The wetlands of U Minh Thuong National Park

Wetland cajuput forests in U Minh Thuong Forest in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang. Boat tours can take you through the huge park in the wet season - Photo: Dang Hoang Tham

U Minh Thuong (Upper U Minh) in the Mekong Delta’s Kien Giang Province is a vast wetlands area rich in fish and waterbird life that was declared a National Park in September 2000.

To get there by road, from Tac Cau in the province travel 30 kilometers then turn towards Vinh Thuan District for 30 kilometers. This will bring you to the border of U Minh Thuong. The path lies under a dense green canopy. The forest which spans An Bien, Vinh Thuan and An Minh districts of Kien Giang Province is about halfway between Can Tho and Ca Mau.

U Minh Thuong covers 21,100 hectares. The core 8,000 hectares are strictly protected, while locals live in the remaining 13,000ha growing rice and fruit and vegetables and  exploiting government owned cajuput forests.

The national park is one of only a few protected tropical mangrove forests left in the world. It contains 252 species of flora, 202 different insect species, 24 animal species and 185 kinds of birds, many of which are rare, some have been listed in the red book.

There is also a 44-hectare bird sanctuary with more than 70,000 birds.

The forest that has been through two revolutions as a military base is now being developed for research, to improve conservation efforts of endangered species as well as for eco-tourism and traditional tours.

Roads to U Minh are much better than before. Boat tours of Hoa Mai Lake in the center of the area, cost VND20,000 per person during the rainy season. In the dry season, travelers can hike around the park.

The U Minh Restaurant serves local specialties that include a range of fish dishes and honey dishes such as  honey sweet soup, honey salads, and honey sashimi.

The sunsets there are fantastic as thousands of birds return from feeding grounds to their nests. The forest is full of wildlife and the sounds of monkeys and wild pigs can often be heard.

Guests can stay overnight at the forest but should be careful so that monkeys or pigs don’t steal your food.

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Drifting through the delta

Phu Tu Island in Phu Quoc offshore Kien Giang Province

If central Vietnam is my favorite place to travel and learn about history, the Mekong Delta region is where I am touched by the hardship that these people endure.

My journey starts from Dong Tam Snake Farm in Tien Giang Province. It is one of the country’s largest snake-farms where venom is produced for local use and export. The center also has other rare animals such as bears, monkeys and golden turtles.

Down the river to An Giang Province, I had time to visit many places such as Ba Chua Xu Temple, built in 1820 at the foot of Sam Mountain, Chau Doc District, where people pray to Ba Chua Xu for better crops and lives. From Sam Mountain visitors can see the Vietnam and Cambodia border and That Son Mountain Range where there are many old pagodas.

I also had a chance to see artisans weaving brocades in Cham Chau Giang craft village. And visited Dong Thap to see the tomb of Sinh Sac, the father of Uncle Ho.

A seller at Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho City at dawn Photos: Dang Khoa

Then I left for Kien Giang Province, a must-see for all travelers to the delta. I went first to Ha Tien Town and looked around Mui Nai Beach, Thon Van Stone Cave, Chong Islet and many historical and cultural relics.

From the center of Ha Tien Township, I stopped at the royal tombs and temples of the Mac Cuu family at Binh San Mountain. They were the family who first settled the town 300 years ago. The mountain was nice to trek around then I cooled off at some of the temples and the ancient Phu Dung Pagoda

If you go to Kien Giang Province, you shouldn’t miss the boat ride to Phu Quoc Island, to see the peaceful tropical paradise and float in the warm turquoise waters of the Gulf of Thailand.

I came back via Can Tho City, checked out Cai Rang Floating Market – listening to the cries of sellers drifting along the canals and rivers.

In Can Tho, I also watched a performance of don ca tai tu (southern opera singing).

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Drifting through the delta

Phu Tu Island in Phu Quoc offshore Kien Giang Province

If central Vietnam is my favorite place to travel and learn about history, the Mekong Delta region is where I am touched by the hardship that these people endure.

My journey starts from Dong Tam Snake Farm in Tien Giang Province. It is one of the country’s largest snake-farms where venom is produced for local use and export. The center also has other rare animals such as bears, monkeys and golden turtles.

Down the river to An Giang Province, I had time to visit many places such as Ba Chua Xu Temple, built in 1820 at the foot of Sam Mountain, Chau Doc District, where people pray to Ba Chua Xu for better crops and lives. From Sam Mountain visitors can see the Vietnam and Cambodia border and That Son Mountain Range where there are many old pagodas.

I also had a chance to see artisans weaving brocades in Cham Chau Giang craft village. And visited Dong Thap to see the tomb of Sinh Sac, the father of Uncle Ho.

A seller at Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho City at dawn Photos: Dang Khoa

Then I left for Kien Giang Province, a must-see for all travelers to the delta. I went first to Ha Tien Town and looked around Mui Nai Beach, Thon Van Stone Cave, Chong Islet and many historical and cultural relics.

From the center of Ha Tien Township, I stopped at the royal tombs and temples of the Mac Cuu family at Binh San Mountain. They were the family who first settled the town 300 years ago. The mountain was nice to trek around then I cooled off at some of the temples and the ancient Phu Dung Pagoda

If you go to Kien Giang Province, you shouldn’t miss the boat ride to Phu Quoc Island, to see the peaceful tropical paradise and float in the warm turquoise waters of the Gulf of Thailand.

I came back via Can Tho City, checked out Cai Rang Floating Market – listening to the cries of sellers drifting along the canals and rivers.

In Can Tho, I also watched a performance of don ca tai tu (southern opera singing).

