Among provinces of the Mekong Delta, Kiên Giang has appealed to more and more visitors thanks to its unspoiled beaches, isolated islands, and historic structures dating back hundreds of years. What also contributes to the charm of this land is the hospitality of locals. Although it’s taken to be a remote place of the Mekong Delta, Kiên Giang is surely an indispensable part of a journey to seek the greatest things of Vietnam. Before you go, get to know more how to go and have the fullest experience there.
Where is Kiên Giang?
Kiên Giang is a remote region of the Mekong Delta since it borders An Giang, Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, Hậu Giang Provinces, Thailand Bay and Cambodia. Blessed with countless phenomenal beaches with transparent turquoise water, isolated islands, irresistible landscapes, captivating local cultures, and attractive cuisine, the area must be set in your itinerary to Vietnam. One of the renowned travel destinations in Kiên Giang is Phú Quốc Island, where there are a lot of theme parks for entertainment and high-end resorts, always catching the visitors’ eyes. That’s why it’s an essential part of any tours to the Mekong Delta.
How to get to Kiên Giang?
From Ho Chi Minh Minh City – the economic, cultural and political center of Vietnam, you will easily reach Kiên Giang by road. Just take National Route 1 to Long An, Tiền Giang, Vĩnh Long, Đồng Tháp and An Giang Province. Afterwards, turn to National Route 80 and go until you arrive in Rạch Giá and Hà Tiên – Kiên Giang Province. Another option to Kiên Giang Province, which is supposed to be more convenient is catching a bus at Miền Tây Bus Station, and it will drive you to the right destination; some prestigious bus lines are Phương Trang, Kum Ho, and Mai Linh.
If you are the person who prefers an easy journey and never intend to do something time-consuming, a tour, in which there are exciting activities and ideal tourist attractions in Kiên Giang should be what you must consider. There are various daily tours of travel agents and tour operators departing from Ho Chi Minh City to choose from. It’s not hard to book the tour in advance and you don’t need to spend too much time searching for directions on your map, what to see, how to get, etc.
When is the best time to visit Kiên Giang?
Kiên Giang is influenced by tropical monsoon climate, and especially by the southwest monsoon. Kiên Giang has two seasons; rainy season (April to September and dry season (October to March). It’s recommended that you should make a trip to this province in the dry season because the weather by that time is comfortable; the sea is calm, ideal for exploring unspoiled islands.
Nevertheless, it’s known that Kiên Giang boasts of its beauty in different ways, subject to the season. The dry season is perfect for kicking back at beaches, but it’s more crowded while the place looks peaceful and tranquil during the rainy season. Interestingly, the rainy season is the time when you can enjoy exotic food there.
Where to stay in Kiên Giang?
Three centers with tourism significance in Kiên Giang are Rạch Giá, Hà Tiên and Phú Quốc Island. Hence, it’s not too hard to find brilliant accommodations at streets located centrally. Perhaps, you need to figure out how many days you would like to spend in Kiên Giang before picking out some accommodation. It’s because Kiên Giang is quite large, and the travel destinations are far from each other. You should stay at least two hotels/hostels/resorts. Here are some good suggestions:
Vinpearl Resort & Spa Phú Quốc
Address: Bãi Dài – Long Beach, Phú Quốc, Kiên Giang Province
Tel: 0297.3519.999
Sài Gòn Rạch Giá Hotel
Address: 844 Nguyễn Trung Trực Street, Rạch Giá City, Kiên Giang Province
Hotline: 0911 642 333
VinOasis Phú Quốc
Address: Bãi Dài – Long Beach, Phú Quốc, Kiên Giang Province
Tel: 0297 3550 550
Novotel Phú Quốc Resort
Address: Đường Bào Hamlet, Dương Tơ Commune, Phú Quốc, Kiên Giang Province
Tel: 0297 6260 999.
Tường Vy Hotel
Address: Phan Thị Ràng Street, An Hoà Ward, Rạch Giá City, Kiên Giang Province
Hotline: 0297 629 88 99
Đông Hải Hotel
Address: Tây Bắc Residential Area, Vĩnh Thanh Ward, Rạch Giá City, Kiên Giang Province
Hotline: 02973 869 179
Seashells Phú Quốc Hotel & Spa
Address: No. 1 Võ Thị Sáu Street, Dương Đông Town, Phú Quốc, Kiên Giang Province
Tel: 0297 3923 999.
