BlogLocated along the gentle Hau River, Chau Doc floating fish village is a unique destination that attracts tourists by the simple and rich beauty of the river life in the West. This is where large-scale fish farming activities take place, a vivid picture of culture, people and harmony with nature. A visit to Chau Doc floating fish village promises to bring visitors memorable experiences and a deeper understanding of the life of people in the river region.
Where is Chau Doc floating village?
Floating fish village Chau Doc, An Giang
Chau Doc Floating Village, also known as the floating fish raft village, is a typical place in the Southwest region of Vietnam, famous for its traditional fish raft farming. Located about 3 km west of Chau Doc city center, the village stretches along the Mekong River, near the headwaters of An Phu district.
Chau Doc Floating Village stands out with the image of floating houses combined with fish rafts close together, forming a “village” complex stretching for kilometers on the water surface. People here live mainly by raising fish rafts, a traditional activity that brings stable income to many generations. The connection between people and the river, along with a lifestyle closely connected to nature, has created a unique and characteristic river culture of the Southwest region.
Chau Doc Floating Village is also a tourist destination that attracts many visitors to visit and experience the life of local people. Tourists have the opportunity to explore the vast river space, admire the colorful fish rafts, and learn about the process of raising fish rafts – one of the traditional crafts of the river region.
History of Chau Doc floating village
History of the formation of floating villages
Chau Doc Floating Village was formed in 1960, initially just a small area specializing in natural fish farming. People here chose the fertile river area of the Mekong River as a place to develop fish farming, taking advantage of the abundant water resources and favorable natural conditions. At first, fish farms were established in a simple form, relying on natural fish resources from the river for farming and development. Over time, thanks to the development of fish farming techniques and the increasing demand of the market, the floating village gradually expanded its production scale. The initial small fish farms were replaced by larger and more organized fish rafts, from which the number of fish rafts in the village increased rapidly. In the following years, Chau Doc floating village developed strongly, with about 2,000 fish rafts stretching from Phu Tan, Chau Phu, to Vinh Nguon and Cho Moi. The expansion and development of Chau Doc floating village is associated with changes in the scale of fish farming and the diversification of farmed fish. From raising natural fish, people have switched to raising many types of fish with higher economic value, meeting the needs of the domestic and export markets.
Characteristics of Chau Doc floating village
Chau Doc Floating Village is one of the special features of the Mekong Delta, with its unique culture and lifestyle. It offers visitors a vivid picture of the lives of people living on the river.
Raft house architecture
Raft house architecture
A prominent feature of Chau Doc floating village is the raft houses located close together on the water. The houses are built on large floating rafts, the structure is simple but still ensures all the necessary amenities for daily life. The raft houses are usually made of wood and iron, with sturdy frames to withstand harsh weather conditions. Each house has a common living space, kitchen and sleeping area. Families often take advantage of the space under the raft to raise fish, combining living and economic development.
Aquaculture activities
Cage farming of catfish, pangasius and basa fish is the main source of income for many households in Chau Doc floating village. They raise fish in cages attached to floating houses, making it easy to manage and care for the fish. This is a popular form of farming, contributing greatly to the local economy, helping to provide fresh fish for domestic and foreign markets. Aquaculture also creates a living space close to nature, where people can monitor the development of aquatic species right under their feet.
Means of transport
Boats are the main means of transport.
With the characteristics of floating villages on the river, boats and sampans are the main means of transportation for the people here. Small boats are used for short-distance travel, from house to house, or to neighboring areas. Meanwhile, larger boats serve to transport goods, travel longer distances, especially when trading or transporting aquatic and agricultural products to floating markets or markets on land.
Floating market
An indispensable destination when mentioning Chau Doc floating village is the floating markets. Here, people are bustlingly trading agricultural and aquatic products grown locally. Boats filled with goods line up on the water, creating a bustling trading scene. Sellers and buyers exchange goods right on the boat, the laughter and the sound of boat engines create a vivid and realistic picture.
