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Highlights of Long An:
- Cajeput forest
- Boat ride on Vam Co Tay River
- Marshall Nguyen Huynh Duc's tomb.
Vinh Long
The provincial capital, easily reached within three hours (140 km) by bus or
car from Saigon, lies on the river Co Chien. Lacking character and containing
few points of interest, it is still an attractive place where tourists will
linger for long. Another ideal place is Tra Vinh where tourists can visit the
Khmer people's villages or their hamlets along route 7A in an easterly direction
from Vinh Long until you reach a wide canal, the Mang Tri. Traveling through the
province visitors will notice smaller Khmer Shrines dotted around the
countryside. Some look very dilapidated but many are still used.
Highlights of Vinh Long Market
- Vinh Long Market
- Boat ride on the Mekong River
- Khmer Pagodas and Khmer villages in Tra Vinh
- Phan Thanh Gian's Temple.
Cantho
The capital city of Hau Giang Province, Cantho is located on the right bank
of the Hau River, the lower branch of the Mekong. Because of its cosmopolitan
nature and highly successful business ventures, this city was once called the
"Western Capital". It was established towards the end of the 18th
century and expanded greatly. Now, it is the political and transportation
center, a sprawling mass of rather ramshackle buildings which house its 220,000
habitants. You can take a boat ride on the river for about USD 1/hour and see
what the City looks like from the water. It takes about 170 km from Saigon to
Can Tho by car or bus.
Highlights of Cantho:
- Floating Markets in Phung Hiep and Phong Dien
- Original Khmer pagodas in Soc Trang
Dong Thap
Another interesting place in Mekong Delta is Dong Thap with its capital of
Cao Lanh at 145 km from Saigon. This province is the home of nearly 150 species
of bird. 15 of which are considered rare and precious, especially flamingoes
(called red-headed cranes by the locals). You will enjoy the wild maiden
landscape of this province in visiting the national reserve of sarus red headed
cranes (in February, March and April) and a sanctuary for thousand of stocks;
cross immense rice fields flooded by Mekong swelling water; visit boundless
cajuput forest and pink lotus ponds. Also belonging to this province is Sa Dec,
a town lately made well-known by a French film "L'amant" (the Love).
Highlights of Dong Thap
- National reserve of Tram Chim
- Stock sanctuary
- Cajeput forest and pink lotus ponds
- Flower village at Sa Dec
- President Hochiminh father's tomb
Chau Doc
The town is situated in an idyllic spot on the west bank of the Hau River,
five kilometers away towards the west is Sam mountain where many people head
along here on the 23rd to 26th the fourth lunar month when the Lady Chua Xu
Festival is held on Sam mountain. This is the highest place on the delta and can
be seen from every direction. You can't miss the Tomb of Thoai Ngoc Hau, where
the Hero of the war of resistance against French colonialist was worshipped as
you walk down from the Lady Chua Xu, you will see a huge head, this marks the
entrance. Don't forget to look at Phuoc Dien Tu Pagoda with its interesting
architecture. Chau Doc is reached in six hours (245 km) by car or bus from
Saigon.
Highlights of Chau Doc:
- Sam Mountain
- Temple of Lady Chua Xu and Thoai Ngoc Hau's Tomb
- Floating village of fish-breeding raft on Vinh Te Canal
- Cave Pagoda (Phuoc Dien Tu Pagoda)
Ca Mau
Being the south most in the Mekong Delta, Ca Mau is surrounded by brackish
water; the area is home to an abundance of birds and insects which live in the
swampy forest. Traveling by "vo lai" along Khmer sampan which reaches
speeds of 30km/hour, tourists can visit bird sanctuaries in the cajuput reserve
of U Minh or the mangrove reserve at Cape Ca Mau. Camau with its lush tropical
rain forest is the perfect place to study Vietnam's natural landscape and
fascinating wildlife.
Highlights of Ca Mau
- U Minh cajuput forest
- Shrimp breeding pond and bird sanctuary of Ngoc Hien
- Mangrove forest at Cape Ca Mau.
Rach Gia
Situated on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand, this large town of Rach Gia
impress visitors by the bustling market set up on the wharves at the edge of
Kien Giang River. From here, fishing boats depart in fleet, their decks laden
with folded nets, for the warm fishing waters of the Gulf.
Long low - lying passenger ferries shuttle to and from crowded hamlets can
then out of the surrounding island of Tho Chu, Hon Tre, Nam Du and Phu Quoc.
Rach Gia is famous for its historical temples and pagodas.
Highlights of Rach Gia:
- Nguyen Trung Truc Temple
- Big Buddha Pagoda
- Khmer pottery village
Ha Tien
338 km southeast of Hochiminh City; it is reached by a floating bridge over
the Chau River. As well as having many important sites which have affiliations
with the Mac family, it has countless glorious landscapes that years of
weathering have molded into fantastic shapes
Highlights of Ha Tien
- Limestone cavern
- Mui Nai Beach
- Father - Son Islet
Phu Quoc Island
This island, which is under the jurisdiction of Kien Giang Province, is the
largest one of which are scattered from North to South in the Gulf of Thailand.
Phu Quoc has 40,000 inhabitants who are accommodated in five villages and one
town. Its capital is Duong Dong, where is the center of exploring the island.
Boats are available at the quay which will take you on a three-hour journey into
its interior. During the cattle fish season, many boats arrive here from
Singapore and Thailand. An exciting time to arrive is from January to April. The
island can be reached by flying from Saigon. Another way to get here is use one
of the motor boats hired out but it takes a long time to reach to Phu Quoc.
Highlights of Phu Quoc Island
- Primeval forest
- Fishing villages
- Fish Sauce Factory
- Pepper Gardens
- Khmer Beach
- Sung Hung Pagoda
- Su Muong Pagoda.
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