Set where the Chau Doc River meets the Hau River (a branch of the Mekong), most travelers treat Chau Doc as simply a waypoint on the road to Saigon, The Pearl of the Far East, or Phnom Penh,The Pearl of Asia, on the river route connecting the two, arriving late in the afternoon and leaving early the next morning, barely seen and just as quickly forgotten.
However, more and more travelers in the know are beginning to appreciate the town of Chau Doc, located in the far west of southern Vietnam, as an excellent base to discover the region’s diversity of cultures, religions, people and nature.
Chau Doc’s location by the Cambodian border means it is home to diverse ethnic and religious communities where Cambodian Buddhists, Vietnamese Buddhists, ethnic Chinese and Muslim Cham live peacefully side by side. On the water, just past where the main rivers merge, about 30 boats congregate in the early morning hours to form a photogenic floating market. The barges come from all over the Mekong Delta, laden with a variety of fruits and vegetables, and they attract a small army of hospitality boats ― people selling drinks or noodles to the sellers and buyers. Just outside of town, at the base of scenic Nui Sam Mountain, lies the Lady Xu Temple, one of Vietnam’s most holy sites, attracting upwards of two million pilgrims for her annual festival. Nature lovers will be thrilled with a visit to the 850 hectare Tra Su Forest, an easy day trip from Chau Doc. Home to 140 types of flora and 70 species of birds, the submerged forest is otherworldly in its beauty.
An ideal base from which to explore this corner of the Mekong Delta is the gorgeous, colonial-inspired Victoria Chau Doc Hotel, the only 4-star hotel in town. Set just next to Chau Doc’s river walk, a pedestrian-only area where families come out to watch the river and where children play pick-up football games, the hotel is within easy walking distance to the Chau Doc Market and center of town, and boats taking visitors to the floating market and Cham village are conveniently moored right at the river walk.
The Victoria Chau Doc Hotel features 92 wood-floored rooms, including 4 suites, most offering spectacular views of the Hau River. Each room combines the elegance of traditional Vietnamese handicrafts and colonial Old World charm with dark wood furniture highlighted with bright locally- produced textiles. After a long day of exploration, come home to a spectacular riverfront outdoor swimming pool or unwind at the Victoria Spa located on the top floor of the hotel with magnificent river views.
The sophisticated Bassac Restaurant overlooks the river and features typical Southern Vietnamese cuisine. Its indoor and outdoor areas are a popular spot to witness breathtaking sunrise views. The Tan Chau Salon Bar, with its plush leather armchairs and a wall of French doors opening out to an outdoor terrace is also a magical place to while away the hours watching life roll on by on the river.
Plan your summer retreat today and enjoy a special rate starting from VND1,659,740++ per night, including buffet breakfast by the river, valid for stays now through the end of September. The Mekong Coach also offers first-rate transfers between Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho and Chau Doc exclusively for Victoria guests and features leather seats, individual tablet computers and complimentary Wi-Fi. To book, email resa. chaudoc@victoriahotels.asia or visit Victoria Hotels.
