Chau Doc is one of the most beautiful places in the Mekong Delta, just at the border with Cambodia. The Bassac River, flowing through the city, is a waterway for inland navigation and Sam Mountain offers an excellent view point on the vast plains situated on the other side. Due to the strong cultural diversity marked by the Khmer, Cham and Chinese communities, Chau Doc is home to several attractions worth visiting.
Mount Sam (or Nui Sam)Mount Sam is just 6km from Chau Doc and 2km off the border between Vietnam and Cambodia. You can climb this mountain and enjoy the view from the top, which is simply magnificent. This mountain harbors many pagodas and temples, often well-huddled in hollow caves.
The Temple of Goddess Xu (Mieu Ba Chua Xu)This magnificent temple was erected in 1820, although its current version dates from 1972. Once a year, between the 23
rd and 26
th days of the 4
th lunar month, this place attracts many pilgrims. It houses a large black sandstone statue representing the Goddess. According to a local legend, this statue stood atop Mount Sam. One day, a group of thieves tried to steal it and carry it away. However, they were unsuccessful: the statue, by an unknown divine power, gradually became heavier as the looters moved away from the summit of the mountain and it became so heavy that they had no other choice but to abandon it along the way. It was later found by villagers, who decided that it would be better to bring it carefully in their village. Suddenly, the Goddess Xu appeared and stated that only 40 virgins would be able to transport it back into place. Hence, 40 virgins gathered and therefore tried to lift it and started to carry it away, until the statue became so heavy that it was strictly impossible to continue. As a result, the village council concluded that it was precisely here that the Goddess wanted the statue to stay, and the temple was then built to honor this deity.
Thoai Ngoc Hau mausoleumThe tomb of Thoai Ngoc Hau is facing the temple of Goddess Xu Hau. Thoai Ngoc Hau (1761-1829) was a Mandarin at the service of the Nguyen Dynasty and was the first to clear the local area and to dig canals. Before his death, he ordered to have his tomb erected at the foot of Mount Sam. Therefore, he was buried there along with his two wives. To this day, pilgrims come to the mausoleum to honor him every year during the 6
th lunar month. Furthermore, another legend says that the temple of the Goddess Xu is linked to Thoai Ngoc Hau and more precisely to the wish of one of his wives: she had promised to the Goddess to build a shrine to her glory and also in honor of those who had lost their lives during the construction of the canals.
Activities:- Champa village in Chau Doc
- Tra Su forest
