Visit Chau Doc: Gateway to the Mekong

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Where to Stay: Booking.com is our go-to platform to search for amazing hotels. Here are the top hotels in Chau Doc.

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Budget

Homestay Khoa

High-End

Victoria Nui Sam Lodge

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Top Things to See: Sam Mountain, Floating and Cham Villages, Tra Su Cajuput Forest, Chau Doc Market.

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Best Tour: Visit all the highlights with Ms. San at Mekong Chau Doc Travel, the best tour guide in Chau Doc.

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Best Time to Visit: November to April.

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Reaching Chau Doc: Secure your bus ticket from Ho Chi Minh City to Chau Doc here.

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Chau Doc at a Glance

Chau Doc, a small city in the Mekong Delta, sits along the Bassac River, where colorful floating houses serve as both homes and livelihoods to its residents. This vibrant riverfront setting is just the beginning of what the city has in store.

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Beyond the water, Chau Doc cherishes its traditional roots with bustling markets full of aromatic delicacies and nearby Cham villages preserving their customs and culture.

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Despite its compact size, the streets buzz with life, featuring trendy cafes and great-value restaurants at every corner. This blend of tradition and modernity is what makes it such a fascinating destination to visit in Vietnam.

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Read: Most Beautiful Places in Vietnam

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Essential 2-Day Itinerary for Exploring Chau Doc

Make the most of your time in Chau Doc with our carefully planned 2-day itinerary, guiding you through popular tourist sites and a few of our lesser-known personal favorites. 

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Day 1: Experience the Rivers and Peaks of Chau Doc

Morning

Discover Chau Doc’s vibrant floating houses, painted in rainbow hues, along the Basaac River by boat. Make your way to April 30th Park, where you'll find locals offering boat excursions, or book a morning tour with Ms. San at Mekong Chau Doc Travel.

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During the tour, you’ll have the chance to see the floating houses up close, many of which serve as fish farms. These farms mainly raise Snakehead and Basa Fish–an iconic symbol of Chau Doc. 

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Fish are typically farmed for about two months before being sold for export. During this period, local families refrain from eating their own stock, as they believe it brings bad luck to consume fish they intend to sell.

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Most tours also cruise along the historic Vinh Te Canal, a vital waterway during the Nguyen dynasty, once used for defense and trade in the Chau Doc - Ha Tien region. Today, you can admire houses on stilts and spot local fishermen as you glide through.

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Chau Doc is also home to two Cham villages—Chau Phong and Da Phuoc—which can be easily added to your boat tour. Da Phuoc, just across Con Tien bridge, is more convenient to reach and offers highlights like Lang Cham Mosque and a small market at its entrance. A walk past the market leads to the riverside, for an alternative view of the floating houses.

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Across the Hau River, Da Phuoc Cham village is larger and often included in Ms. San’s tours. Begin with a visit to Mohammad Weaving, where you can see traditional Cham weaving in action and shop for souvenirs. The neighborhood is dotted with stilt houses and stunning mosques, including Mubarak Mosque near the old ferry station and Mosque Jamiul Azhar, one of the oldest and most beautiful mosques in An Giang.

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Don’t miss out on local Cham specialties like tung lo mo (fermented beef sausage) and banh bo nuong (coconut sponge cake).

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Read: 4-Day Mekong Delta Motorbike Itinerary

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Afternoon

Located about 8 kilometers from Chau Doc’s center, Sam Mountain is worth a visit all year round. It is the highest peak in the Mekong Delta and home to significant religious temples and pagodas.  

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Ride the gondola to the summit for breathtaking views of the province and a glimpse into neighboring Cambodia. As you make your way down, be sure to stop at highlights like Hang Pagoda and the Lady Temple at the base.

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Read More: How to Visit the Sam Mountain in Chau Doc

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Day 2: Markets and Nature Escapes

Morning

Start your day at Chau Doc market, situated by the river, where the main star consists of towering displays of fermented seafood carefully stacked along Chi Lang street. These local delicacies are popular across Vietnam and include a variety of fish such as catfish, snakehead, and basa.

