An Giang, with its rural simplicity, a must-visit place in southern Vietnam

An Giang, with its rural simplicity, a must-visit place in southern Vietnam

An Giang is located in the Mekong Delta, the southwestern part of Vietnam, near the border with Cambodia.

It is one of the most populous provinces in the area, with a considerable portion of the population being indigenous people.

Chau Doc and Long Xuyen are the two main cities of An Giang. 

Many visitors choose to visit An Giang in the belief that it is not as crowded and bustling as other destinations.

An Giang stands out thanks to its simplicity and quietness.

It has successfully attracted visitors over its peacefulness, diverse foods and beautiful scenery. 

Coming to An Giang, tourists cannot miss out on the Tra Su cajuput forest to the south of Chau Doc.

November is the best time to visit this forest because during this period it is perfectly green and everything seems to fall silent while Mother Nature brings peace to visitors’ heart.

The water is as blue as the sky, but when one looks up to the sky, all that can be seen are green trees with singing birds surrounding them.

Tourists should visit the forest in the morning so as to see the birds leaving their nests to look for food.

The forest’s ecosystem perfectly represents that of the western area of the Hau (Back) River. 

Reaching the end of the forested area, visitors can see a path leading up to an observatory.

There, they will have the chance to get a view of the whole area from up high and appreciate how beautiful nature can be.

If the northwestern area of Vietnam is covered with highlands and mountains, the southern region impresses visitors with beautiful, graceful rivers and streams. 

Another destination that needs visiting in An Giang is the God Lake (Bung Binh Thien), one of the largest freshwater lakes in the Mekong Delta.

The lake is known for its never-changing deep blue water color despite the silt in it.

The deep blue water is slightly decorated with pink lotus flowers.

A boat ride on the God Lake is another unforgettable experience, especially when tourists are surrounded by a pleasant lotus scent. 

One of the most common occupations in this area is fishing since this is one of the areas with the most fish.

Fishermen can easily fill their nets with silver white fish. This is also one of the many reasons why people living here are so generous. 

Last but not least, Tri Ton District must be included in any itinerary.

There visitors will see the beautiful Ta Pa rice fields. On one side lie the golden paddy fields, on the other is a perfectly green meadow. In between the two fields of vivid colors is a row of palmyra trees. 

With agriculture and fishing being the two main occupations of people living here, it comes as no surprise that An Giang has a diverse cuisine.

Coming here, tourists should not miss out on fish hotpots made with local fish. The dish is a perfect mix of sweetness and sourness with the addition of Egyptian river hemp flowers.

Other significant dishes include steamed chicken and roasted snakehead fish served with salad and rice paper, just to name a few. 

And An Giang is one of the last places with the iconic xe loi drivers.

Xe loi is a simple, self-assembled pedicab that had been a symbol of southern Vietnam for a long time until it was banned in most parts of the country.

Nowadays, many people still think of xe loi when they talk about southern Vietnam, even though it has already been a few years since the law was passed.

But An Giang remains one of the few places that still allow these vehicles to travel on the streets.

Hence, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the province is the guardian of the southern Vietnamese symbol. 

Xe loi is suitable for touristic strolls around Chau Doc. The drivers slowly drive tourists through the town so that they can admire the beauty of the region.

Chau Doc’s specialties always succeed in attracting tourists’ attention.

Going through the city on xe loi makes it even easier to stop wherever a visitor wants.

Whoever has been to Chau Doc always reminds others to stand their ground to avoid the infinite allures its cuisine has to offer. 

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