Chau Doc & Tra Su Melaleuca Forest – Deep into the Mekong Delta
Immerse in the floating river world, feel the soul of Chau Doc
Saigon – Chau Doc – Sam Mountain – Floating village & fish rafts – Cham village – Tra Su Melaleuca Forest – Chau Doc Market – Saigon
Overview
3-day 2-night tour takes you deeper into the Mekong Delta: Chau Doc with the Cham village, Ba Chua Xu Temple, Sam Mountain, Hau River fish rafts, and Tra Su Melaleuca Forest — An Giang's flooded wetland with green duckweed, wild birds, and bamboo bridges. A private, slow-paced, cultural-depth tour.
Go Deeper into the Mekong Delta – Beyond the Day Tours
Most visitors to the Mekong Delta only stop at a 1-day My Tho – Ben Tre tour or a 2-day Can Tho tour. But the Delta has far more to offer. Chau Doc – an An Giang province deep in the Mekong Delta, bordering Cambodia – is a different side of the Delta: a crossroads of Vietnamese, Cham, and Khmer cultures, where the river life thrives on the Hau River, where sacred mountains rise from the plains, and where flooded melaleuca forests stretch endlessly.
The Chau Doc & Tra Su Melaleuca Forest 3D2N tour is for travelers who want to go slower, deeper, and closer to nature and local culture. Unlike the day-trip Mekong tours that rush through 5-6 stops, this 3-day, 2-night tour gives you real time to experience: a boat ride through the floating village and fish rafts on the Hau River, a morning paddling through the Tra Su Melaleuca Forest, an afternoon visiting the Ba Chua Xu Temple – the most sacred temple in the Delta – and meals of An Giang specialties (Chau Doc fish noodle soup, fermented fish, palm sugar).
Tra Su Melaleuca Forest – The Green Jewel of An Giang
The natural highlight of the journey is the Tra Su Melaleuca Forest – a flooded forest belonging to the Mekong Delta ecosystem, spanning 845 hectares in the Seven Mountains region. As you paddle through the narrow canals lined with lush green melaleuca trees, you'll see the water surface covered with green duckweed – an endless green that only exists in An Giang's flooded wetlands. Above, hundreds of wild birds fly back to their nests in the late afternoon – herons, egrets, and teal. The bamboo bridges, the observation tower, and the characteristic tranquility make Tra Su a very different experience from the familiar Mekong stops.
Tra Su is most beautiful in the early morning or late afternoon, when the light is soft and the birds are easy to observe. The itinerary is designed to bring you to Tra Su at the best time of the day.
Highlights
Sacred Sam Mountain
Visit Ba Chua Xu Temple and the summit of Sam Mountain, enjoy panoramic views of Chau Doc from above, and feel the serene spiritual atmosphere.
Enchanting Tra Su Melaleuca Forest
Paddle through the pristine flooded forest, listen to the birds, and breathe in the subtle scent of melaleuca.
Unique Cham Village
Discover the Islamic culture, visit the brocade weaving village, and interact with the friendly, simple Cham people.
Hau River Fish Rafts
Admire the giant fish rafts on the Hau River and enjoy fresh fish right on the rafts.
Mekong Delta Cuisine
Savor fish noodle soup, fermented fish hotpot, bánh bò, and Chau Doc fish sauce – unforgettable rich flavors.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1
Saigon – Mekong Delta Countryside – Chau Doc – Sam Mountain
Our vehicle and guide pick you up at your hotel in central Ho Chi Minh City. Depart for Chau Doc, An Giang Province. Travel time is about 5-6 hours (split into two segments) – this is a long road journey, but you'll get deep into the real Mekong Delta. On the way, the guide introduces the culture of the Delta, the Mekong River, the history of the southern region, and the Seven Mountains of An Giang.
Travel through vast green rice fields, a network of canals, and fruit orchards. Stop at a rest stop or local café depending on traffic. You'll gradually feel the difference of the Delta: more open, slower, and life closely tied to the water.
