Châu Đốc brings together religious architecture at Sam Mountain, Cham culture, fishing on the Hậu River and a sprawling market. On your trip, you can choose between historic sites, religious traditions and insights into life on the water. These themes offer different perspectives on the city.
Pagodas, Temples and Remembrance at Sam Mountain
Chùa Tây An, also known as Tây An cổ tự, stands in Vĩnh Tế, within the city of Châu Đốc. Visitors can admire its architecture; the pagoda has 11,270 large and small wooden statues. It was built at the foot of Sam Mountain by Governor-General Nguyễn Nhật An during the Minh-Mạng era. Its construction is associated with his vow to build it if he returned successfully from a mission to Cambodia.
Miếu Bà Chúa Xứ was built in 1820 and has a chữ-“quốc”-shaped floor plan. Inside the shrine is a statue of Bà Chúa made of blue stone. Around 200 large and small religious sites are located on the slopes of Sam Mountain. Historic sites at the foot of the mountain also include Lăng Thoại Ngọc Hầu. It comprises a temple dedicated to Thoại Ngọc Hầu and the tombs of him and his two wives. The tombs were built in the 1930s.
At the mausoleum, visitors can see a statue of Thoại Ngọc Hầu about two metres tall. There are also ornate couplets, inscriptions on horizontal beams, steles and ritual texts. Alongside the tombs, these details give the site its own written and commemorative dimension.
A Festival in the Lunar Calendar
The festival of the Goddess Bà Chúa Xứ at Sam Mountain is observed by the Kinh, Khmer, Cham and Hoa communities in Châu Đốc. It helps pass on shared values, foster cultural exchange and strengthen social cohesion. It takes place every year from the 23rd to the 27th day of the fourth lunar month at Miếu Bà Chúa Xứ at Sam Mountain, 7 km from Châu Đốc. The Gregorian dates vary from year to year, so take the lunar calendar into account when planning your trip. Visitors can also observe local offerings at the shrine.
Cham Culture and Life on the Water
Châu Đốc is home to some of Vietnam’s largest Cham communities. Visitors can visit Mubarak Mosque and see old Cham stilt houses. This brings other cultural sites in the city into focus, alongside the pagodas and religious heritage at Sam Mountain.
On the Hậu River, Châu Đốc offers an ever-changing riverscape. The floating village is a 50-year-old fishing community on the river and can be visited on a guided tour. Visitors can also explore the floating fish farms, an important source of income for local families. The fishing community and fish farms draw attention to different ways of living and working on the water.
The sprawling market is another place to see everyday life in the city. You can explore it as boats dock by the water and unload produce from across the region. The market and river thus broaden the focus from religious sites and culture to trade and fishing.
More destinations nearby
At Chùa Hang, also known as Cave Pagoda, visitors can explore its winding passageways. The nearby Trà Sư cajuput forest adds a natural attraction to the local setting: more than 70 bird species live there.
For the main travel overview: An Giang.
