808, the mosque was renovated with wooden pillars, brick walls, rock ground and tiled roof. He said the mosque is the spiritual symbol of the community.

The mosque is also highlighted by a collection of ten Rapana drums which are rumored to be 500 years old. Drums are played in traditional ceremonies as well as festivals in the community. Locals say currently there are about seven people who can play the drums but they are trying to find a protégé to keep the tradition alive.

Bung Binh Thien -Named as the Peaceful Lake of Heaven, Binh Binh Thien is a blue – and – water lake naturally formed in An Giang Province area. The lake is tranquil all year long that reflecting cluster of clouds and enticing passers-by to stop and contemplate the primitive attraction.

Bung Binh Thien is located in An Phu District, in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang, connecting tree communes including Khanh Binh, Nhon Hoi and Quoc Thai, and adjoining Binh Di River and Hau River. This beautiful lake is being constructed to become an eco-tourist area.

In the dry season, the lake covers an area of 200-300ha wide and 4m deep. But it is directly affected by the the hydrographic system of the Mekong River and thus the width triples in the rainy season, with the depth increasing up to seven meters.

In the flood season in Mekong Delta, most of rivers in the area are muddy with alluvium, but the water of Bung Binh Thien still remains clear and blue; a beautiful landscape endowed with the highest biological diversity in An Giang.

Being home of many ethnic Cham people, Bing Binh Thien appeared shelters of those Cham people living along its bank. However, they are engaged in the modern world, developing businesses and participating in cultural and artistic activities in community.

Bung Binh Thien is a place of tranquility where visitors can stay away from the stresses of city life and discover the poetic landscapes of the area, with water-lilies and lotus swaying in the wind on the lake, and the bustle of creatures such as fish, shrimp, snakes and turtles under water.