An Giang’s floating season, a gift from nature to the Mekong Delta, always holds a peculiar attraction for those who love exploration and unique experiences. It’s not just when nature dons a new coat, but also a time of distinctive rhythms of life, rich culinary culture, and unique tourist activities you can’t find anywhere else. Let “Du lịch khắp thế gian” guide you to discover the beauty of An Giang’s floating season, to fully appreciate the richness, simplicity, and captivating charm of this land.
1. An Giang Floating Season: A Symphony of Nature and People
1.1. Ideal Time to Visit An Giang During the Floating Season
The Mekong Delta’s floating season, also known as the flood season, usually begins in August and lasts until November each year. An Giang, the upstream province of the Mekong River, is one of the first and most noticeably affected localities. The familiar saying “In July, the water jumps over the banks” vividly depicts the time when floodwaters rise, inundating fields and canals, creating a vast watery landscape.
However, don’t rush to think of the floating season as a natural disaster. For the people of the Mekong Delta, the floating season is a part of life, an opportunity to exploit the abundant aquatic resources that nature bestows. The floating season brings a plentiful supply of fish and shrimp, fertile silt replenishing the fields, and creates a unique flooded ecosystem. For visitors, this is a great time to experience a very different An Giang, a Mekong Delta more vibrant and bountiful than ever.
An Giang locals busy fishing during the floating season
1.2. Exploring An Giang During the Floating Season: Suggested Routes
To fully appreciate the beauty of An Giang’s floating season, you can choose various means of transport, from motorbikes and cars to buses. However, motorbikes are still favored by many tourists for their flexibility and ability to explore small roads and alleys, where many interesting aspects of the riverine countryside are hidden.
Here are two popular route suggestions for your An Giang floating season trip:
Route 1: Discover An Giang from Ho Chi Minh City via Vam Cong Ferry
- Route: Ho Chi Minh City – My Thuan Bridge – Sa Dec – Lai Vung – Vam Cong Ferry – Long Xuyen – Tri Ton.
- Highlights: This route takes you through famous Mekong Delta destinations like Sa Dec with its vibrant flower villages, Lai Vung with its renowned “nem” (fermented pork sausage), and Long Xuyen – the economic and cultural center of An Giang. In particular, experiencing the Vam Cong ferry during the floating season will give you unforgettable emotions as you admire the vast Hau River.
Route 2: Arriving in An Giang via National Route 1A and Cao Lanh Ferry
- Route: Ho Chi Minh City – National Route 1A – National Route 61 – Thanh Hoa – Cao Lanh Ferry – Vam Cong Ferry – Long Xuyen – Tri Ton.
- Highlights: This route is suitable for those who want to combine exploring other Mekong Delta provinces such as Long An and Dong Thap before reaching An Giang. Cao Lanh and Vam Cong ferries are both important traffic points, where you can clearly feel the change in the Mekong River’s water level during the floating season.
Peaceful An Giang countryside scenery during the floating season
2. Immerse Yourself in the Beauty of An Giang’s Floating Season
An Giang’s floating season is not just a time of flooded roads, but also an opportunity to explore unique destinations, deeply imbued with the character of the riverine region.
2.1. Tra Su Cajuput Forest: Exploring the “Amazon” of An Giang
- Address: Van Giao Commune, Tinh Bien District, An Giang Province.
Tra Su Cajuput Forest, dubbed the “Amazon” of the Mekong Delta, is a must-visit destination on your An Giang floating season trip. During the floating season, Tra Su Cajuput Forest puts on a lush green coat of water hyacinth, creating an incredibly impressive and unique natural landscape.
Sitting on a composite boat weaving through the intricate canals, you will be immersed in the peaceful, fresh space of the cajuput forest. The chirping of birds, the gentle sound of oars paddling through the water, along with the pristine natural scenery, will help you forget the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
In addition, Tra Su Cajuput Forest is also home to many rare bird species. During the floating season, birds flock here to nest in large numbers, creating a vibrant and colorful natural picture. You can go up to the observation tower to admire the panoramic view of the cajuput forest and marvel at the flocks of birds flying in the sky.
Tour boat exploring the beauty of Tra Su Cajuput Forest during the floating season
2.2. Chau Doc Floating Village: Life Adrift on the River
- Address: Chau Doc Town, An Giang Province.
Chau Doc Floating Village is one of the most unique and distinctive destinations of An Giang’s floating season tourism. Coming here, you will witness the very special daily life of people on floating raft houses drifting on the Hau River.
Chau Doc Floating Village is not only a place to live, but also a place for aquaculture, a floating market, and an entire distinctive cultural community. You can visit fish farms, learn about traditional fish farming, and experience the bustling atmosphere of the floating market in the early morning.
Chau Doc Floating Market is a place for trading goods, agricultural products, and local specialties. You can enjoy breakfast on a boat, buy unique souvenirs, and immerse yourself in the vibrant rhythm of life of the floating village people.
Bustling Chau Doc Floating Market in the morning during the floating season
2.3. Bung Binh Thien: Peaceful Freshwater Lake in the Flood Season
- Address: An Phu District, An Giang Province.
Bung Binh Thien, the largest natural freshwater lake in the Mekong Delta, is an ideal destination for you to seek peace and tranquility during An Giang’s floating season. During the flood season, Bung Binh Thien becomes more immense than ever, its clear blue water reflecting the sky and drifting clouds.
Boating on Bung Binh Thien, you will enjoy the fresh air, admire the poetic natural scenery, and feel the peace of the riverine countryside. Besides, you can also visit traditional craft villages along the lake, learn about the life and culture of the local people.
During the floating season, sesbania sesban flowers bloom brightly yellow along the banks of Bung Binh Thien, creating an extremely romantic and charming highlight. This is also the ideal time to enjoy specialties made from sesbania sesban flowers, a specialty of the Mekong Delta’s floating season.
3. An Giang Floating Season Cuisine: Irresistible Distinctive Flavors
An Giang’s floating season is not only attractive for its natural scenery, but also captivates visitors with its rich and unique cuisine. The floating season’s specialties are imbued with countryside flavors, prepared from the freshest ingredients that nature bestows.
- Hot pot with linh fish and sesbania sesban flowers: A famous dish of the Mekong Delta’s floating season, with the sweet taste of linh fish, the slightly sour taste of sesbania sesban flowers, and the characteristic aroma of various wild vegetables.
- Water lily stems with fermented fish sauce dip (Mam Kho): A rustic but flavorful dish, with fresh, crunchy water lily stems, served with rich, fragrant “mam kho quet” (caramelized fermented fish sauce dip).
- Snakehead fish porridge with bitter herbs: A nutritious, warming porridge, with sweet, tender snakehead fish meat, and refreshing bitter herbs, creating a harmonious and unforgettable flavor.
- Grilled snakehead fish in straw: A simple dish that retains the fresh flavor of wild snakehead fish, with crispy charred skin, white, fragrant fish meat, dipped in sweet and sour fish sauce.
- Sesbania sesban flower salad: A refreshing, crunchy salad, with fresh sesbania sesban flowers, shrimp, pork, and herbs, mixed with sweet and sour fish sauce, creating an appealing appetizer.
Linh fish and sesbania sesban flower hot pot, a specialty of An Giang's floating season
Fresh water lily stems, ingredient for flavorful water lily stems with fermented fish sauce dip
Bright yellow sesbania sesban flowers during An Giang's floating season
An Giang floating season scenery like a painting
An Giang’s floating season is a unique and memorable travel experience. Come to An Giang during the floating season to discover the pristine natural beauty, experience the simple riverine life, and enjoy delicious specialties. Surely, you will have unforgettable memories of this land.