TheLoneRider.com Thursday March 28, 2024 EDT 
a nomad in search of...
HOME PAGE About TheLoneRider Contact TheLoneRider Web TheLoneRider.com      
HOME PAGE
DESTINATIONS
Cambodia Canada France Hong Kong India Indonesia Italy Laos Malaysia Monaco Myanmar Nepal Philippines Singapore Switzerland Thailand Vietnam USA
ACTIVITIES
Astral Projection Caving Fitness Freediving Kayaking Meditation Mountain Biking Mountaineering Rafting Rock Climbing Scuba Diving Snowboarding Surfing Traveling Yoga
REVIEWS
Book Review Gear Review Hotel Review Movie Review Show Review Restaurant Review
MISC
Art Chilling Out Cool Sites Community Counter Culture Food Odyssey best food recipes Lucid Thoughts Peoplescape Politics Print Media Quantum Mechanics Random Lives Showbiz Snapshot Slice of Life Thought Bubble Teaching Verbatim Wealth Building
WEB SERVICES
SEO Services Web Design Services Advertising Here

Traveling

Exploring Chau Doc, Vietnam Nov 27-28, 2014

Exploring Chau Doc, Vietnam

GPS waypoint: 10°40'36.3"N 105°04'41.8"E
Location: Chau Doc City, An Giang Province, Vietnam

Overnight Rest Stop
Tired from the long motorbike ride from Ha Tien, we finally arrived Chau Doc around 3:30pm. The group disbanded as the others proceeded to Saigon and the others to their hometown. Even though Chau Doc was only a stop-over, it was in the heart of the Mekong Delta and representative of the West's cultural life. Tuyen and I decided to stay a day more and explore the city.

Exploring the City
To our surprise, Chau Doc was quite expensive. Pho was VND 50,000, while normally in Saigon and other parts of Vietnam, Pho, the country's staple is only priced from 25-35,000. Lodging was also expensive. The city per se wasn't offering much either. The tours were expensive and from what we read, the newly developed floating market was designed more for the tourist than for any economic need of the city. As we walked around in the evening, the garbage was still on the streets - giving it a kind of a seedy underbelly feel. It was enough for us.

Ending Thoughts
It's probably not fair to say Chau Doc is not a worthwhile destination as we have only been there 2 days, but we didn't really have the luxury of time in an expensive place. Instead of spending money on their floating market tour, Tuyen and I decided to go to Phung Hiep, the town where the 7 fingers of the Mekong River meet. But to reach Phung Hiep, we had to pass through Can Tho first.

--- TheLoneRider

Next stop: Can Tho, Vietnam

night fruit stall art installation in the public park night stroll in the park street food

Tourist Attractions

  • Sam Mountain - visit the Sam Mountain Lady, annual ceremony is held every April of lunar calendar, 7 km from the city, 1000 meters above sea level
  • Phuoc Dien Temple - official historic monument of Vietnam
  • Cham communities - take a boat trip across the river

From Chau Doc to:

  • Saigon - buses to Saigon will take 6 hours, 250 km
  • Phnom Penh - river cruise option, 5:30 hours travel time + 1:30 hours customs/immigration processing time, $25 one-way
  • Can Tho - river boat option, 1:30 hours travel time, $39 one-way, min. 6 passengers

Vietnam FYI / Tips / Dos and Don'ts

  • Vietnamese smokers used to smoke in air-conditioned establishments, air-conditioned buses packed with people including women, children and babies. But this habit seems to be changing now.
  • Vietnam ranks almost the same as Thailand and Cambodia for cheap price. Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia cost more
  • internet speed is generally fast and reliable but during important events like Tet holiday, election, etc., it slows down
  • Vietnamese generally do not speak or understand much English. It will be a challenge.
  • only Vietnamese Dong is accepted as legal tender (change your dollars into Dong)
  • best to dress appropriately, not revealing too much skin (Saigon is an exception - the ladies there set the trend in very short shorts)
  • remove your shoes when entering a home or place of worship
  • ask first before taking someone's picture. If they say no, don't persist or offer money
  • best to carry your hotel's business card with you when going out. You can just show it to the cab driver or XeOm driver if they don't understand English
  • leave your valuables, passport, travel tickets, etc. with the hotel's safety deposit box
  • when lying down, don't point your feet or the soles of your shoes to anyone or to a family altar
  • carry only enough cash for your needs that day
  • don't lose your temper in public - Vietnamese people are warm, generous and polite. They look down on people who lose their composure
  • don't take pictures of military installations
  • refrain from taking videos of minority people until permitted to do so
[an error occurred while processing this directive]


Facebook Users
Nov 27-28, 2014

»» next Traveling story: Exploring the Capital of the West, Can Tho (Vietnam)
»» back to Traveling
»» back to Homepage

ARCHIVE: 2024 | JAN | FEB | MAR

1970 | 1973 | 1975 | 1976 | 1979 | 1981 | 1996 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ALL BLOGS



Chau Doc Tour

Delta Adventure Chau Doc

Delta Adventure | River Cruises from Phnom Penh - Chau Doc - Can Tho | Vietnam Mekong Delta
         







Chau Doc Hotels

Chau Doc river cruise
Delta Adventure
Chau Doc River Cruise




Can Tho Hotels

Can Tho Hotels, Vietnam
Can Tho Hotel, Vietnam



Ho Chi Minh City


Da Nang Hotels


Sanouva Danang Hotel, Vietnam
Sanouva Danang Hotel
Da Nang, Vietnam



La Oliva Bistro & Bar, Danang, Vietnam
La Oliva
Bistro & Bar
Da Nang, Vietnam



In Balance Spa, Danang, Vietnam
In Balance Spa
Da Nang, Vietnam





Hue Hotels


Canary Hotel, Hue, Vietnam
Canary Hotel
Hue, Vietnam





Hoi An Hotels


An Hoi Hotel, Hoi An Ancient Town, Vietnam, swimming pool, balcony, restaurant

An Hoi Hotel
Hoi An Ancient Town
Vietnam



SuBi3 Beauty Salon and Spa, Hoi An Ancient Town, Vietnam, facial treatment, scrubs and wraps, hair cutting, waxing, nail treatment, threading, massage therapy

Su Bi 3 Beauty Salon & Spa
Hoi An Ancient Town
Vietnam







Subscribe

TheLoneRider