An Giang, the bountiful “fish sauce land,” is not only famous for the sacred Ba Chua Xu Temple in Chau Doc or the lush Tra Su Cajuput Forest, but also hides countless fascinating things waiting for you to discover. From bustling floating markets and the poetic Bung Binh Thien Lake to the vibrant Ta Pa rice fields, An Giang promises a self-guided travel journey full of memorable experiences. Let’s explore the latest An Giang self-guided travel tips to get ready to discover this land!
“An Giang land is fertile with alluvium, An Giang people are gentle forever.”
An Giang, a province in the Mekong Delta, is famous for its diverse and rich natural landscapes. From vast rice fields, green cajuput forests to majestic mountains, An Giang possesses a beauty that not every place has.
However, self-guided travel to An Giang is still a relatively new concept for many people. Most only know An Giang through Ba Chua Xu Temple or Tra Su Cajuput Forest. In fact, An Giang has many more attractive destinations and unique experiences waiting for you to explore.
1. Getting to An Giang
An Giang is about 231km from Ho Chi Minh City and has many transportation options to suit your needs and preferences:
1.1. Motorbike or Car Rental
If you are a backpacking enthusiast and want to explore freely, a motorbike is a great option. Travel time from Ho Chi Minh City to An Giang by motorbike takes about 5 hours, depending on your speed and traffic conditions.
- Suggested Route: From Ho Chi Minh City, follow QL1A, through Long An and Tien Giang. At My Thuan Bridge, turn into QL80 to Sa Dec, Dong Thap, then go about 35km to Vam Cong Bridge, An Giang.
If you are traveling with family or a group of friends, renting a self-driving car is a more comfortable and convenient solution. You can easily rent a car in Ho Chi Minh City and be proactive in your itinerary.
1.2. Bus
Buses are a popular and cost-effective means of transportation. Many bus operators run the Ho Chi Minh City – An Giang route with various departure times.
- Some reputable bus operators: Phuong Trang, Hue Nghia, Hung Cuong, Hieu Trung Limousine…
- Travel time: Approximately 5-6 hours.
- Reference ticket price: From 180,000 VND/ticket.
Phuong Trang bus is a popular choice for traveling to An Giang
1.3. Airplane
If you are departing from the Central or Northern provinces, flying is the fastest option. You can fly to Can Tho airport, then travel by bus to An Giang.
- Airplane ticket price (reference):
- Da Nang – Can Tho: From 800,000 VND/ticket.
- Hanoi – Can Tho: From 1,300,000 VND/ticket.
- Bus ticket price Can Tho – An Giang: From 75,000 VND/ticket.
2. Accommodation in An Giang
An Giang currently has some high-end hotels, but the most popular forms of accommodation are still budget hotels, guesthouses, and homestays with full amenities and modern architecture.
Here are a few suggestions:
- Victoria Chau Doc Hotel: From 2,000,000 VND/room/night.
- Victoria Nui Sam Lodge: From 1,300,000 VND/room/night.
- Luxe Hotels: From 700,000 VND/room/night.
- Dong Xanh Hotel: From 350,000 VND/room/night.
Victoria Chau Doc is one of the few luxury hotels in An Giang, offering a luxurious resort experience
3. Famous Tourist Attractions in An Giang
3.1. Tra Su Cajuput Forest
Tra Su Cajuput Forest is one of the largest and most beautiful submerged cajuput forests in the Mekong Delta. With an area of about 845 hectares, it is home to many animal species, including rare birds and animals.
When you come to Tra Su Cajuput Forest, you will take a “tac rang” (motorized canoe) or a sampan to visit. The boat glides on the water surface covered with green duckweed, surrounded by cajuput trees over 10 years old, 5-8m high, creating an extremely impressive scene.
- Ideal time to visit: Flooding season (from September to November).
Tra Su Cajuput Forest in the flooding season is an unmissable experience when visiting An Giang
3.2. Long Xuyen Floating Market
Located in the center of Long Xuyen city, Long Xuyen floating market starts from O Moi ferry and stretches 2km along the Hau River bank. This place still retains the old lifestyle, simple and rustic.
You should come to the floating market around 5:00 am to both watch the sunrise and feel the bustling atmosphere of the market.
- Fun experience: Have breakfast on a boat, enjoy local specialties and buy fruits and local products.
Long Xuyen Floating Market still retains the unique traditional culture of the river region
3.3. O Thum Lake
O Thum Lake in Tri Ton district is an artificial lake, not large in area but with beautiful natural scenery and fresh air.
Around O Thum Lake are rows of palmyra trees, and in the distance are Co To mountain and Tuc Dup hill, creating a poetic river and mountain scene.
- Suggested activities: Boating to admire the lake, taking check-in photos and enjoying grilled chicken with “lá chúc” leaves, a local specialty.
O Thum Lake has peaceful beauty, suitable for relaxing and enjoying the fresh air
3.4. Chau Doc Market
If An Giang is known as the “kingdom of fish sauce”, then Chau Doc market is the “capital of fish sauce”. Located on Bach Dang street in the center of Chau Doc city, the market sells about 30 types of traditional fish sauce and dried goods.
