Where should you go when traveling to the West? 10 places for people who love to explore nature

Known as a land of rich natural beauty and biodiversity, the Mekong Delta offers unique travel experiences. Let’s take a look at the top 10 destinations to explore rich ecosystems and unique cultural landscapes when traveling to Western Vietnam.

The article will take you to areas such as Tra Su Melaleuca Forest and U Minh Ha National Park, providing tips and insights on local wildlife, making it a great travel guide for anyone. Anyone who loves the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Vietnam’s vibrant southern region.

Attractive tourist destinations in the West that should not be missed (Photo: Collected)

1. Phu Quoc National Park – Kien Giang

Phu Quoc National Park is a large nature reserve located on Phu Quoc island, Kien Giang province, attracting many tourists thanks to its natural scenery and beautiful beaches.

Phu Quoc National Park is located in the north of Phu Quoc island, about 13km from Phu Quoc city.

A road north of Phu Quoc National Park (Insta photo: tranmai_huyentrang)

Coming to Phu Quoc National Park, visitors will experience interesting activities such as trekking to explore forest trails, going to Ham Rong mountain for panoramic views or visiting Tranh stream. In addition, with a 60km long coastline, visitors can participate in scuba diving to admire the colorful coral reefs.

Phu Quoc National Park has an area of ​​more than 31,422 hectares (314.2 km²), accounting for about 54% of the area of ​​Phu Quoc island. In 2006, this place was recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Park with more than 1,000 species of plants and 500 species of animals.

Visitors can visit and bathe at Tranh stream in Phu Quoc National Park (Insta photo: bmo8omd)

This place is very suitable for those who like eco-tourism, exploring and walking through the forest or looking for fresh air and peaceful nature.

Tips when visiting Phu Quoc National Park:

• You should visit the National Park in the dry season from October to April if you want to participate in forest exploration activities.
• You should bring spare clothes to change into when visiting streams in the forest.
• When you plan to go trekking, prepare long-sleeved clothes and mosquito repellant.

==> See more: 26 attractive Kien Giang tourist destinations that you cannot miss

2. Tra Su cajuput forest – An Giang

Tra Su cajuput forest is a typical flooded forest of the West Hau River region and is also a famous eco-tourism area. The forest area is more than 850 hectares.

Tra Su cajuput forest is located in Tinh Bien town, An Giang province. This place is about 30km from Chau Doc city, so you can go back in the same day if you come to An Giang. If you live further away, like coming from Ho Chi Minh City, you cannot go within a day.

Tra Su cajuput forest is famous for its rich and rare flora and fauna species (Insta photo: ptnt.1)

When you arrive at Tra Su Melaleuca forest, you will be able to take a boat deep into the forest through small canals and admire the majestic nature. You can also go to the observatory to observe the entire forest and birds using a telescope. In addition, visitors can also walk on the longest bamboo bridge in Vietnam with a length of 10km to admire the scenery along the forest.

Tra Su Melaleuca forest has a rich flora with more than 140 recorded species, most notably the towering Melaleuca trees and dense duckweed mats covering the water surface. Tra Su cajuput forest is also famous for being home to more than 70 species of birds. Among them, Giang Sen and Dien Dien (Snake-necked bird) are two rare species listed in the Vietnam Red Book. This place is also an ideal habitat for 10 species of native fish and 13 species of migratory fish during the flood season, including anemone fish and white catfish – two species that are in danger of extinction.

Sitting on a boat to visit the forest is a prominent activity when coming to Tra Su Melaleuca forest (Insta photo: nt.130800)

Tra Su Melaleuca Forest is an ideal destination for those who love nature and want to explore the diverse ecosystem thanks to its pristine natural landscape, fresh air and attractive ecotourism activities.

Notes when visiting Tra Su cajuput forest:

• Most of the activities are outdoors, so be sure to prepare appropriate hats, umbrellas, sunscreen, etc.
• There are many insects in the forest, so you need to bring cream and wear long-sleeved clothes to protect your body.
• The sun is hot in the forest at noon, so you should prioritize visiting in the early morning or sunset.