Kiên Giang Palace
Address: Rạch Giá City, Kiên Giang Province
Tel: 077 3866146
Cali Hotel
Address: Nguyễn An Ninh Street, Vĩnh Lạc Ward, Rạch Giá City, Kiên Giang Province
Tel: 02973.924.151
SeaLight Hotel
Address: 3/2 Street, Rạch Giá City, Kiên Giang Province
Tel: 0297 6255 999
River Hà Tiên Hotel
Address: Mại Trần Hầu Shopping Mall, Bình San Ward, Hà Tiên Town, Kiên Giang Province
Tel: 0297 3955 888
Henry Hotel
Address: Nguyễn An Ninh Street, Vĩnh Bảo Ward, Rạch Giá City, Kiên Giang Province
Tel: 0297 3919 991
Sài Gòn Rạch Giá Hotel
Address: 844 Nguyễn Trung Trực Street, An Hòa Ward, Rạch Giá City, Kiên Giang Province
Te: 077 3812229
Hòa Bình Rạch Giá Hotel
Address: Vĩnh Bảo Ward, Rạch Giá City, Kiên Giang Province
Tel: 077 3553355
Kiên Giang Phúc Hưng 2 Hotel
Address: Phan Huy Ích Street, Vĩnh Lạc Ward, Rạch Giá City, Kiên Giang Province
Tel: 077 3941539
What to see in Kiên Giang?
Labeled as the top province of the Mekong Delta, with the beauty of islands emerging like pearls out of the water, so it’s not an exaggeration to state that it never fails to please any visitor who is even the most difficult one in the world. Take a look at what to explore in Kiên Giang below:
Hà Tiên Town
Hà Tiên is full of hotspots and delights. More than that is an excursion to tombs, pagodas, caves, beaches, and mountains where you can understand more the culture and history of this land, and admire striking natural landscapes as well as seascapes. Some of those places are Tam Bảo Pagoda, Bình San Mountain, Mũi Nai Beach, Xà Xí Border Gate, Đá Dựng Mountain, Stone Cave, Đông Hồ Swamp.
Rạch Giá City
Something to see in Rạch Giá is Nguyễn Trung Trực Temple, the pier where you will depart for Phú Quốc Island, Láng Cát Pagoda, Provincial Museum, Rạch Giá Cathedral and Tam Quan (traditional gateway symbol of Vietnamese Buddhism).
Phú Quốc Island
Phú Quốc Island is regarded as the tourism center of Kiên Giang, where plenty of mighty resorts were built along beaches. It’s indeed an ideal place for holidays. A couple of destinations to visit there are Dinh Cậu Temple, Sùng Hưng Pagoda, Phú Quốc Prison, Sao Beach, Khem Beach, fish sauce factories, Tranh Stream, Hàm Ninh Fish Village, Khu Tượng Pepper Garden.
An Thới Archipelago
Captivating activities you can experience in An Thới Archipelago consist of fishing & catching squids, diving to see coral reefs, visiting pearl farms, fish sauce factories, and markets.
There are numerous destinations to visit and things to explore in Kiên Giang, and each tourism center or area of this province bears a specific color. You surely need more time to dip yourself in the most valuable ones here. Apart from Rạch Giá, Hà Tiên, Phú Quốc, An Thới, what else can attract you are Bà Lụa Archipelago, Pirate Island, U Minh Thượng National Park, Phụ Tử Islet, and Hang Pagoda
Kiên Giang Cuisine
Cuisine is clearly a vital part of any trip to a different place, so you will never ignore it when you arrive in Kiên Giang. The province is famous for seafood and especially specialties from exotic ingredients. When making a visit to this land, don’t forget to enjoy the following list of delights:
-
Rạch Giá City: snake hotpot – the most famous food there, buffalo hotpot, fermented fish hotpot, duck cooked with fermented bean curd, burned snakehead, sweet and sour fish soup, rice noodle fish soup, oysters grilled and rolled in rice paper, and chicken hotpot.
-
Phú Quốc Island: grilled fish, squid eggs steamed with ginger slices, fish hotpot, scallops grilled with onion and fat, fried mackerel, grilled prawns, grilled sea urchin, and dried seafood.
-
Hà Tiên: edible snails, rice noodle soups with fish patties, grilled chopped pork sticks, fried fish patties, rice with chicken, thick noodles and creamy coconut milk, and many kinds of rice noodles.
For those who are seeking for places where they can chill out and free their mind from the busy life out there, Kiên Giang is definitely the best choice. You visit Vietnam and would like to enjoy the most wonderful moments with nature, beaches, mountains, forest, and the genuine life of locals, don’t forget about this province. Although you see some areas of Kiên Giang represent the life of the countryside, perspectives of the modern life full of convenience are also found in others, e.g. Phú Quốc Island. You will never feel disappointed when paying a visit to the province since it’s a chance for you to learn more about different facets of a remote region in the Mekong Delta.
