Things to do in Mekong Delta
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Phu Quoc Pearls
On an isolated stretch of Long Beach, Phu Quoc Pearls is a requisite stop if you’re in the market for pearls. A small shop sells pearl necklaces and earrings, and wall panels describe (in English) how the oysters yield their bounty. There’s a small cafe on site. Avid pearl hunters can find cheaper wares at kiosks in the village of Ham Ninh, but at least you have a guarantee of authenticity here.
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Phuong Nam
Next door to the Mekong, this place offers a similar ambience, but has the slight advantage of an upstairs terrace for people-watching.
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Restaurant Alley
If you fancy skipping the main tourist scene on the riverfront, then try this small alley between Ð Dien Bien Phu and Ð Phan Dinh Phung where there are about a dozen local restaurants scattered on both sides of the street. Barbecued meats, seafood hotpots and simple vegetables, it’s all here.
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Night Market
The night market is one of the most atmospheric (and affordable) places to dine in Duong Dong. There are a dozen or more stalls serving a delicious range of Vietnamese seafood, grills and vegetarian options.
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Buddy Ice Cream
This ice-cream shop and information centre is a good stop for budget travellers looking for free internet or impartial advice. The New Zealand ice cream is great, plus there are pizzas, sausages and more.
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Le Giang
A wide range of Vietnamese favourites here, plus an upstairs terrace to catch a breeze.
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An Thoi Islands
Off the southern tip of Phu Quoc are the tiny An Thoi Islands . These 15 islands and islets can be visited by chartered boat, and it's a fine area for sightseeing, fishing, swimming and snorkelling. Hon Thom (Pineapple Island) is about 3km in length and is the largest island in the group.
Other islands here include Hon Dua (Coconut Island), Hon Roi (Lamp Island), Hon Vang (Echo Island), Hon May Rut (Cold Cloud Island), Hon Dam (Shadow Island), Chan Qui (Yellow Tortoise) and Hon Mong Tay (Short Gun Island).
Most boats depart from An Thoi on Phu Quoc, but you can make arrangements through hotels in Duong Dong. The Tropicana Resort has a large boat for charter that can make t…
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Guangzhou Assembly Hall
In a fantastic location facing the Can Tho River, Chua Ong (Ong Temple) is set inside the Guangzhou Assembly Hall and is one of the most interesting religious sites in town. It was originally built in the late 19th century to worship Kuang Kung, a deity symbolising loyalty, justice, reason, intelligence, honour and courage, among other merits. It is designed to symbolise the Chinese character for nation, with rows of enclosed sections laid out symmetrically. Approaching the engraved screen, the right side is dedicated to the Goddess of Fortune and the left side is reserved for the worship of General Ma Tien. In the centre of the temple is Kuang Kung flanked by the God of …
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Long Beach
Long Beach is indeed a long, spectacular stretch of sand from Duong Dong southward along the west coast, almost to An Thoi port (20km). The southern end of the beach is known as Tau Ru Bay (Khoe Tau Ru). The water is crystal clear and the beach is lined with coconut palms.
Long Beach is easily accessible on foot (just walk south from Duong Dong's Cau Castle), but you will need a motorbike or bicycle to reach some of the remote stretches towards the southern end of the island. The beach around the family-run guesthouse area is a particularly popular spot. There are a few bamboo huts where you can buy drinks, but bring water if you're planning a long hike along this beach.
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Nguyen Trung Truc Temple
This temple is dedicated to Nguyen Trung Truc, a leader of the resistance campaign of the 1860s against the newly arrived French. Among other exploits, he led the raid that resulted in the burning of the French warship Esperance. Despite repeated attempts to capture him, Nguyen Trung Truc continued to fight until 1868, when the French took his mother and a number of civilians hostage and threatened to kill them if he did not surrender. Nguyen Trung Truc turned himself in and was executed by the French in the marketplace of Rach Gia on 27 October 1868.
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Rung Tram
Southeast of Cao Lanh and accessible by boat tour is the 52-hectare Rung Tram near My Hiep village. The area is one vast swamp with a beautiful thick canopy of tall trees and vines. It’s one of the last natural forests left in the Mekong Delta and by now probably would have been turned into a rice paddy were it not for its historical significance. During the American War the Viet Cong (VC) had a base here called Xeo Quyt, where top-brass VC lived in underground bunkers. But don’t mistake this for another Cu Chi Tunnels – it’s very different.
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Bai Sao
A beautiful white-sand beach with a couple of beachfront restaurants. There are several places to rent kayaks along Bai Sao beach, and its protected, fairly calm waters make for a smooth ride. In addition to locals who hire out boats, you can ask at either restaurant along the beach: My Lan (990 779) and Ai Xiem (990 510).
