Discover the Hidden Soul of Long Xuyen: Vietnam’s Authentic Mekong Gem
Step away from the crowded tourist trails and let Long Xuyen unfold its quiet magic. Known as the Mekong Delta’s second city after Can Tho, this destination hums with raw beauty and untamed charm , especially during the enchanting flood season. Here, the river breathes life into floating markets, submerged forests, and villages that seem to drift on water.
Begin your journey at the Long Xuyen Floating Market, where life stirs before dawn. By 5 AM, the river is alive with motion, and by 6 AM, the first rays of sunlight turn the water into shimmering gold. Unlike the bustling Cai Rang Market, this one feels intimate, with about a hundred boats gently rocking on the waves. Step into a small sampan and glide among them. Greet traders, savor steaming cups of Vietnamese coffee brewed on floating kitchens, nibble on crispy fried noodles, and taste tropical fruits—pineapples, coconuts, jackfruit—all sold at honest prices. Just two kilometers from the city center, this floating wonder offers an authentic glimpse into a life deeply rooted in the river’s rhythms.
From August to November, the Mekong Delta undergoes its most dramatic transformation. Locals say, “Six months of dry land, six months of water,” and during this season, An Giang becomes a living watercolor. Fields vanish under a silver mirror reflecting endless blue skies and lush green trees. Venture beyond Long Xuyen to the submerged landscapes of Tinh Bien, Tri Ton, and Chau Doc. What seems like a flood disaster is, in truth, a renewal—waters feed the soil, revive the land, and sustain generations.
Among the most breathtaking sights is Tra Su Melaleuca Forest. Spanning 850 hectares, this flooded forest is a dream of green—walls of cajuput trees rise from still waters, their reflections broken by lotus blooms and bright yellow flowers. Drift silently in a small boat along narrow canals, listening to the quiet hum of nature. Climb the watchtower for sweeping views of this emerald sanctuary, or wander the “ten-thousand-step bamboo bridge” that winds through the forest. When hunger calls, enjoy rustic dishes like grilled snakehead fish or braised perch in a simple forest eatery, flavors deepened by the wilderness around you.
Life on the water flows even deeper in the floating village along the Hau River, about 40 kilometers from Long Xuyen near Chau Doc. For ten kilometers, homes rest on rafts or rise on stilts above the river. These modest houses, no larger than 4 by 8 meters, are alive with hammocks, potted plants, and boats tethered at the porch. Villagers have long made their living by raising fish, especially basa, in cages beneath their homes. Visit during flood season to watch fishermen at work and toss food into the river, watching fish leap and shimmer at the surface. It’s a way of life shaped by the river, enduring since the 1960s.
Cross the river to My Hoa Hung—known as Tiger Island—and step into a realm of legend and history. Here, villagers tell of the “Tiger of Love,” a wild creature that returned yearly to honor the couple who once saved its life. When the tiger died at their grave, Buu Long Pagoda was built in memory, still standing today. The island also holds the birthplace of Ton Duc Thang, Vietnam’s second President, whose childhood stilt house remains preserved as a national monument. Wander along shaded paths under arching trees, past wooden homes that whisper stories of a bygone era. If you arrive during the Year of the Tiger or the island’s annual festival in the tenth lunar month, the experience becomes even more enchanting.
Long Xuyen is more than a point on a map. It is the Mekong Delta at its most authentic. A floating market steeped in tradition, landscapes reborn by floodwaters, forests rich with life, villages anchored in quiet resilience, and an island where myth and history intertwine.
