Dong Thap, the land of pink lotus in the heart of the Mekong Delta, has long been renowned for its lush natural beauty, imbued with the essence of the Mekong Delta region. More than just the country’s rice granary, Dong Thap also harbors immense ecotourism potential. Visiting Dong Thap, you will immerse yourself in the verdant space of vast lotus fields, pristine Melaleuca forests, lush orchards, and explore the unique culture of this land. This article will guide you through the most remarkable ecotourism experiences in Dong Thap, helping you have a fulfilling and memorable journey.
Getting to Dong Thap
Dong Thap currently does not have an airport, so to reach the land of pink lotus, visitors can choose to travel by road or waterway.
By Road:
- From Ho Chi Minh City: The distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Cao Lanh City (Dong Thap) is approximately 145km, taking about 3 hours by bus or private car. You can easily catch a bus to Dong Thap from Mien Tay Bus Station with many reputable bus operators such as Phuong Trang, Tam Nong, Tai Loi, Quang Phat, Kim Cuong, etc. Bus ticket prices range from VND 80,000 to 150,000 depending on the time and bus company.
- From Can Tho: The distance from Can Tho to Cao Lanh City is only about 85km, taking about 1 hour and 45 minutes to travel.
By Waterway:
If you want to experience authentic Mekong Delta river tourism, you can choose to travel by waterway from Can Tho to Dong Thap. Popular river routes include:
- Bang Tang – Cai Dua
- Ba Goa – Vinh Thoi
- Tan Loc – Tan Thanh
- Tan Loc – Cai Doi
- Bo Ot – Dinh An
Travel time by waterway is usually from 6 am to 10 pm daily with super cheap fares, ranging from only VND 1,000 to 20,000 depending on the type of vehicle.
Diverse transportation options to Dong Thap ecotourism sites
Top 6 Must-Try Ecotourism Experiences in Dong Thap
Coming to Dong Thap, you will be amazed by the diverse beauty of nature and have the opportunity to experience unique ecotourism activities. Here are 6 ecotourism destinations in Dong Thap that you should not miss:
1. Gao Giong Ecotourism Area
- Address: Hamlet 6, Gao Giong Commune, Cao Lanh District, Dong Thap Province.
Gao Giong Ecotourism Area, the green pearl of Dong Thap Muoi, is only about 17km from Cao Lanh City. With a vast area of 36ha, Gao Giong is known as one of the most beautiful ecotourism areas in Dong Thap Muoi. This place possesses the typical beauty of lush green Melaleuca forests, stretching endlessly, harmonizing with flocks of white storks flying around.
Exploring the canals and waterways of Gao Giong ecotourism area
Gao Giong is not just a simple Melaleuca forest, but also a common home to dozens of rare bird species such as moorhens, herons, darters, wild ducks, lesser whistling ducks, etc. In particular, storks are the most numerous bird species, making Gao Giong one of the largest and most beautiful stork gardens in Dong Thap Muoi.
Coming to Gao Giong, visitors will experience many interesting activities:
- Bird watching from the observatory: The tourist area is equipped with binoculars and an 18m high observatory, helping visitors admire the panoramic view of the tourist area and observe the vivid life of bird species up close.
- Boat trip through the Melaleuca forest: Sitting on a motorboat weaving through small canals, visitors will immerse themselves in the tranquil space of the Melaleuca forest, admire the pristine beauty and listen to the birds singing melodiously.
- Enjoy local cuisine: After hours of exploring nature, visitors can enjoy rustic specialties at the restaurant in the tourist area, such as grilled snakehead fish, hotpot with fermented fish sauce, grilled field mouse, etc.
Ecological beauty of Gao Giong ecotourism area
2. Lai Vung Pink Mandarin Garden
- Address: Hai Kiet Lai Vung Pink Mandarin Garden, near Thong Dong Bridge, Long Hau Commune, Lai Vung District, Dong Thap Province.
- Phone: 039 995 0585 (Uncle Hai Kiet)
Located in the South of Dong Thap province and about 10km from Sa Dec City, Lai Vung Pink Mandarin Garden has long been known as the “land of pink mandarins”. This is an attractive Dong Thap tourist destination all year round, especially during the Lunar New Year.
Lai Vung pink mandarins specialty in Dong Thap
The ideal time to visit Lai Vung Pink Mandarin Garden is from mid to late December to early January of the lunar calendar. At this time, mandarins are ripe, golden, and laden with fruit on the branches, creating an extremely beautiful and attractive scene. Garden owners also begin to open their doors to welcome visitors and prepare for the year-end trading season.
Coming to Lai Vung Pink Mandarin Garden, visitors will:
- Visit and pick mandarins in the garden: Visitors are free to explore the garden, personally pick ripe pink mandarins and enjoy them right in the garden.
- Take souvenir photos: The pink mandarin garden is an ideal place to take photos with rows of fruit-laden trees, green space and fresh air. Visitors can rent “ao ba ba” (traditional Southern Vietnamese shirt), conical hats to transform into Mekong Delta farmers and create countryside-style photo sets.
- Enjoy and buy pink mandarin specialties: In addition to fresh mandarins, visitors can also enjoy and buy many mandarin-processed products as gifts such as candied mandarin peel, mandarin jam, mandarin wine, etc.
Enjoying fresh pink mandarins in Dong Thap
Lai Vung pink mandarin garden with abundant fruits
3. Tram Chim National Park
- Address: Hamlet 4, Tram Chim Town, Tam Nong District, Dong Thap.
Tram Chim National Park is likened to a miniature Dong Thap Muoi, with pristine ecological landscapes and rich biodiversity. It is recognized by UNESCO as the 4th Ramsar site (wetland biosphere reserve) of Vietnam and is in the top 2,000 important Ramsar sites in the world.