Location information:

Opening hours: 6:30 – 17:30

Fare:

• Sightseeing ticket includes the entire Melaleuca forest and enjoying the longest bamboo bridge in Vietnam: 100,000 VND per person. This is a mandatory ticket to enter the forest, free for children under 1m3 and people over 70 years old.
• Boat service ticket (motorboat): 50,000 VND/person.
• Rowing boat service ticket (3-4 people per boat): 50,000 VND/person.

3. Cam Mountain – An Giang

Cam Mountain (also known as Ong Cam Mountain or Thien Cam Son) is the highest mountain in the That Son range in An Giang province, with an altitude of 716m above sea level. Cam Mountain is known as the “roof” of the West and is famous for its majestic natural beauty, cool climate and diverse ecosystem.

Cam Mountain is located in An Hao commune, Tinh Bien district, An Giang province, about 40km from Chau Doc city and about 20km from Tra Su cajuput forest.

Cam Mountain has wild, majestic natural beauty (Insta photo: lilo251491)

Coming to Cam Mountain, you can conquer the mountain by cable car or road to admire the natural scenery. On these mountains, you can visit famous tourist attractions such as Van Linh Pagoda, Big Buddha Pagoda, Maitreya Buddha statue, Thanh Long stream and Thuy Liem lake. In addition, you can also experience the local culinary culture with dishes such as pancakes made from wild vegetables, beef stir-fried with giang leaves and palmyra, chicken cooked with wild bamboo shoots and mountain crab roasted with tamarind.

In 2013, the Maitreya Buddha statue on Cam Mountain was recognized by the Asian Records Organization as “the largest Maitreya Buddha statue on a mountain top in Asia“. In 2014, Cam Mountain Tourist Area was recognized as a local tourist area.

Visitors can go up the mountain by cable car and visit tourist attractions (Insta photo: doris.pham)

Cam Mountain is very suitable for tourists who love spiritual tourism and praying for peace. In addition, you can go with your family or group of friends because Lam Vien Nui Cam tourist area has many fun activities suitable for all ages.

Tips when visiting Cam Mountain:

• You should go to Cam Mountain in the dry season (from December to April) to have the best weather.
• If you want to go to the top of the mountain by cable car, book tickets online to save waiting time.
• Cam Mountain has many pagodas, so you need to pay attention to wearing elegant and appropriate clothes.
• The tourist area is quite large so victims can park their car at the foot of the mountain and visit by road, cable car or rent a motorbike taxi to move between tourist areas.

Location information:

Opening hours: 7:00 am – 5:00 pm

Ticket price/visit cost:

Round-trip cable car ticket:

• Adults (ticket price includes entrance fee: 20,000 VND): 180,000 VND/person.
• Children (ticket price includes entrance fee: 10,000 VND): 90,000 VND/child.

One-way cable car ticket to:

• Adults (ticket price includes entrance fee: 20,000 VND): 120,000 VND/person.
• Children (ticket price includes entrance fee: 10,000 VND): 60,000 VND/child.

One-way cable car ticket:

• Adult ticket: 100,000 VND/person.
• Children: 50,000 VND/child.

4. Tan Lap floating village – Long An

Tan Lap floating village is a unique eco-tourism area, known as the “Miniature Amazon Forest” because of its vast primary melaleuca forest ecosystem and rich flora and fauna.

Tan Lap floating village is located in Tan Lap commune, Moc Hoa district, Long An province, about 100km from Ho Chi Minh City so visitors can go back and forth within the day.

The vast primary Melaleuca forest ecosystem in Tan Lap Floating Village (Insta photo: lpthao.2703)

When coming to Tan Lap Floating Village, visitors can experience a boat ride into the Melaleuca forest and immerse themselves in the beauty of pristine nature. If you don’t like going by boat, you can walk through the beautiful 5km long forest road. There are also many other interesting activities such as visiting Thuan Duong Chim Island, catching fish, fishing, renting bicycles to go around,…

Tan Lap floating village tourist area has an area of ​​more than 135 hectares in the core area and 500 hectares in the buffer area. The ecosystem here bears the mark of the Southeast region with species of cajuput, lotus, water lily, and water hyacinth growing interspersed. Along with that, storks and fish contribute to creating a vibrant natural picture.

