Vinh Long might not be a popular name to foreign tourists as other provinces in the Mekong Delta region. However, if you are looking for a less-known place with the most authentic vibe of the Southwest, this riverside city is undoubtedly a superb option. Located just about 135 km from Ho Chi Minh City, between the Tien River and Hau River, Vinh Long acts as a gateway to rustic life of the Delta, floating markets, fruitful orchards, lush green paddies and crisscrossed waterways.
With the charming beauty unspoiled by mass tourism, Vinh Long is the homeland to several alluring attractions and active experiences that will never dissatisfy you. The first place to visit is An Binh Island, a familiar spot included in the day trip itinerary to Vinh Long and Mekong River Cruises. Surrounded by the Ham Luong River and Co Chien River, this rural island is famous for its evergreen fruit orchards, connected by a system of small canals. A wooden rowboat trip will take tourists to different parts of the orchards, where you can enjoy picking and tasting various types of tropical fruits, such as rambutan, grapefruit, mangosteen, oranges, longan, tangerines, etc. After that, visitors can take a pleasant walk or ride to a leaf-roofed hut for a local show of “Don Ca Tai Tu” – the traditional folk music of farmers in the vast Mekong Delta.
The next outstanding attraction that you shouldn’t forget to experience while in Vinh Long is Tra On Floating Market. This marketplace is located in the junction of Mang Thit River and Hau River, and is also the last of its kind on Hau River before flowing into the sea. Like other floating markets in the region, Tra On has been existing for a long time with many characteristic cultural features of this unique market type. All trading activities are happening early in the morning with hundreds of boats and sampans from different areas cruising back and forth. Sellers will advertise their goods by hanging the samples on tall bamboo poles, while buyers and tourists can purchase a variety of products here, such as tropical fruits, breakfast dishes, drinks, coffee, and snacks, etc. A visit to Tra On Floating Market will take you in the ecstatic vibe of a local market and the bustling scenery of life on the water in the Mekong.
Finally, to wrap up your Vinh Long exploration, don’t miss out sampling its exceptionally rich cuisine with some famous specialties like deep-fried elephant-ear fish, field crab hotpot, and banh xeo (Vietnamese pancake) with freshwater mussels.