Chau Doc market is the largest wholesale market for fish sauce and dried goods in the Mekong Delta. Each year, the market sells thousands of tons of fish sauce and dried goods to domestic consumers and neighboring countries.
- Don’t forget: Buy fish sauce as gifts and enjoy the specialties of “bun ca”, “bun mam”, palmyra juice, “banh bo”, and “mut ca na”.
Chau Doc Market is a paradise of fish sauce and local specialties
3.5. Bung Binh Thien
Bung Binh Thien means a peaceful lake given by heaven. This is the largest freshwater lake in the Mekong Delta and an impressive An Giang tourist destination that you should visit once.
The special feature of Bung Binh Thien is its clear, calm water surface at all times, even during the flooding season when muddy, alluvial water flows in.
- Ideal time to visit: Flooding season to see “dien dien” flowers and water hyacinths covering the lake surface.
Bung Binh Thien has unspoiled, peaceful beauty with clear blue water
3.6. Cham Village
An Giang is one of the localities with the largest Cham community in Vietnam. The Cham people in An Giang mostly follow Islam, so they are also called Cham Islam.
You can visit the Cham village at Bung Binh Thien lake or Chau Giang Cham village to learn about the culture of this community.
- Explore: Mosques and small mosques with unique architecture and traditional brocade weaving.
Cham village is rich in unique culture, contributing to the diversity of An Giang
3.7. Ta Pa Rice Fields
Ta Pa rice fields are located at the foot of Co To mountain and Ta Pa mountain, about 1km from Tri Ton town. Many tourists often choose to trek To mountain, reaching Vo Hoi peak to see Ta Pa rice fields from above.
Around the end of November to early December, Ta Pa rice fields are in the ripening season. Rice usually ripens unevenly, so Khmer people here often harvest in a labor exchange style.
- Impressive scenery: Dozens of rice fields are located close together, each field with a different color, creating a colorful picture.
Ta Pa rice fields in the ripening season are one of the most attractive destinations in An Giang
4. An Giang Cuisine: Must-Try Delicious Dishes
4.1. Chau Doc Fish Noodle Soup (Bun Ca Chau Doc)
Chau Doc fish noodle soup is one of the most famous specialties of An Giang. The broth is cooked from pork bones, seasoned with “mam ca linh” (fermented fish sauce) and “mam ruoc” (fermented shrimp paste), adding “ngai bun” (fingerroot) and crushed turmeric. Snakehead fish is cleaned, briefly boiled, deboned, marinated, and then stir-fried with turmeric.
Chau Doc fish noodle soup smells of fish and turmeric, served with roasted pork, fish head, and typical Mekong Delta raw vegetables.
- Suggested addresses:
- Bun ca Ba Le: Bach Dang Street, Chau Phu A Ward, Chau Doc.
- Bun ca be Hai: Beginning of Chi Lang Street, Chau Phu A Ward, Chau Doc.
- Bun ca Van: 105 Phan Dinh Phung, Chau Phu B Ward, Chau Doc.
Chau Doc Fish Noodle Soup brings the distinctive flavor of An Giang
4.2. Tri Ton Beef Porridge (Chao Bo Tri Ton)
Tri Ton beef porridge is a type of congee with pork offal, served with delicious beef from the Bay Nui (Seven Mountains) region and beef offal including reticulum, omasum, liver, intestines, and marrow that are cleaned and not fishy.
Tri Ton beef porridge is usually served with rice paddy herb, basil, and a little “nuoc trai chuc” (juice of “chuc” fruit).
- Suggested address: Chao bo Thuy Den: Road 948, Chau Lang commune, Tri Ton town.
Tri Ton Beef Porridge is a unique dish that you should try when visiting An Giang
4.3. Long Xuyen Broken Rice (Com Tam Long Xuyen)
Long Xuyen broken rice has a unique preparation method compared to Saigon broken rice. The rice grains are cooked from fine broken rice, half the size of regular broken rice grains.
Side dishes are also more diverse, especially all cut into small strands for easy eating. Grilled ribs, shredded pork skin, braised pork with eggs, roasted pork… are popular side dishes of Long Xuyen broken rice.
- Suggested addresses:
- Com tam Cay Diep: 67 Ly Tu Trong, My Long Ward, Long Xuyen.
- Com tam co Tu: 23 Phan Dinh Phung, My Long Ward, Long Xuyen.
- Com tam Ong Khoi (Tam Dieu): 200 Dang Dung, My Long Ward, Long Xuyen.
Long Xuyen Broken Rice has a distinctive flavor, different from broken rice in other regions
Conclusion
Traveling to An Giang offers diverse experiences from natural landscapes, rich cuisine to long-standing culture. Hopefully, with these self-guided An Giang travel tips above, you will have a truly complete and memorable trip. Wish you a happy journey to explore the “fish sauce land”!