Tra Su Bird Sanctuary
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.