Beautiful road through the forest for those who like to explore by road (Insta photo: _nhienne._)

Tan Lap floating village is suitable for tourists who love eco-tourism, want to learn about the Melaleuca forest ecosystem, rare flora and fauna species and experience activities on the river.

Notes when visiting Tan Lap Floating Village:

The floating water season from August to November of the lunar calendar is the most suitable time to visit Tan Lap Floating Village.

Most of the activities are outdoors, so be sure to prepare appropriate hats, umbrellas, sunscreen, etc.

Location information:

Opening hours: 7:00 am – 5:00 pm

Ticket price/visit cost:

• Entrance ticket: 60,000 VND/person.
• Other services: boat rental, fishing, cycling,… refer to website: langnoitanlap.com.vn

5. Dong Tam snake farm – Tien Giang

Dong Tam Snake Farm, also known as the Center for Cultivation, Research and Processing of Medicinal Materials of Military Region 9, established on October 27, 1977, is known as the “snake kingdom” with more than 400 species of snakes raised and raised. conserve.

Dong Tam Snake Farm is a famous ecotourism destination located in Binh Duc commune, Chau Thanh district, Tien Giang province, about 70km from Ho Chi Minh City.

Dong Tam snake farm has more than 400 species of snakes with species listed in Vietnam’s red book (Photo: Ins nguyen.hienthuy.35)

Coming to Dong Tam Snake Farm, visitors can visit the snake museum with many different species of snakes such as green snakes, cobras, kraits (roar shell), kraits (silver shell),… among them, snakes The land cobra and the king cobra are venomous snakes listed in the Vietnam Red Book. Visitors can also watch performances of catching snakes, extracting snake venom, dissecting snakes to get bile, learn about the process of raising snakes, and producing medicine from snake venom.

Dong Tam Snake Farm is where more than 40 specimens of rare snake species are kept. In 2022, Dong Tam Snake Farm is recognized by the People’s Committee of Tien Giang province as a 4-star OCOP tourist destination, becoming the only typical Mekong Delta tourist destination in Tien Giang province.

In addition to viewing snakes, tourists can also hire a service to have pythons wrapped around their bodies (Insta photo: janvanas1)

This place is very suitable for tourists who want to experience exploring the unique world of reptiles. In addition to snakes, the tourist area now also preserves many other animal species such as pythons, ostriches, squirrels, salamanders, bears, tigers, gibbons, swans, red pheasants,…

Tips when visiting Dong Tam snake farm:

• You need to follow safety rules during the tour.
• If you want a tour guide to accompany you, please contact the resort manager to request.
• You should wear polite, neat, comfortable clothes as well as bring a hat to avoid the hot sun.

Location information:

Opening hours: 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m

Ticket price/visit cost:

• Height over 1.3m: 70,000 VND/person
• Height from 1m – 1.3m: 40,000 VND/person
• Under 1m: Free

6. Tram Chim National Park – Dong Thap

Tram Chim National Park is a large nature reserve with a diverse and rich ecosystem of more than 230 species of birds, including many species such as storks, egrets, herons,… especially red-crowned cranes, an extremely rare bird species and listed in the red book.

Tram Chim National Park is located in Tam Nong district, Dong Thap province, about 190km from Ho Chi Minh City. Tourists can go back and forth the same day if they depart early.

Visitors can sit down and admire the scenery when arriving at Tram Chim National Park (Insta photo: serenang)

When visiting Tram Chim National Park, visitors will be able to participate in activities such as sitting on a canoe to watch birds and fields of white lotus and pink lotus, etc. Coming to the observation deck, visitors can see the entire garden from above. During the flood season, visitors can also participate in harvesting sky rice or ghost rice, laying thatch, spreading fish nets,…

Tram Chim National Park has an area of ​​over 7,580 hectares. This is one of the eight most important bird conservation areas in Vietnam, a common home for more than 100 species of vertebrates, 40 species of fish and 147 species of water birds. Thanks to its great ecological value, in 2012, Tram Chim National Park was honored to be recognized as the world’s 2,000th Ramsar site.

(Ramsar: Ramsar site is a wetland of international importance recognized by the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention).

Tram Chim National Park is famous for more than 147 species of water birds (Insta photo: vupham.wildlife)

Tram Chim National Park is suitable for tourists who love peace, want to find a place to relax and rest, immersing themselves in wild nature.