Lunch at a local restaurant on the way to Chau Doc or in the Long Xuyen/An Giang area. Try the first Delta dishes: sour soup, caramelized fish in clay pot, and salad.
Continue the journey. Rest on the bus, enjoy the scenery of rice fields, canals, and the countryside – children herding ducks, locals rowing boats, and stilt houses along the canals.
Arrive in Chau Doc. If time permits, visit the Sam Mountain area – the most sacred spiritual complex in the Delta: Ba Chua Xu Temple (the temple of the goddess worshipped by the southern people), Tay An Pagoda (unique Indo-Chinese-Vietnamese architecture), Thoai Ngoc Hau's Tomb (the official who opened the southern region), or Hang Pagoda depending on the actual situation.
Check in at your hotel in Chau Doc. Rest.
Dinner at a local restaurant. We recommend trying Chau Doc fish noodle soup – a famous specialty with a clear, sweet broth from fish. Overnight in Chau Doc.
Day 2
Hau River – Floating Village – Cham Village – Tra Su Melaleuca Forest
Breakfast at the hotel.
Take a motorboat to visit the Chau Doc floating village – an area on the Hau River where hundreds of floating houses are anchored, forming a real "village" on the water. You'll see the river life: locals trading, living, and raising fish on these floating houses. Visit fish rafts – giant rafts for raising basa and catfish on the river, and learn about the typical fish farming of the Delta. Depending on the boat route and time, you may also visit the Cham village – a community of Cham Islam people living along the river, to learn about their culture, stilt houses, weaving, and the mosque.
Transfer to the Tra Su Melaleuca Forest. On the way, the guide introduces the Seven Mountains region, the flooded forest, and the ecosystem of An Giang – an ecological crossroads between the Mekong River and the That Son mountain range.
The highlight: Tra Su Melaleuca Forest. You'll take a motorboat and/or a rowing boat through the canals. On both sides are lush green melaleuca trees, and the water surface is covered with green duckweed – an endless green. Above, wild birds fly back (herons, egrets, teal). Cross the bamboo bridges, climb the observation tower to see the whole forest. The silence is surprisingly peaceful – only the sound of oars, birds, and the wind through the melaleuca leaves. This is the part that many guests say is the most beautiful moment of the trip.
Lunch with local dishes at Tra Su or nearby.
Flexible time: rest, take photos, take a short walk in the ecological area, or visit more local spots near Tra Su depending on the tour package.
Return to Chau Doc. You can stop for photos of rice fields, mountains, or a local market if convenient.
Dinner. Overnight in Chau Doc.
Day 3
Chau Doc Market – Mekong Delta Specialties – Return to Saigon
Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
Visit Chau Doc Market or a light local spot depending on the hotel location. This is a chance to buy An Giang specialties: fermented fish (mam ru, mam ca, mam tom chua), palm sugar (sugar made from the palm tree), local cakes, and dried goods. The market also shows the bustling river life, where Khmer, Cham, and Vietnamese people trade together.
Depart back to Ho Chi Minh City. Stop for a break on the way.
Lunch at a local restaurant on the way back.
Continue to Ho Chi Minh City. Arrival time depends on traffic; weekends/holidays may be later.
Drop off at your hotel in central Ho Chi Minh City. Farewell to the Mekong Delta – with memories of green duckweed, wild birds, floating villages, and the tranquil melaleuca forest.
Included / Not Included
Included
- Modern tourist vehicle with pick-up and drop-off from Ho Chi Minh City
- Experienced, knowledgeable local guide
- 2 nights hotel in Chau Doc (2-3 persons per room)
- Meals as per program: 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
- Boat trip in Tra Su Melaleuca Forest
- Entry tickets to all attractions
- Full-tour travel insurance
- Water on the vehicle (2 bottles/day)
Not included
- Beverages during meals
- Tips for guide and driver
- Personal expenses (shopping, souvenirs)