The best things to experience in the Mekong Delta

Mekong Delta – the land of ripe golden rice fields laden with seeds, adorning the wings of storks flying freely in the late afternoon. A trip to immerse yourself in the peaceful nature, make friends with the people of the South, you will learn and discover the culture of the garden, the river civilization – a distinct culture and civilization of the Southern people. Let’s explore the beauty of the Mekong Delta with Saco Travel!

 

 

Shopping at the floating market

 

One of the most interesting experiences for tourists to explore life in the West is the bustling floating markets every morning.

 

Along these bustling waterways are morning boat fairs, an important part of culture and commerce in the Mekong Delta region that seems to have remained unchanged since the 1800s.

 

Usually, the market will be held in the early morning at the intersection of canals and rivers, and the water level is not too low, not too high. The trading of ripe fruit, fresh food and many other utensils all take place on the river with the means of sampans, also known as three-leaf boats, used by the people.

 

The market is not only a place to buy and sell but also a place to discover the special lifestyle of the river.

 

In the region, there are 5 floating markets known as Cai Rang, Cai Be, Phong Dien, Nga Nam and Long Xuyen floating markets. Cai Rang and Cai Be are the most famous and busiest spots.

 

The only downside to these floating markets is that they’re not for those who struggle to get up early in the morning; The best time to visit any floating market is as early as possible – as early as 3 a.m. when hundreds of vendors start to sail their dinghy to the market.

 

 

Explore Vinh Trang Pagoda in My Tho, Tien Giang

 

With a fascinating blend of Eastern and Western architecture, the 150-year-old Vinh Trang pagoda is a symbol of Vietnam and is celebrated for its architectural, historical and religious importance.

 

In front of Vinh Trang pagoda, there are two large and magnificent martial arts-style three-door gates, built in 1933 according to the ancient architecture style. The special feature of this three-way gate is the art of joining pieces of porcelain to illustrate the history of Buddhism with all shapes of dragon, unicorn, turtle, phoenix, fish, Tieu, Canh, Muc, etc… impressive and unique.

 

Inside the main hall of Vinh Trang pagoda, there are 60 Buddha statues cast in bronze and jackfruit wood from the early 20th century. The outside of the statues is painted with iridescent gold. In particular, inside there is a treasure that is Dai Hong Chung 1.2m high, weighing more than 150kg, 20 ancient paintings.

 

 

Visiting Tan Lap Floating Village, Long An

 

This is one of the famous ecotourism destinations of Vietnam visited by the most discerning tourists. About 100 km from Ho Chi Minh City, visitors can completely come here by car, motorbike and move back during the day.

 

However, those who need more time to immerse themselves in the peaceful relaxing surroundings and immerse themselves in nature can find a number of homestays in the village.

 

Nestled between a mysterious floating forest and swampy rivers, Tan Lap floating village is a peaceful place with tropical beauty that is not too influenced by tourists. The journey to explore this place on boats through the wetlands and winding paths offers many surprises. Mangrove flora and towering trees create shady canopies that provide shelter from the sweltering Western sun.

 

 

Explore the upstream region with a cruise on the Mekong River

 

As a land covered by rivers, the Mekong Delta region has the best water activities and is also a place for you to explore life here. One of the most interesting journeys is a river cruise along the Mekong River.

 

Not only sitting on a boat and going on the river to observe the natural scenery, participating in this experience, you also have the opportunity to discover the activities of the local people.

 

There are also other luxury ships that allow you to explore further afield for longer, taking visitors not only to parts of the Delta but also to other places like Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

 

 

Three-leaf boat ride

 

The simple version of a Mekong river cruise that is a triple boat ride driven by locals is an experience that no discerning traveler should miss during their stay in the Mekong Delta.

 

Surfing through the green mangrove forests, in addition to exploring tourist attractions, visitors can also enjoy the feeling of peace and quiet while floating on the pristine canals.

 

Some impressive destinations are Tra Su Melaleuca forest (An Giang), Thi Tuong lagoon (Ca Mau) and Thoi Son island (Ben Tre).

 

 

Visit Khmer pagoda, Tra Vinh

 

Khmer people live scattered throughout the western provinces, but the largest concentration is in Tra Vinh. And this place is also famous for more than 100 traditional pagodas with soaring roofs.

 

These are the famous Khmer temples throughout the South located in Tra Vinh such as Hang pagoda in Chau Thanh district, Ang pagoda in Tra Vinh city, Vam Ray pagoda and Co pagoda in Tra Cu district…

 

The temples here all have architectural works depicted and decorated with many artworks such as statues of gods, owls, birds, legends of Shakyamuni Buddha with bold lines and patterns cultural, spiritual and religious identity of the Southern Khmer.

 

 

Exploring Tra Su reserve in Chau Doc, An Giang

 

If possible, visitors should visit Tra Su forest in the floating season. This is a typical season of the Mekong Delta in general and a feature of river tourism in the watershed of An Giang province. This time is also the breeding season of wild birds that have migrated here for a long time in Tra Su nature reserve.

 

This 800,000-hectare sanctuary has more than 70 unique species of waterfowl with populations of safe spaces to nest and breed.

 

 

Experience the real sound of the Mekong Delta region

 

Not known for its sumptuous feasts, the area is enticing for its unique local cuisine that is unmatched anywhere else in Asia.

 

There are many dishes to try, including vermicelli, pia cake, noodle soup, Vietnamese pancakes and especially for the “brave travelers” are coconut worms. In addition, the hamster dish is also worth trying once.

 

Interestingly, what makes the dishes in the Mekong Delta different is the use of ingredients derived from nature.

 

 

The freshest fruit in the orchard

 

The wonderful tropical climate of the delta has created special fruit gardens, in addition to rice, the Mekong Delta is also the largest fruit basket in the country.

 

There are many orchards to visit in the area, Tien Giang is the largest fruit plantation in the whole region thanks to the fertile surrounding terrain of the Tien River. On the other hand, Cai Be orchard is one of the largest fruit orchards in the region – specializing in longan, jackfruit, mandarin, guava, rambutan, pomelo and many more.

 

In particular, dragon fruit is famous in Long An, there are variations of pink or bright yellow. Mango lovers should not miss the experience at Hoa Loc Cat Mango Garden in Tien Giang.

 

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