South from here is undeveloped Bai Khem, one of the most beautiful beaches on the island and also, sadly, a military area that's closed to the public.
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Cau Castle
According to the tourist brochures, Duong Dong’s main attraction is Cau Castle. In fact, it’s less of a castle, more of a combination temple and lighthouse. It was built in 1937 to honour Thien Hau (Goddess of the Sea), who provides protection for sailors and fishermen. The ‘castle’ is worth a quick look and gives you a good view of the harbour entrance. Around sunset, locals stroll along the promenade leading from the castle to Ð Tran Hung Dao.
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San Chim Vam Ho Bird Sanctuary
The locals make a real flap about the storks that nest at San Chim Vam Ho Bird Sanctuary, as a stork sitting on the back of a water buffalo is the quintessential image of the Mekong waterways. The sanctuary is 38km east of Ben Tre town. Ben Tre Tourist has speedboats that can make the round trip in about two hours, or slow boats that take about five hours. Compare the going rates at Ben Tre Tourist with what freelance boat operators charge.
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My Tho Central Market
This market is in an area of town that is closed to traffic. The streets are filled with stalls selling everything from fresh food and bulk tobacco to boat propellers. In an attempt to clear these streets, the local government has built a three-storey concrete monstrosity on the riverside, intending to relocate vendors inside. With the high rent and taxes, however, most sellers prefer to take their chances on the street.
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Van Thanh Mieu Temple
One surprise in Vinh Long is the large and beautiful Van Thanh Mieu Temple by the river. It’s unusual as far as Vietnamese temples go, as it’s a Confucian temple, which is rare in southern Vietnam. The front hall honours local hero Phan Thanh Gian, who led an uprising against the French colonists in 1930. When it became obvious that his revolt was doomed, Phan killed himself rather than be captured by the colonial army.
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Cantonese Congregation Pagoda
Occupying a splendid location facing the Can Tho River, this small Chinese pagoda, the Cantonese Congregation Pagoda, was built by the Cantonese Congregation. The original one was constructed on a different site about 70 years ago. The current pagoda was built with funds donated by overseas Chinese more recently. Can Tho used to have a large ethnic-Chinese population, but most of them fled after the anti-Chinese persecutions (1978-79).
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Fish Sauce Factory
OK, so it’s not your average sightseeing attraction, but more than a few have enjoyed a visit to the distillery of Nuoc Mam Hung Thanh, the largest of Phu Quoc’s fish-sauce makers. At first glance, the giant wooden vats may make you think you’ve arrived for a wine tasting, but one sniff of the festering nuoc mam essence brings you right back to reality. It’s actually not so bad after a few minutes.
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Uncle Ho Temple
The highly unusual (particularly in these southern parts) Uncle Ho Temple is dedicated, of course, to the late president Ho Chi Minh, and contains a shrine to Ho as well as a small museum displaying photos of his life. The temple was built in 1971, while the war was still in progress, and there’s a downed US aircraft on the grounds. The Uncle Ho Temple is at Long Duc commune, 5km north of Tra Vinh town.
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Ong Pagoda
The very ornate, brightly painted Ong Pagoda is a fully fledged Chinese pagoda and a very active place of worship. The red-faced god on the altar is deified general Quan Cong. He is believed to offer protection against war and is based on a historical figure, a soldier of the 3rd century. You can read more about him in the Chinese classic The Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
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Tam Bao Pagoda
Founded by Mac Cuu in 1730 is the Tam Bao Pagoda. It is now home to several Buddhist nuns. In front of the pagoda is a statue of Quan The Am Bo Tat standing on a lotus blossom in the middle of a pond. Inside the sanctuary, the largest statue on the dais is of A Di Da, the Buddha of the Past. It is made of bronze, but has been painted. Outside the building are the tombs of 16 monks.
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Cai Be Floating Market
This bustling river market is worth including on a boat tour from Vinh Long, but it is best to arrive early in the morning. Wholesalers on big boats moor here, each specialising in just a few types of fruit or vegetable. Customers cruise the market in smaller boats and can easily find what they’re looking for, as larger boats hang samples of their goods from tall wooden poles.
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Ca Mau Market
This is a wholesale market and not really a place for people to shop. The animal life on display – such as fish and turtles – is cleaned, packed into crates, frozen and sent to Ho Chi Minh City by truck. It’s an interesting place to wander around – it certainly bears little resemblance to the supermarkets at home. However, animal rights advocates will not be pleased.
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Dong Thap Museum
The impressive looking Dong Thap Museum is among the best museums in the Mekong. The 1st floor displays an anthropological history of Dong Thap province, with exhibits of tools, sculpture, models of traditional houses and a few stuffed animals. The 2nd floor is devoted to war history and, of course, to Ho Chi Minh. All interpretive signs are in Vietnamese.
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