Tram Chim National Park in Dong Thap
With a vast area of 7,612ha, Tram Chim is home to nearly 150 bird species, more than 130 plant species, hundreds of animal species and especially 198 rare bird species. Coming to Tram Chim, visitors will:
- Explore the diverse ecosystem: Visitors will take a boat weaving through intricate canals, admire wild rice fields, Melaleuca forests, sedge fields, etc., and admire the extremely unique wetland ecosystem.
- Observe birds: Tram Chim is a paradise for birds. Visitors can rent a boat to go deep into the Melaleuca forests to observe rare bird species such as red-headed cranes, painted storks, Asian openbill storks, etc., especially during the bird breeding season (from December to May).
- Experience the life of local people: Visitors can participate in activities such as rowing a sampan, casting nets to catch fish, setting fish traps, hunting field mice, harvesting rice, etc., and enjoy Tram Chim specialties such as field crab hotpot, black sticky rice, grilled snakehead fish, etc.
Exploring the diverse ecosystem of Tram Chim
Bird watching in Tram Chim National Park
Pristine beauty of Dong Thap Muoi in Tram Chim
4. Dong Sen Thap Muoi Tourist Area
- Address: My Hoa Commune, Thap Muoi District, Dong Thap Province.
Dong Sen Thap Muoi Tourist Area, although located more than 39km from Cao Lanh City, is still an attractive destination for visitors thanks to the brilliant beauty of vast lotus fields. With a lotus planting area of over 11ha, Dong Sen Thap Muoi is one of the most famous ecotourism areas in Dong Thap.
Thap Muoi lotus fields in Dong Thap
Summer is the time when lotus flowers bloom the most, the whole tourist area is covered with the pure pink color and gentle fragrance of lotus flowers. Coming to Dong Sen Thap Muoi, visitors will:
- Admire lotus flowers and take photos: Visitors will be overwhelmed by the beauty of endless lotus fields. This is an ideal place for you to freely take photos with lotus flowers and capture memorable moments.
- Row a boat to pick lotus flowers: Visitors can row a boat themselves on small canals, weaving through the lotus pond to pick flowers and admire the scenery.
- Enjoy cuisine made from lotus: The tourist area has a restaurant serving specialties made from lotus such as lotus root salad, lotus fried rice, lotus sweet soup, lotus milk, roasted lotus seeds, etc. In addition, you can also enjoy other rustic Mekong Delta dishes such as grilled snakehead fish, grilled chicken with salt and chili, hotpot with fermented fish sauce, etc.
Grilled snakehead fish, a local culinary delight in Dong Thap
5. Sa Nhien Date Palm Garden
- Address: Sa Nhien, Tan Quy Dong Commune, Sa Dec City, Dong Thap Province.
Sa Nhien Date Palm Garden is a unique destination in the list of Dong Thap ecotourism areas. Located near the famous Sa Dec flower village, Sa Nhien Date Palm Garden attracts visitors with the exotic beauty of rows of fruit-laden date palm trees, imbued with Middle Eastern style.
Check-in at Sa Nhien date palm garden in Dong Thap
The date palm ripening season is usually in the summer, lasting about 2-3 months (from February to May). This is the ideal time to visit Sa Nhien Date Palm Garden. Coming here, visitors will:
- Visit and take photos with the date palm garden: Visitors will admire rows of tall date palm trees, laden with golden fruits, creating a unique and impressive scene. The date palm garden is an ideal place for you to freely create unique and “Middle Eastern” style photos.
- Enjoy fresh dates: Visitors can enjoy fresh, sweet dates right in the garden and buy them as gifts for relatives and friends.
Exploring Sa Nhien date palm garden
Ripe golden dates in Sa Nhien garden
6. Xeo Quyt Relic Area
- Address: My Hiep and My Long Communes, Cao Lanh District, Dong Thap Province.
Xeo Quyt Relic Area offers a completely different ecotourism experience compared to luxury resorts. Coming to Xeo Quyt, visitors will immerse themselves in the pristine, green natural space of the flooded Melaleuca forest, with precious timber trees and rich vegetation.
Xeo Quyt historical relic area in Dong Thap
Xeo Quyt is not only a Melaleuca forest, but also an important historical relic, marking the glorious feats of arms of our army and people during the anti-American resistance war. Coming to Xeo Quyt, visitors will:
- Boat trip through the Melaleuca forest: Sitting on a sampan, weaving through small canals, visitors will explore the diverse flooded Melaleuca forest ecosystem, with more than 200 animal species and 170 plant species.
- Visit historical relics: Visitors will visit resistance bases, secret bunkers, fortifications, etc., and learn about the heroic history of the Xeo Quyt land.
- Enjoy rustic cuisine: After exploring Xeo Quyt, visitors can enjoy rustic specialties at the restaurant in the relic area, such as hotpot with fermented fish sauce, grilled snakehead fish, wild vegetable pancakes, grilled field mouse with salt and chili, etc.
Beauty of Xeo Quyt during the flooding season in Dong Thap
Cuisine of Xeo Quyt during the flooding season
Grilled field mouse, a Dong Thap specialty
Conclusion
Dong Thap, with its lush natural beauty and unique ecotourism destinations, promises to bring visitors wonderful and memorable travel experiences. From the green Melaleuca forest of Gao Giong, the fruit-laden Lai Vung pink mandarin garden, the biodiverse Tram Chim National Park, to the brilliant Thap Muoi lotus field, the exotic Sa Nhien date palm garden and the historical Xeo Quyt relic area, each destination has its own beauty, contributing to creating a colorful and attractive Dong Thap ecotourism picture. Come to Dong Thap to discover and feel the beauty of the Mekong Delta countryside, where people and nature blend together wonderfully.