5 Best Sights in Chau Doc, Mekong Delta

One of nine mosques serving An Giang Province's Muslim population, Mubarak Mosque is a short ferry ride from Chau Doc's passenger pier. First built in 1750, the mosque is the spiritual heart of the area's Cham community. Take some time wandering the surrounding streets to view the Khmer-style wooden houses.

It's possible to walk to the smallish (230 meters) Sam Mountain, 5 km (3 miles) southwest of Chau Doc, although it is a long walk. Or you can get a xe om or a taxi to the top of the mountain and walk down (there's a surcharge for navigating the steep bumpy road; make sure you organize a round-trip unless you want to walk back to town).

There are several interesting shrines on the mountain, known as Nui Sam in Vietnamese. The first, at its base, is Tay An Pagoda, originally constructed in 1847 and renovated several times since, with a mix of Vietnamese and Indian architecture. A little way past Tay An Pagoda is Ba Chua Xu (Lady Xu Pagoda), dedicated to a goddess whose origins have been lost in the mists of time and legend. Farther along is the Tomb of Thoai Ngoc Hau, an official of the Nguyen dynasty who died in 1829, and his two wives. Hang Pagoda (Cave Pagoda), at the top of 400 steps, has amazing views of the surrounding countryside, the flat rice paddies, and flood plains that stretch out beyond the Cambodian border.

Ba Chua Xu is the prosperity goddess of the Vietnamese folk religion Thanism, and this is her temple. It was built about half way up Sam Mountain in the early 1800s after, legend has it, villagers discovered in the forest a female statue dating to the 6th century. The temple is constructed in what is commonly thought of as Chinese style, with four levels, and the tiled roofs have become green with age. Within is the statue of Ba Chua Xu, and locals come here to ask for protection. During the fourth lunar month, the 23rd–27th are festival days and locals celebrate with dances, praying, and by making offerings. Surrounding the temple are pleasant gardens and some small caves, and from up here there's a sweeping view of the surrounding countryside; on a clear day you can see neighboring Cambodia.

You can see some of the floating farms from 30 Thang 4 Park and the Chau Giang ferry terminal, off to the left across the river, but to visit one you need a guide. The fish farms are underneath the floating houses, in underwater pens accessed through the floors. A visit to a floating fish farm is usually on the itinerary of organized tours that come through Chau Doc. If traveling independently, ask your hotel for assistance.

The 2,088-acre Tra Su bird sanctuary, 25 km (15½ miles) southwest of Chau Doc, is home to more than 70 species of birds, including storks, egrets, and herons. The best time to visit is when the cajeput (paperbark) forest is flooded, from July to November. A three-hour exploration by boat includes a motorboat ride and then a peaceful cruise by rowboat through the brilliant green duckweed, lotus flowers, and water lilies. The tour usually includes a stop at a bird-observation tower that is 23 meters (75 feet) high. For most of the year, the sanctuary's narrow 12-km (7½-mile) track can also be explored by bicycle, with rentals available at the boat station. From Chau Doc, hotels and travel agents charge around 1,000,000d ($45) for a trip for two to Tra Su (including motorcycle ride out there and a boat), but the moto drivers outside Chau Doc Covered Market will take you there for around 175,000d ($8). There's one restaurant inside Tra Su and, next to where you'll hop in the boat, a few fruit stands and a small café where you can cool off with iced coffee.