Tien Giang is not only known as a coastal province in South Vietnam but also favored as the political and cultural hub for the entire Mekong Delta region. You can find it easily along the Northern bank of Tien River, a branch of the Mekong river that is 120 km long. If planning to visit this area, you’ll earn a unique insight into the daily life of the inhabitants living here.
With its pure air and pleasant climate, Tien Giang Province can be seen as one of the most charming tourist sites in the delta that you can’t miss in your trip to Vietnam this time.
Tien Giang at a glance
Tien Giang Province lies in the north of the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam, and gets bordered to the north by Long An Province, to the south by Ben Tre and Vinh Long Provinces. Aside from that, the area is popular with its majestic landscapes in three various ecological regions, including the mangrove ecological areas, freshwater alluvial ecological areas and Dong Thap Muoi flooded ecological areas.
It’s also thanks to the heavy network of canals and rivers, a lot of orchards are established – these are where locals grow their tasty fruits, from Co Co grapefruit, Hoa Loc mango, Ngu Hiep durian, Cai Be citrus, Go Cong cherry to Cho Gao dragon.
Along with other visitors, you’re given a chance to sit on a small boat and row around the canal under the forest as well as taste the special fruits here. Come here, then you’ll witness more fascinating things more than expected. Besides, feel free to visit several other historical and cultural relics as well as the folk culture existing in the province.
The best time to visit Tien Giang
So are you supposed to come to Tien Giang during Vietnam trip? If that happens, then when is the ideal time to visit? The best answer to this will be that you can come here at any time of the year. How come? First, each season owns its individual features, but we can tell that the best season for you to go is summer.
This is the prettiest moment for everyone to visit Tien Giang. That’s because it’s the period of time all fruit trees and flowers bloom beautifully so that the tourists can sit on boats or even swim around the land to contemplate such a gorgeous scene.
Getting around Tien Giang
Tien Giang is around 70kms from Saigon, 70kms from Vinh Long, 103 km from Can Tho City, and 179kms from Chau Doc. If you want to get here from Ho Chi Minh City, then there are various ways for you to choose, such as motorbikes, private cars, and even public buses.
For more detailed materials, check out the information below to select your favorite vehicle:
By public buses
It’s your choice to pick up the public buses in Mien Tay bus station or get in touch with some agencies running Saigon – Tien Giang route like Thong Nhat for example. This is also considered as the cheapest way to arrive in Tien Giang since it costs only $6 and takes two hours and 35 minutes. From Saigon, you can go through National Highway No. 1A to get to My Tho City if you want.
By private cars or motorbikes
You should know that the main road of this province is 1A National highway. If desiring to move from Saigon to other Southern provinces, you need to get to Mien Tay Bus station where owns many lines to arrive in provinces, such as Vinh Long, Ca Mau, Tien Giang, Tay Ninh, Can Tho and so on.
Besides, there are two certain ways to travel to Tien Giang: from Phu Lam roundabout through the road 50 and Trung Luong Highway that can save you a lot of traveling time (1.30 hours).
By boats
From Saigon or Can Tho, it’s possible to travel to Tien Giang Province by waterways or by boats. This is seen as the most popular means of transport in this region for sure. But be careful since going by boats with high speed on the river is a bit dangerous, especially when you cannot swim or hate water.
Top things to do in Tien Giang, Vietnam
Are you going to spend a few more days in the Delta region? Let’s pass the Mekong river to get to Tien Giang and Ben Tre Provinces – the most favored tourist destinations in the area. Here are some of the striking highlights Tien Giang offers that you can’t ignore:
1. Explore Southern Vietnamese Culture on Cai Be Floating Market
It’s easy to spot the market in the region – it’s where the Tien River borders three different provinces, including Ben Tre, Tien Giang, and Vinh Long. This place is a big attraction for all boat tours in the delta even though the bridges have exactly decreased the certain number of boats quite considerably. Come here every morning, when you’ll see many boats carrying veggies and fruits from the districts nearby to start selling goods on the water.
Each boat tends to sell a particular kind of goods, and their samples will be hung on a vertical pole to be displayed to customers. These are usually food, household stuff, fruits, and production tools.
Hurry to get here at around 5 or 6 am, when the light of the day is the best for those who love to take some great pictures. And when buying anything at the market, always remember to bargain or you’re easily overcharged.
2. Learn about snakes and snakebites in Dong Tam Snake Farm
The farm is the big home to over 400 species of both poisonous and non-poisonous snakes. It occupies 12 hectares with wilderness regions and those for abundant animals such as yellow tortoises, crocodiles, tigers, and ostriches.
Once visiting here for the first time, everyone surely feels scared a bit yet excited about this kingdom of snakes in which many of them are rare and even listed in Vietnam’s Red Book. You also get to learn how to treat your snakebites and witness the venom extraction demonstration.
Also, apart from watching the many precious amphibians, you can enjoy the serene atmosphere from the orchards – they’re quite reminiscent of a peaceful countryside.
3. Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, the greatest religious site in Tien Giang
Vinh Trang Pagoda is surrounded by a lot of trees, but its architecture must be our point of interest. It stands for a great mixture of Asian and European styles, carrying the most appealing yet modest features of the Buddhist building.