Notes when visiting Tram Chim National Park:

• The floating water season from August to November of the lunar calendar (around September to December of the solar calendar) is the season to travel to Tram Chim forest because at this time the plants are green and many species of birds gather.
• If you want to see red-headed cranes, you should go in the dry season from December to May of the lunar calendar (around January – June of the solar calendar) because red-headed cranes only feed on the ground, so during the flood season in Dong Thap Muoi, they have to go look for food elsewhere.

Location information:

• Opening hours: 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m
• Entrance fee to visit: 20,000 VND/person.

7. Tan Thanh Beach – Tien Giang

Tan Thanh Beach is an emerging beach tourism destination, attracting tourists with its long stretch of black sand, wild, idyllic scenery and many interesting experiential activities.

Tan Thanh Beach is located in Tan Thanh commune, Go Cong district, Tien Giang province, about 80km from Ho Chi Minh City, visitors can go back and forth within the day.

Tan Thanh Beach is famous for its black sand and alluvial sea water (Insta photo: immanh.01_)

Visitors can watch the beautiful sunrise and sunset on the unique black sand when coming to Tan Thanh beach. In addition, at the beach there is a 300m long pier reaching out to the sea and stairs along the bridge, promising to help you take beautiful photos. When the tide is low, in addition to walking on the beach, visitors can also experience a very interesting clam raking activity.

Near Tan Thanh beach, there are many other tourist attractions for you to visit such as: Royal Mausoleum Relics, Truong Dinh Temple, My Tho Cathedral, Go Cong Provincial Governor’s Palace, Tan Thanh Beach Market,…

The pier reaching out to the sea attracts many young people to check-in (Insta photo: npnd)

Tan Thanh Beach is very close to Ho Chi Minh City and the road is easy to travel, so it is suitable for you to go with your family or group of friends.

Tips when visiting Tan Thanh beach:

• If you want to dig clams, you should go during the clam season from March to September of the lunar calendar (especially April).
• Tan Thanh Beach is an alluvial sea, the water is not as clear as other areas, so it is not suitable for swimming.

Location information:

• Opening hours: 24/24
• Ticket price/visit cost: Free

8. Bat Pagoda – Soc Trang

Bat Pagoda, also known as Wat Mahatup, is an ancient Khmer temple with a history of more than 400 years and is famous for being a temple with thousands of bats living in the temple grounds.

Bat Pagoda is located on Van Ngoc Chinh Street, Ward 3, Soc Trang City, about 220km from Ho Chi Minh City. If tourists want to go back and forth during the day, they should go by motorbike or car to be proactive about time.

Bat Pagoda has architecture imbued with Khmer culture (Insta photo: anh.thdang)

Bat Pagoda was built in 1569, is one of the oldest Khmer pagodas in Soc Trang. Bat Pagoda was recognized as a national historical-cultural relic in 1999.

When visiting Bat Pagoda, visitors will see unique architecture with domes, columns, walls, reliefs,… carved with images of gods in Khmer culture. The monolithic statue of Shakyamuni Buddha placed on a 2m high lotus throne is also a special mark of the pagoda, where visitors can pray for peace and luck. Behind the temple grounds is the home of a giant colony of bats, including horse bats or crow bats – a rare breed of bats.

Bats hanging upside down on trees in the grounds of Bat Pagoda (Insta photo: hientai.don)

Bat Pagoda is a suitable tourist destination for tourists who love spiritual tourism and want to learn about Buddhism and Khmer culture.

Notes when visiting Bat Pagoda:

• When going to the temple, you need to pay attention to polite and appropriate clothing.
• Bats in the temple are quite gentle, but can carry some diseases so you need to keep your distance when visiting.
• You can go to Bat Pagoda during major festivals of the year such as Chol Chnam Thmay Traditional New Year, Don Ta Festival, Ook Oom Bok Festival to both visit and experience traditional Khmer culture.

Location information:

• Opening hours: 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m
• Ticket price/visit cost: Free

9. Tram Chim Vi Thuy Melaleuca forest eco-tourism area – Hau Giang

Vi Thuy Melaleuca Melaleuca Forest Ecotourism Area is a famous destination in Hau Giang province, attracting tourists with its rich and diverse Melaleuca forest ecosystem and rare bird species.

