In the West of Vietnam there are only 2 provinces were gifted to the most beautiful scenes of An Giang and Kien Giang, the best destination for backpackers. This article share you the useful information for backpacker tourism in An Giang.
# Transportation
By car:
From Saigon, buy the ticket to Long Xuyen city or Chau Doc town at the West bus station or private bus Companies on Hong Phong road (the price fluctuates from 150,000 to 300,000 Vietnam Dong). When coming to above locations, rent motorcycle, bike or taxi.
By motorcycle:
From Saigon to Chau Doc town as follow: Go along Highway No 1 to T-junction An Thai Trung (An Huu market), turn right toward Cao Lanh, after passing Cao Lanh ferry, go along Tien river shore, passing Thuan Giang ferry to Hau river shore, passing Nang Gu ferry, go along Highway 91 of about 30km to Sam mountain. This journey is about 220km, shorter than Mai Linh car journey is 40km.
Notes: If you take backpacking tourism by motorcycle, pay attention on carrying motorcycle certification, diver license, motorcycle insurance. Should comply with regulation speed.
# Time
In An Giang, all seasons are beautiful, but if you come in April or August lunar, you will be immersed in two major festivals of Porcelain princess and Cow racing. In July, August, it is usually rain, so you should bring raincoat or umbrella.
# Hotel/hostel
Hotels/hostels concentrate on three points: Sam mountain area (normally for pilgrims, tourists are not so far from the city centre), Chau Doc and Long Xuyen. The price of hotel is fluctuate from 150,000 to 1 million Vietnam Dong, depending on the scale of hotels. Some suggested hotels such as: Sam mountain rock landing (2 stars), Victoria Chau Doc. Especially, in Long Xuyen, in addition to hotel/hostel, there is complexes of restaurant, hostel and crocodile farms.
A cheap address of accommodation is Thanh Mai 6, near to the Park 30/4 and Chau Doc market. The price is from 80,000 to 150,000 Vietnam Dong, however the accommodation is so old.
# Eating and buying gifts
There are many delicious dishes such as Tri Ton beef soup, fish rice vermicelli, cakes, palm sweet soup, beef meatball soup, mountain climbing beef… In addition, you could enjoy cakes, Ni rice, cà púa of Cham people.
Gifts: the fish sauces at Chau Doc market are known as King of sauces. Also, you could buy driers, procade,…
# Sites for sightseeing
There are many sites for sightseeing in An Giang. The first destination should not be missed are Sam mountain tourist cluster, porcelain princess temple, Tay An temple, Thoai Ngoc Hau temple. After walking Sam mountain, you can cross through Vinh Nguon commune (far from Chau Doc town about 3km), you could enjoy a view of Vinh Te – the biggest canal in An Giang. Here, you will be attracted by poetic beautiful of houses nearing to canal.
In particular, while Sam mountain has system of sacred temples, Cam mountain also is wild, majestic with waterfall, lake, large canopy trees for visitors to rest, relax. The most impression on mountain and forest in An Giang is carpet of green water-fern at Tra Su indigo forest. That green associated with the green of trees and the sky create a painting scenery as legend.
And also, do not forget to cross Sap mountain to view sun set on three lakes, come to Tuc Dup to discover system of mysterious caves, visiting Gieng isles with the biggest and oldest Church in Vietnam or sightseeing the beautiful of Xa Ton pagoda – this is the famous pagoda of Angkor style in An Giang.
# Which items should to bring with?
You should wear light clothes, easy for moving. Carrying jacket, hat, sunscreen, anti-mosquitoes cream, insect medication, belt pain medicine (make precautions when serve strange dishes). Should wear sport shoes, flat shoes to climb mountain, bring sewing work, safety-pin for unexpected situations.
Also, if you planned a picnic and spend the night on Cam mountain, let’s bring tent, warm clothes, food,…
# The roads for backpacking tourism to An Giang:
Saigon – Cao Lanh – Tram Chim – An Giang – Campuchia
Saigon – Đong Thap – An Giang – Kien Giang – Phu Quoc – Campuchia.
But normally, the tourists go to An Giang in short tour such as: An Giang – Dong Thap; An Giang – Kien Giang; An Giang – Campuchia.
>> See more photos of An Giang at: An Giang’s destinations in photos and Photos of Ta Pa lake – An Giang province