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Be sure to stop by the market entrance for snacks and try banh bo thot not (sweet, chewy sponge cake). For breakfast options, grab a banh mi (Vietnamese baguette) from the popular stand right across the street from the market.

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From here, several vibrant temples are just a short walk away. Start with Chau Phu Temple, built in 1926, featuring striking yellow walls and detailed dragon motifs. Nearby, the Quan De Mieu, located in front of the new market, showcases a beautiful gate and elaborately designed walls adorned with marble paintings.

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Take your time to explore these incense-filled temples before continuing to discover more of the city center.

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Afternoon 

Chau Doc serves as an excellent base for visiting the Tra Su Cajuput Forest, situated approximately 30 kilometers from the center. 

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Tip: Take the scenic countryside road, which winds through vast rice paddies and local villages for a quieter and more rewarding journey.

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Explore the area by rowing on a sampan boat or walking along the bamboo bridge to observe a diverse array of bird species. You can also sample some of the province's finest honey, which is available for purchase.

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Read More: How to Visit Tra Su Cajuput Forest

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Additional Day Trip Ideas from Chau Doc

If you have more time to explore, here are a few other attractions worth visiting in the area.

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Ba Chuc Memorial: Located about 40 kilometers south of Chau Doc, a memorial built in 1979 honors the 3,157 villagers killed by the Khmer Rouge. It features an ossuary containing the remains of over 1,100 victims and a memorial room with photos documenting the aftermath of the massacre.

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Nui Cam: Take a gondola ride to the summit of Cam Mountain where you'll find the Van Linh Pagoda and the impressive sitting Buddha, accompanied by stunning views of Tri Ton.

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Khmer Temples: An Giang province is home to many beautiful Khmer temples, with the most notable being Ta Pa Temple and Phnom Pi Temple in Tri Ton.

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The best way to explore these temples is by motorbike, making them great stops along a ride through An Giang. For more details, read our 4-day motorbike itinerary through the Mekong Delta.

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Read More: Must-Visit Temples in An Giang Province

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Where to Stay in Chau Doc

You’ll find a variety of accommodations in Chau Doc. The Victoria Hotel stands out with its prime riverfront location, offering a touch of luxury and stunning views over the river. For a cozier experience, consider staying at charming homestays throughout the city, such as Homestay Khoa on Nguyen Van Thoai Street, known for its great value and friendly host.

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If you’re looking to stay outside the city center, the Victoria Lodge on Sam Mountain is an excellent choice, with all rooms overlooking the expansive rice fields of An Giang Province.

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Budget

Homestay Khoa

High-End

Victoria Nui Sam Lodge

Where to Eat

Chau Doc is packed with street food vendors and local eateries on every corner, offering everything from quick bites to sit-down meals. Here are some of our favorite places to eat in town.

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Bun Ca Be Hai: Chau Doc’s specialty fish noodle soup with sides of bean sprouts and pepper pork sausage. This street food stall frequently changes locations, so be sure to check Google Maps for its current spot. 4-11pm

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Quan Chay Hoa An: A popular and budget-friendly vegetarian restaurant known for its hot pot. Don’t miss out on their fried rice with lotus seeds and spring rolls as well. 6am-8pm

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Quan Bo Trung Nuot: Located at the foot of Sam Mountain, this restaurant serves a variety of beef dishes and provides a tabletop grill. The beef skewers are especially popular. 8am-9pm

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How to Get to Chau Doc

The easiest way to reach Chau Doc from Ho Chi Minh City is by taking a bus from Mien Tay Bus Station. Buses run daily and the journey takes approximately 6 hours.

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Book your bus to Chau Doc here

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Best Time to Visit

The ideal time to visit Chau Doc is between November and April, when the weather is most pleasant. The rainy season runs from May to October, bringing heavier showers and lush green landscapes. Expect an influx of local tourists from May to August.

We hope this article has been a helpful guide for your two-day adventure in the captivating city of Chau Doc!

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From one floating village to another, journey through the charming city of Long Xuyen, just 56 kilometers down the Hau River, and explore its traditional lifestyle. Read our guide to discovering the city and its tranquil floating market.

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If you have any questions, feel free to drop them in the comments below!