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Drifting through the delta

Phu Tu Island in Phu Quoc offshore Kien Giang Province

If central Vietnam is my favorite place to travel and learn about history, the Mekong Delta region is where I am touched by the hardship that these people endure.

My journey starts from Dong Tam Snake Farm in Tien Giang Province. It is one of the country’s largest snake-farms where venom is produced for local use and export. The center also has other rare animals such as bears, monkeys and golden turtles.

Down the river to An Giang Province, I had time to visit many places such as Ba Chua Xu Temple, built in 1820 at the foot of Sam Mountain, Chau Doc District, where people pray to Ba Chua Xu for better crops and lives. From Sam Mountain visitors can see the Vietnam and Cambodia border and That Son Mountain Range where there are many old pagodas.

I also had a chance to see artisans weaving brocades in Cham Chau Giang craft village. And visited Dong Thap to see the tomb of Sinh Sac, the father of Uncle Ho.

A seller at Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho City at dawn Photos: Dang Khoa

Then I left for Kien Giang Province, a must-see for all travelers to the delta. I went first to Ha Tien Town and looked around Mui Nai Beach, Thon Van Stone Cave, Chong Islet and many historical and cultural relics.

From the center of Ha Tien Township, I stopped at the royal tombs and temples of the Mac Cuu family at Binh San Mountain. They were the family who first settled the town 300 years ago. The mountain was nice to trek around then I cooled off at some of the temples and the ancient Phu Dung Pagoda

If you go to Kien Giang Province, you shouldn’t miss the boat ride to Phu Quoc Island, to see the peaceful tropical paradise and float in the warm turquoise waters of the Gulf of Thailand.

I came back via Can Tho City, checked out Cai Rang Floating Market – listening to the cries of sellers drifting along the canals and rivers.

In Can Tho, I also watched a performance of don ca tai tu (southern opera singing).

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Drifting through the delta

Phu Tu Island in Phu Quoc offshore Kien Giang Province

If central Vietnam is my favorite place to travel and learn about history, the Mekong Delta region is where I am touched by the hardship that these people endure.

My journey starts from Dong Tam Snake Farm in Tien Giang Province. It is one of the country’s largest snake-farms where venom is produced for local use and export. The center also has other rare animals such as bears, monkeys and golden turtles.

Down the river to An Giang Province, I had time to visit many places such as Ba Chua Xu Temple, built in 1820 at the foot of Sam Mountain, Chau Doc District, where people pray to Ba Chua Xu for better crops and lives. From Sam Mountain visitors can see the Vietnam and Cambodia border and That Son Mountain Range where there are many old pagodas.

I also had a chance to see artisans weaving brocades in Cham Chau Giang craft village. And visited Dong Thap to see the tomb of Sinh Sac, the father of Uncle Ho.

A seller at Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho City at dawn Photos: Dang Khoa

Then I left for Kien Giang Province, a must-see for all travelers to the delta. I went first to Ha Tien Town and looked around Mui Nai Beach, Thon Van Stone Cave, Chong Islet and many historical and cultural relics.

From the center of Ha Tien Township, I stopped at the royal tombs and temples of the Mac Cuu family at Binh San Mountain. They were the family who first settled the town 300 years ago. The mountain was nice to trek around then I cooled off at some of the temples and the ancient Phu Dung Pagoda

If you go to Kien Giang Province, you shouldn’t miss the boat ride to Phu Quoc Island, to see the peaceful tropical paradise and float in the warm turquoise waters of the Gulf of Thailand.

I came back via Can Tho City, checked out Cai Rang Floating Market – listening to the cries of sellers drifting along the canals and rivers.

In Can Tho, I also watched a performance of don ca tai tu (southern opera singing).

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• Drifting through the delta
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Mekong Delta to greet 19 million visitors

The Mekong River Delta expects to receive 19 million visitors this year,
200,000 more than last year, according to the regional tourism agency,
the Mekong Delta Tourism Association.

Of this
figure, the number of foreign visitors is estimated to increase by 20
percent over last year, reaching 1.46 million.

An
Giang, Kien Giang, Ca Mau, and Can Tho City will top the list of most
visited provinces in the delta, the association said.

The tourism sector in the region has attracted increasing numbers of
visitors since many tourism companies have introduced different kinds of
tours.

Travel companies in Can Tho, An Giang, Kien
Giang and Hau Giang, for instance, have strengthened the development of
waterway tours and festival tourism, among other products.

Meanwhile, companies in Ca Mau, Bac Lieu and Soc Trang provinces have
promoted eco-tourism to mangrove forests, and tours that include
festivals and other cultural activities of the Khmer people.

In Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long and Tra Vinh, waterway tourism,
visiting orchards and traditional villages, historical vestiges and
other community-based tourism have been strongly developed in the past
time.

Provinces in the delta have also invested in
upgrading infrastructure including airports, roads and bridges, making
it more comfortable for visitors.

To further promote
tourism, the delta plans to set up a center for tourism promotion and
build a tourism portal to provide updated and accurate tourism
information.

Travel companies will strive to launch more tourism products and improve the quality of their services.

The region is famous for its diverse ecosystems.

Its major attractions include: orchards on the Thoi Son Island in Tien
Giang province; coconut gardens in Ben Tre province; the ecosystem in
flooded cajeput forests of the Dong Thap Muoi area, Tra Su cajeput
forests in An Giang Province; and coastal mangrove forests (bird
sanctuaries, nature reserves, national parks, biosphere reserves) in Can
Tho, Dong Thap, Bac Lieu and Kien Giang provinces./.

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