A local's itinerary for exploring 5 provinces in the Mekong Delta.

When mentioning the Mekong Delta, most people immediately think of a region dominated by rivers and waterways. However, the Mekong Delta also boasts many famous tourist attractions, delicious food, and kind, simple people who speak in a charming way, making anyone who has visited reluctant to leave.

Bui Le Manh Hung (29 years old, Long An), currently a student studying abroad, shared his journey through 5 provinces in the Mekong Delta. His sharing helps us better understand the destinations and people of this region.

An Giang is not just about spiritual tourism.

When mentioning tourism in An Giang, people immediately think of the "roof of the Mekong Delta" - Mount Cam, or the Lady of the Land Temple at Mount Sam. Besides visiting famous spiritual tourist destinations, you should also try exploring the beautiful, lesser-known hills, mountains, and natural lakes in this region. According to Mạnh Hùng, Mount Cô Tô is an area with many worthwhile attractions to visit.

Co To Mountain (Phnom-Kto, To Mountain, Phuong Hoang Mountain) is located in the That Son mountain range, in Co To commune, Tri Ton district (An Giang province). From this mountain, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Tri Ton district or the border areas with Cambodia in An Giang, with many hills and rice fields inhabited by the Khmer people.

Located in the same Co To mountain area, O Thum Lake was formed about a decade ago to dam water for agricultural production. Although not large in area, the lake nestles against the mountainside, its calm, emerald-green surface creating an incredibly picturesque scene. If you visit during the rainy season, you'll see the water overflowing the stone embankment, creating a truly romantic sight.

From O Thum Lake, visitors can stop by Tuc Dup Hill before reaching Ta Pa Lake. Ta Pa is considered a stunning miniature "Valley of Love" in An Giang. The unintentional actions of human hands during stone quarrying have created a natural masterpiece. The unique, pristine beauty and breathtaking scenery here will not disappoint you if you have the chance to visit.

When traveling in An Giang, you should try Chau Doc fish noodle soup – a famous dish known far and wide for its sweet and fragrant broth flavored with galangal, combined with pieces of fish that are golden brown and have a distinctive turmeric color. Additionally, the snakehead fish hotpot with water hyacinth flowers is also worth trying if you visit An Giang during the flood season. This rustic dish, with its unique colors and flavors, captivates the hearts of diners from near and far.

When you come to Kien Giang, you absolutely must visit the islands!

Kien Giang boasts many of Vietnam's most beautiful and famous islands, such as Phu Quoc Island, the Nam Du archipelago, and Hon Son Island. Therefore, when Kien Giang is mentioned, everyone dreams of visiting these islands. But have you ever heard of the beauty of the islands listed below?

From Chau Doc, travel 90 km to reach Ha Tien city. Continue driving for another 45 km and you'll arrive at the Hon Chong complex, a picturesque landscape with majestic limestone mountains. Here, you can explore the trio of Hon Phu Tu, Chua Hang, and Bai Duong. Discovering the beauty of Hon Chong, you'll be surprised by the peaceful, poetic, and magnificent scenery of this famous landmark in Kien Giang.

When visiting Kien Giang, don't forget to visit the Pirate Islands, which consist of 18 islands of varying sizes (16 above water and 2 submerged). True to its name, the unique Pirate Islands are associated with many stories and mysteries related to piracy. Besides exploring these enigmatic tales, visitors can also immerse themselves in the stunning natural scenery with the lush green of the mountains and the crystal-clear waters of the sea.

Located in the Pirate Islands archipelago, Hon Tre Lon Island impresses visitors with its main beach – a pristine and peaceful space with clear blue waters. You can participate in many experiential activities such as renting snorkeling gear to admire coral reefs, squid and fish fishing at night, diving to catch shellfish, crabs, and snails…

The delicious dish that Mạnh Hùng recommends you definitely try is the specialty fish noodle soup. While Châu Đốc fish noodle soup is fragrant and flavorful with fermented fish sauce, Kiên Giang fish noodle soup is refreshing with its broth cooked with fresh coconut. Without turmeric powder or peanuts, the bright white fish noodle soup is garnished with the sweet red color of stir-fried shrimp, making it very appetizing. Kiên Giang fish noodle soup is served with snakehead fish head and fillet, blanched fresh in each bowl, so the fish meat is both sweet and delightfully crunchy.

