Chau Doc

In the An Giang province that borders Cambodia, lies a city that is colorful both literally and figuratively – Chau Doc. The pastel colors that are prominently painted on storefronts are a testament to the lives that the locals lead and make it more than just a stopover for tourists making their way to Phnom Penh. The town is culturally diverse with significant Chinese, Cham, and Khmer communities while people are captivating and friendly with a fairly good grasp of English and the area has its fair share of mosques, temples, churches, and pilgrimage sites. The best way to get there is via a direct bus or boat from Ho Chi Minh City.

The Chau Doc riverfront is a great place to explore to get a feel of how people live their lives and you may even be lucky enough to strike a good conversation with some of the locals hanging about the area. Other attractions are the Sam Mountain which is also a local pilgrimage site and where you could find the Ba Chua Xu Temple. History buffs will appreciate Tuc Dop Hill where US forces were unable to stop small-scale insurgents based in the delta. Lastly, there is the Tra Su Bird Sanctuary which offers an excellent view of the An Giang countryside. For food, Bay Bong Restaurant and Bassac Restaurant are the standouts that serve reasonably priced local favorites.