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Article and photos:Khoi Nguyen
Spring travel, taking a boat to enjoy the scenery of the Mekong River, or docking along the canals, admiring the countryside scenery of the Southern countryside and learning about the life on the river of the local people... are the pleasures of most tourists. But many people also choose spiritual tourism in the early days of spring with the destination being the Ba Chua Xu Temple on Sam Mountain in Chau Doc town (An Giang). Many people also choose to go to the beach, so at this time, hotels in Ha Tien and Phu Quoc Island are always "full" of rooms.
Pilgrimage tourism
Pilgrimage tourism is always at the top of the list of spring tour destinations in the Mekong Delta. On this occasion, Ba Chua Xu Temple on Sam Mountain welcomes groups of visitors from all over to pay their respects and ask for good luck at the beginning of the year at this famous sacred temple. After the ceremony, visitors will visit Tay An Ancient Temple, Thoai Ngoc Hau Tomb and rent a pedicab to go to Sam Mountain night market, or stroll around Chau Doc town - the "Kingdom of fish sauce" of the West. The next destination is Tinh Bien border market - Tinh Bien duty-free supermarket and Tra Su eco-tourism area, where visitors will enjoy the specialty of the flooded cajuput forest, which is grilled snakehead fish with delicious tamarind fish sauce.
According to the Management Board of Tinh Bien Border Gate Economic Zones, during the spring, Tinh Bien welcomes about 10,000 visitors per day to visit and shop at the border market and duty-free supermarket. A trader at Tinh Bien border market said: “Every year, during the spring, this market is very crowded with visitors. From the first day of Tet, there are people visiting, but the peak is from the second day of Tet onwards. The traders here open their doors to sell until all the customers are gone, sometimes until 7-8 pm. At 3-4 am the next morning, there are already customers coming to the market, so they have to open the doors to sell again. The border market during the spring days almost never sleeps…”
Ecotourism
Through Dong Thap, tourists can choose one of two eco-tourism areas: Gao Giong, Xeo Quyt and combine a visit to the tomb of Vice-Principal Nguyen Sinh Sac, the ancient house of Huynh Thuy Le in Sa Dec, Sa Dec flower village and Tram Chim eco-tourism area. Returning to the ancient land of the six provinces of Nam Ky, tourists do not forget to enjoy the specialties: Lai Vung spring rolls, Sa Giang shrimp crackers, Lai Vung pink grapefruit...
Leaving Dong Thap, go to Can Tho to explore the capital of the West. Tourists will cross the Can Tho bridge, which is more than 15 km long, the longest cable-stayed bridge in Southeast Asia. Visit Ninh Kieu wharf, the first scenic spot in Tay Do. Go to Cai Rang floating market, one of the largest floating markets in the Mekong Delta, to learn about the unique river culture of the Southern people. Passing the "beo" trees at the front of the selling boats, tourists can buy and sell with Western merchants. Continue by boat to Con Au, admire the beauty of both sides of the Hau river, enjoy the pleasures of the river such as: crossing the bamboo bridge through the mangrove forest, swimming in the river, rowing a boat, making ditches, catching fish... at Phu Sa tourist area. Then the boat will take tourists to My Khanh garden house to visit a typical garden house in the South, learn about the ancient houses of the South. Come to My Khanh tourist village, enjoy "landlord's rice" carefully prepared with many rustic dishes.
Next, visitors should go to Vinh Sang eco-tourism area (Vinh Long) to "be a farmer" for a day, experience the exciting countryside life, enjoy the green landscape full of fruit trees on both sides of the Tien River with four islands Long, Lan, Quy, Phung. Visitors hear about the "coconut religion leader" at the Coconut Religion relic site, listen to folk music, enjoy the sweet taste of Ben Tre coconuts. Go to Thoi Son Islet to enjoy ornamental flower gardens, bonsai, fruit gardens, coconut candy kilns, how to raise bees for honey, drink honey tea...
Riding a horse carriage on a winding small road, through coconut-shaded villages in Ben Tre, enjoying tropical fruits with honey tea, listening to traditional music performed by local artists... are also pleasures worth experiencing. The spring journey to the river region continues when visitors arrive in the city.My Tho, take a boat trip on Tien River, visit the fishing port, floating houses on the river, then catch fish in ditches, bathe in the river, enjoy fresh fruit picked from the trees...
Unique Western coastal tourism
Ha Tien town (Kien Giang) is a place that still preserves many historical relics from the time of the opening of Ha Tien land by the Mac family. Coming here, you should go up Binh San mountain, one of the ten beautiful landscapes of Ha Tien land, visit Mac Cuu tomb, hear about the Mac family - who founded Ha Tien town in the 18th century; visit Thach Dong, visit Phu Dung Co Tu to hear about the beautiful love story of Ha Tien Governor Mac Thien Tich and Phu Cu (also known as Phu Dung). Go to Mui Nai beach to swim, enjoy coffee at Nai Vang hill, or take a slide car to the top of Ta Pang to see the panoramic view of the quiet and peaceful Ha Tien mountains and rivers, in the distance is Phu Quoc island and beautiful Cambodia.
Another famous tourist destination in the Mekong Delta is Phu Quoc Island. Phu Quoc Island tourism in the spring is often overcrowded due to the limited number of high-speed boats and planes. Moreover, this is the "winter" holiday season of many foreign tourists, so Phu Quoc tourism is quite "fickle" compared to other destinations in the Central Coast.
The Southwestern region with its pristine landscape, warm and hospitable people and unique customs and traditions will be a destination not to be missed if you and your family plan to travel during the spring, combine exploration and relaxation. This is also an ideal place to relax because the tourist density is generally not as crowded as other popular destinations.