Reaching the southernmost point of the country - Ca Mau

From Rach Gia, it takes about three hours by car to reach Ca Mau city. Located approximately 50 km from the city center, Hon Da Bac – a beautiful cluster of three islands of varying sizes situated close together: Hon Ong Ngo, Hon Da Le, and Hon Da Bac – is well worth a visit. With its pristine, majestic beauty and rich historical traces, it has become a popular tourist destination, attracting many visitors to the southernmost point of Vietnam.

After enjoying the beauty of Da Bac Island, take some time to visit Ca Mau National Park (U Minh Ha) - the largest pristine mangrove forest in our country. When visiting the southernmost point of Vietnam, you shouldn't miss the experience of watching the sunrise at Ca Mau Cape. As the sun brings the warm rays of a new day, it bathes the vast green expanse of mangroves and nipa palms, and the shimmering mudflats blend with the gentle blue of the water. At the end of the day, the sunset brings with it colorful clouds, making the scenery of Ca Mau Cape even more poetic and romantic.

When you arrive at the southernmost tip of Vietnam, don't forget to try grilled snakehead fish – a famous dish in Ca Mau with a distinctive and delicious flavor. The naturally sweet fish meat, when dipped in chili salt, makes the dish even more flavorful.

Additionally, try enjoying Ca Mau crab – a dish closely associated with the southernmost tip of Vietnam due to its high nutritional value, delicious flavor, naturally sweet taste, and firm flesh. There are many different ways to prepare it, such as stir-fried crab with lard or crab stir-fried with ginger and onions; but above all, steamed crab will leave an unforgettable impression with its original, fresh flavor.

Visit Bac Lieu to listen to the traditional folk music.

Leaving Ca Mau, it takes about two hours to reach Bac Lieu city. Located about 10 km from the city center, the Nam Hai Goddess of Mercy statue, situated on the coastal dike, is a prominent destination attracting many tourists. This architectural, cultural, and spiritual structure draws visitors with its 11-meter height and its orientation towards the East Sea, seemingly to bless and protect fishermen making a living at sea.

Next, visit the Bac Lieu Prince's House to hear stories about the life of the richest man in Southern Vietnam at one time. The house was built in the French architectural style in 1919, with all the materials imported from France. Today, this house is known as the Bac Lieu Prince's Restaurant and Hotel.

When you arrive in the birthplace of Cai Luong (traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music), don't forget to visit the Cao Van Lau Theater – a memorial to the talented musician associated with the immortal Vong Co song "Da Co Hoai Lang". You can continue your journey to the orchards to explore the fruit trees while enjoying Cai Luong performances.

When visiting Bac Lieu, you absolutely must try bun mam (rice noodles with fermented fish sauce) – a delicious dish that, at first glance, seems simple but hides a lot of sophistication. The fermented fish is cooked until it dissolves, then the clear liquid is filtered out, a little sugar and lemongrass are added, and it's served with rice noodles. Later, to enhance the flavor and richness of bun mam, people added pieces of fish, shrimp, squid, and roasted pork.

"The capital of the Western region" - Can Tho

Concluding our exploration of the Mekong Delta with a visit to Can Tho province, the Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery stands out among its attractions. Its purely Vietnamese architecture from the Ly-Tran dynasties is particularly suitable for those interested in spiritual tourism. From the three-arched gate, one can see the unique boat-like architectural style with four curved eaves, red finial tiles, and the distinctive double dragon motif surrounding the Dharma Wheel.

Exploring Cai Rang Floating Market is a must-do activity when visiting Can Tho. This market, once a key trading hub for the Mekong Delta provinces, offers a unique experience. Here, you can admire the picturesque scenery of the floating market at dawn, float on a boat, immerse yourself in the bustling morning trading atmosphere, and enjoy a bowl of bun rieu (rice noodle soup) right on the boat.

In the afternoon, you can visit the Binh Thuy ancient house (where the movie "L'amour" was filmed) to admire the well-preserved ancient architecture. You can also visit "Pizza Hu Tieu 6 Hoai" to see the process of making the uniquely named and prepared hu tieu (rice noodle soup) and enjoy this distinctive dish.

A 9-day itinerary exploring 5 provinces in the Mekong Delta for backpackers, covering approximately 900km: Chau Doc - Ha Tien - Rach Gia - Ca Mau - Nam Can - Dat Mui - Ca Mau - Bac Lieu - Can Tho.

Bi Le