Dong Thap Province

Dong Thap Province that located in the Mekong Delta but it is not a famous destination like Tien Giang Province,  Can Tho  or Kien Giang province. However, this province has its special things that bring to the people who love the countryside or Mekong Delta’s life and eco-tourism some interesting and specific features its own relating to the unlimited lotus fields. Beside there are some mentioned historical places in the province, those destinations are elements that contribute the historical tour pleasantly.

How to get in 

Dong Thap Province is far from Ho Chi Minh City more than 160km. You can take a motorbike trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Thap province or take a seat from the buses to this province with the time for transfer is more than 3 hours. In the case that you book the buses or coaches, there are some addresses for your booking of tickets:

Phuong Trang Coach: Mien Tay Bus Station – 54 Kinh Duong Vuong Str., An Lac Ward, Binh Tan District; Tel: 08 38309309; the route HCMC – Sa Dec City and HCMC – Cao Lanh City.

Mai Linh Coach: Mien Tay Bus Station – 54 Kinh Duong Vuong Str., An Lac Ward, Binh Tan District; Tel: 08 39393939; the route HCMC – Cao Lanh City.

Quoc Hoang Coach: 53 Pham Huu Chi Str., Ward 12, District 5; Tel: 08 39551472; the route HCMC – Cao Lanh City.

Dong Phat Coach: Mien Tay Bus Station – 54 Kinh Duong Vuong Str., An Lac Ward, Binh Tan District; the route HCMC – Cao Lanh City

Kim Cuong Coach: Mien Tay Bus Station – 54 Kinh Duong Vuong Str., An Lac Ward, Binh Tan District; the route HCMC – Cao Lanh City

From Dong Thap Province to other provinces in Mekong Delta:

Dong Thap province – Tien Giang province: the distance is about 180km; Phuong Trang Coach serves your transfer from Hong Ngu Bus Station located in Ly Thuong Kiet Str., An Thanh Ward, Hong Ngu Town, Cao Lanh City to Phuong Trang Bus Station in Cai Be, Tien Giang.

Dong Thap Province – Vinh Long Province: the distance is about 50km; there are the buses No 665 from Sa Dec City to Vinh Long City with each 30 minutes for one trip. 

Go around

For transfer

There are two like cities like Cao Lanh City, Sa Dec City and some towns like Lai Vung Town, Tam Nong Town and Thap Muoi Town where tourists love to come to visit. It is not difficult for your transfer in the province. In the center of the cities or town, there are some small bus stations where you can book ticket. If not you can ask the local people who are ready to help you with their kindness.

For destination

Dong Thap Province is not so well known like Tien Giang, Can Tho, Chau Doc, Ha Tien, but the province has its nice features that attract tourists in its way. For destination, there are some value places where are interested tourists so much as Tan Quy Dong Flower Garden, Sa Dec Flower Garden, Tram Chim – Tam Nong National Park, Stork Garden Dong Thap Muoi. Gao Giong eco-tourism zone and some historical destinations like Xeo Quyt Site, Go Thap Site, and Nguyen Sinh Sac Relic Area etc. Of course there are the orchard gardens where expressed the specific sightseeing of the rich Mekong Delta or some impressive local destinations like Huynh Le ancient house with special architecture, Kien An Cung Pagoda, Dinh Yen Market where offered the sedge mats. Especially Dong Thap Province is well known with lotus garden that all who know. So if you love the lotus, you can come to enjoy the beauty of endless lotus garden here.

The weather

There are two seasons in Dong Thap Province. The rain season is from May to November and the dry season is from December to April. The best time for travelling to Dong Thap Province is from August to September. And the ideal month for visiting this province is August with the lotus garden that in bloom.

For note: Dong Thap Province is one of the great places for whom to love the nature with garden, rivers, national park, etc. So you should take some cream types that against mosquitoes or insects to protect your skin.  

Food and drink

If you are person who be interested in the cuisine of Mekong Delta, it is sure that you do not want to miss the special things in Dong Thap cuisine. It has typical features of cuisine of Mekong Delta, but it has its own the local flavor based on local ingredients.

For food: there are the specialties in Dong Thap that you should try if have time to visit this province They are nem Lai Vung (Lai Vung spring rolls), bánh phồng tôm Sa Giang (Sa Giang shrimp chips), chuột xào sả ớt ( fried field mouse with lemongrass and chili), cháo đậu xanh nấu với rắn hổ đất (snake porridge with green beans, dồi lươn rim nước cốt dừa ( eel sausage simmered with coconut milk), tắc kè xào lăn (stir-fried gecko), hủ tiếu Sa Đéc (Sa Dec noodles), cơm gói lá sen ( rice wrapped by lotus leaf0 and other dishes. You can taste the good dishes as above in the local restaurants. It is sure that you will not forget their delicious flavor. Beside, Dong Thap province is the homeland of some famous fruit types like the tangerine, mango, and longan. Furthermore, the province especially focuses in the lotus, so there are many good products from this.

For drink: There is some local liquid like other provinces in Mekong Delta. However, two drink special in here that you do not find out anywhere in other places. They are lotus wine and lotus milk. Tourists who can try and buy these drink in market in Dong Thap or some shop where offer Dong Thao specialties.

Staying

If you visit Dong Thap province, you can book hotel for your staying in Sa Dec City and Cao Lanh city. There are some hotels that you may concern:

Song Tra Hotel: 3*, 178 Nguyen Hue Str., Cao Lanh City; Tel: 067 3852624

My Tra Hotel: 2*, Le Duan Str., Cao Lanh City; Tel: 067 3855 624

Mong Yen Hotel: 2*, 1369 Pham Huu Lau Str., Tel: 067 3881017

Binh Minh Hotel: 147 Hung Vuong Str., Cao Lanh City; Tel: 067 3853 423

Khai Hoang Hotel: 230 Nguyen Hue Str., Cao Lanh City; Tel: 067 3852 066

Sa Dec Hotel: 2*, 108/5A Hung Vuong Str., Sa Dec City; Tel: 067 3862828

Bong Hong Hotel: 2*, 251 Nguyen Sinh Sac Str., Sa Dec City; Tel: 067 3868287

Phuong Nam Hotel: 384 Nguyen Sinh Sac Str., Sa Dec City; Tel: 067 3867867

Uyen Phong Hotel: 50 Ly Thuong Kiet Str., Sa Dec City; Tel: 067 3862899

 Shopping

Sa Dec City: You can go shopping in Vinatex Supermarket that located in Nguyen Sinh Sac Str., Sa Dec market located far from My Thuan bridge about 16km and some local stores where serve local specialties and specialties in Mekong Delta along the road.

Cao Lanh City: You can come to some supper markets here like Co.op Mart located in 01 Ngo Thoi Nhiem Str., Mobile world located in 83 Nguyen Hue Str., Dong Thap Supermarket located in 01 30/4 Str.; and Cao Lanh Market in center of the city, Cao Lanh fruit market in My Hiep Town.

Culture, Holidays and People

Dong Thap province is not famous such as some places in Mekong Delta like Can Tho, Tien Giang, Chau Doc, Ha Tien. However, the province is rich about the cultural resource. There are many historical sites in the province, and then the local performance as traditional folk music called “đờn ca tài tử” with more than 200 clubs including 2000 professional and unprofessional local singers. This proves that Dong Thap Province has its value special about local culture and people.

Relating to the holidays in the province, you should know there is The Folk Festival of Mekong Delta area organized in Dong Thap Province, beside Go Thap Festival considered one of the most popular festivals of the province that happened twice per year (March and November in Lunar year).