Vi Thuy Melaleuca Forest is located in Vinh Tuong commune, Vi Thuy district, Hau Giang province, about 240 km from Ho Chi Minh City. Visitors can go back and forth during the day by motorbike or car.

When arriving at Tram Chim Vi Thuy eco-tourism area, visitors can take a boat down the canal to visit the forest and its flora and fauna. The tourist area also has fruit gardens, aquaculture areas and provides many other services such as experiencing local cuisine, fishing, boat trips,…

Vi Thuy cajuput eco-tourism area has a total investment capital of over 3 million USD (over 50 billion VND) with an area of ​​about 35 hectares.

Vi Thuy cajuput forest ecological area (Photo: FC Vietnam)

This place is very suitable for young people who love to explore nature or want to find peace and relaxation in the river area.

Tips when visiting Tram Chim Vi Thuy:

• The appropriate time to visit this place is in the early morning or late afternoon when many different species of birds fly out to feed or return to their nests.
• You should wear comfortable clothes to participate in outdoor activities.
• Please bring a hat, sunscreen and drinking water when visiting, especially at noon to avoid harsh sunlight.

10. U Minh Ha Forest – Ca Mau

U Minh Ha Forest is one of the largest primary melaleuca forests in the Mekong Delta. This place is considered the “green lung” of the region thanks to its rich flora and fauna ecosystem.

U Minh Ha Forest is located in two districts Tran Van Thoi and U Minh, Ca Mau province, about 320km from Ho Chi Minh City. This location is far from Ho Chi Minh City so it is not suitable for going back and forth during the day, it is better if you stop for one night.

U Minh Ha Forest has a rich forest ecosystem on unique peat land (Insta photo: nkl1417)

Visitors coming here will be able to visit the special ecosystem of the Melaleuca forest in both seasons: the flooded season and the dry season. Each season has its own unique characteristics of scenery and creatures that make visitors unforgettable. Besides experiencing the feeling of floating on the river, visitors also have the opportunity to enjoy many specialties such as wild honey, fried field mice, grilled fish or salt bath.

U Minh Ha has an extremely rich flora and fauna, formed on a thick layer of peat accumulated by dead plants over the years. There are about 176 species of plants here such as Melaleuca, Dendrobium, reed,… There are also 23 species of wild animals such as hairy-nosed otter, pangolin, deer, long-tailed macaque, wild boar,… 91 birds, 37 species of fish and many other animals.

Visitors can explore on foot through the forest trail (Insta photo: tuyen58b)

U Minh Ha National Park is a suitable tourist destination for tourists who love new eco-tourism experiences, exploring unique ecosystems and learning about the culture, life, and cuisine of Ca people. Quickly.

Tips when visiting U Minh Ha National Park:

• The best time to go to U Minh Ha is the dry season from November to April.
• Visitors should bring sunscreen, hats, drinking water, and mosquito repellant.
• You should travel by motorbike or car to be proactive about time.

Location information:

• Opening hours: 7:30 – 17:00
• Entrance ticket price: 10,000 VND/person

Things to know when exploring Western Vietnam

Which season should I go to the West?

The dry season from December to May is the most ideal time to travel to the Western region, the Mekong Delta. This is the summer tourist season in the West. This time the weather is sunny and warm, with little rain.In addition, the water level is also lower at this time, making it easier to explore and participate in activities on the river.

How to get to the West?

You can fly to Can Tho International Airport or take a bus from Ho Chi Minh City.

Where to stay when coming to the West?

When coming to the West, you can choose from many types of accommodation from budget motels to luxury resorts. In each province there is a city with many hotels for you to stay. Besides, tourist areas also have their own hotels or resorts for visitors.

This article introduces the Top 10 tourist destinations in the West to explore rich nature, opening the door to the journey of discovering the natural beauty and biodiversity of the Mekong Delta. From Tra Su cajuput forest to U Minh Ha National Park, the article provides insight into eco-tourism areas, cultural heritage and local life, a valuable source of information for nature-loving tourists natural and want to learn about the rich culture of Western Vietnam.

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