More interestingly, in the Pagoda, there are a lot of valuable items to see, like the statues of Buddha in wood, terracotta, cement, and copper; 7 sets of Bat Tien, and a bell of 1.2 meters in height. The place also owns 18 Arhat statues that can be compared with those of Arhat in Tay Phuong Pagoda.
4. Contemplate thousands of storks in Vam Ho Bird Sanctuary
Vam Ho Bird Sanctuary is the home of nearly half one million of stocks and other wild animals, from snakes, pythons, bats to weasels. The ideal time to view stocks will be from April to October when they’re ready to take refuge and raise their young children.
As you know, the Sanctuary is a submerged area where exists many wild plants gathering, growing, and forming a forest. Looking up to the higher floor of the forest, you can see coconut trees, gray mangroves, and date palms which are all the perfect places for birds to live.
5. Row through Thoi Son Island lined with fruit plants and roof houses
Go on the path through Thoi Son island that is lined with many fruit trees, including longans, mangoes, and plums. Along with them, you’ll see some tiled roof houses covered by fruit plants and small eateries embellished with bonsai plants. Feel free to pop into the orchards and taste those seasonal fruits if you like.
Here, tourists can enjoy the big comfort in greenery while laying the backs in a hammock or simply sitting on the rock chairs. Or you will love tasting many local products, from jams to coconut sweets.
Best eats in Can Tho to satisfy your appetite
1. Hu tieu My Tho (My Tho clear rice noodle soup)
481 North Hamlet, Ward 5, My Tho City, Tien Giang Province.
The rice noodle soup used to be recognized as the Asian records, announced by Asian Records Organization in 2013. Quite like most Vietnamese noodle soups, “hu tieu My Tho” is made from four essential parts: broth, the tender rice noodles, toppings, fresh vegetables, and herbs.
The food is usually topped with seasoned ground pork, small intestine of the pig, toasted ground dried shrimp, pork liver, coriander, green onion, and char siu pork.
2. Ca loc nuong trui (Grilled snakehead)
122 Le Thi Hong Gam Street, Ward 6, My Tho City, Tien Giang
Main ingredients forming “ca loc nuong trui” is a snakehead that should be wild, large, and fresh. It will be prepared, washed with salt and then drained off. The guts are still kept in the fish, except for the bitter galangal. The highlight of this dish is that they won’t grill the snakehead on charcoal but the rice straws instead.
After the grilling process, fish meat has to be well-done and tender inside. The meat shouldn’t be too dry or not too burnt yet quite fragrant.
3. Sam Go Cong (Go Cong Horseshoe Crabs)
23, 30/4 Street, Ward 1, My Tho City, Tien Giang.
As you know, Go Cong Dong District is a popular site for sea horseshoe crabs. These can be made into various tasty dishes. But the tastiest dish is nothing else than the grilled horseshoe crab with eggs since the food is very fatty and appetizing.
For those who don’t know how to eat, the grilled horseshoe crabs can be enjoyed with pickled carrots, herbs, fried green onion, roasted peanuts after you dip them into a small bowl of fish sauce.
4. Banh beo cho Hang Bong (Bloating fern-shaped cakes)
23 Le Thi Phi Street, Ward 1, My Tho City, Tien Giang.
The cake comprises three different parts, such as the plain cake made from the rice flour, the filling made from bread, mung bean, dried shrimp, deep-fried onion, pork skin, and the sauce made from fish sauce, garlic, sugar, and chili pepper.
In South Vietnam, “banh beo” appears thicker and often served in the plate formed a round shape. But the spices of the Southern version here won’t be as diverse as Banh Beo Hue.
Where to stay in Tien Giang
Quoc Phuong Riverside Homestay
293 Group 17, Phu Xuan Hamlet, Phu Tuc, Chau Thanh, Ben Tre, Vietnam
Quoc Phuong Riverside Homestay lies about 9 kilometers from My Tho City, Ben Tre. It’s a serene and green village covered by fruit gardens, fish farm, pagoda, and temple. Come here if you’re interested in biking or boat rowing to discover the village. Here, you can watch local activities of the locals living in the Mekong Delta region and explore the beautiful nature surrounding it.
Price: $21 per night
Giaodiem Homestay out of Center My Tho, Mekong Delta
Tan Quoi Hamlet, Tan Ly Dong Commune, Chau Thanh District
Let’s shut down the eyes and start relaxing, which is a good way for those who want to escape the noisy and busy pace of the modern city. Have fun in the house of friendly people, in the pastoral area out of My Tho center. If you choose to stay here, it only takes one minute walking to the local market or supermarket. Feel free to opt for any of the homestay’s six private rooms with amazing garden view and bungalow style.
Price: $13 per night.
Happy Farm Tien Giang Homestay
35 Bo Xe Hamlet, Thanh Phu Commune, Chau Thanh District, My Tho.
Situated in My Tho, Happy Farm Tien Giang Homestay provides free WiFi, and the guests can enjoy a garden, an eatery and a shared lounge. Besides, you can play table tennis on the site, or go biking as well as fishing while staying here if you want. According to the guests, this place owns one of the most excellent locations in My Tho as compared to other properties.