Directions to Chau Doc Floating Village
Chau Doc Floating Village is located about 105km from the center of Can Tho City and about 200km from Ho Chi Minh City. Depending on the starting point, visitors can choose to travel by bus, private car or motorbike to Chau Doc city, An Giang. The travel time from Ho Chi Minh City to Chau Doc is about 4 hours, while from Can Tho to Chau Doc takes about 2-3 hours.
After arriving at the center of Chau Doc, visitors will continue their journey by boat to the floating village. Because Chau Doc floating village is located entirely on the river, boat is the only means of access. At Chau Doc wharf, visitors can easily find motorboat rental services. Motorboats will take you through the canals and all the way to the floating village.
When renting a boat to travel to the floating village, the rental price will vary depending on the number of people on the boat. Visitors can negotiate with the boat owner to choose the type of boat that suits their needs. Usually, small boats are for small groups of tourists, while larger boats are suitable for large groups. Boat rental prices also depend on the time and specific route that tourists want.
When traveling by boat, visitors should choose boats with full life jackets and ensure safety, especially when traveling with children. The ideal time to visit is early morning or late afternoon, when the weather is cool and the river scenery is more poetic. Don’t forget to bring a camera to capture memorable moments of this journey.
Interesting experience when visiting Chau Doc floating village
Chau Doc Floating Village is a great destination for those who want to experience the unique life of the people of the river. Coming here, you will have many new and interesting experiences such as:
Explore floating village life
Explore the life of floating village people
The life of the people of Chau Doc floating village is a colorful picture with a simple but vibrant living scene. From early morning, small boats glide gently on the water, people start a new day with daily activities such as fishing, taking care of fish cages or trading at floating markets. In particular, the bustling trading scene is a highlight when you visit here. Boats loaded with agricultural products, fruits and fresh seafood are transported and exchanged between boats by people, creating a bustling space.
Visit the floating market
Visit the floating market
Coming to Chau Doc floating village, you definitely cannot miss the floating market – a place that fully displays the culture and richness of the products of the Southwest region. The floating market here is a place to exchange goods, an opportunity for people to exchange and chat after long days of hard work. Walking through each boat, you will be attracted by the countless items for sale such as fresh fish, vegetables, fruits, and many other unique specialties. Immersing yourself in the floating market space, you will feel the sincerity and simplicity of the people of the river region, always ready to welcome visitors with bright smiles and hospitality.
Enjoy local cuisine
One of the experiences not to be missed when visiting Chau Doc floating village is enjoying local cuisine. Dishes with strong Western flavors, such as fragrant fish sauce hotpot, refreshing sour shrimp salad, or crispy fried basa fish, will surely satisfy even the most demanding diners. Each dish has its own flavor, both simple and unique, clearly showing the local culinary culture. Sitting on a boat, enjoying hot dishes, watching the river flow gently, you will feel the complete harmony between people and nature.
Admire the beauty of the floating village at night
When night falls, Chau Doc floating village transforms into a completely different scene. The floating houses sparkle under the lights, reflecting on the water surface, creating a magical, shimmering picture. No longer the hustle and bustle of the day, the floating village is immersed in quiet and peace. The sound of waves gently lapping against the boat, the flickering lights from the houses in the distance, all create a strangely peaceful and poetic feeling. This is the moment for you to relax, immerse yourself in the quiet space, feel the peace of the river village.
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Things to note when starting a tour of Chau Doc floating village
Visiting Chau Doc floating village is a unique and interesting experience, helping visitors better understand the life of people living in the river area. However, to make the trip complete and safe, you need to prepare carefully and note the following:
Wear comfortable and neat clothes
The tour to the floating village is mainly by boat on the river, so choosing the right outfit is extremely important. You should wear neat, comfortable, easy-to-move clothes for convenience when moving. Clothes that are too cumbersome or tight can make it difficult for you to get on and off the boat. In addition, flat, non-slip shoes are also an ideal choice for this trip.
Always remember to wear a life jacket
Wear a life jacket for safety
Safety is always the top priority when participating in activities on the river. Therefore, you should pay attention to wearing a life jacket during the entire trip by boat. Chau Doc Floating Village is located in the middle of a vast river area, wearing a life jacket ensures absolute safety in case of an accident. If traveling with children, pay special attention to wearing life jackets for them.
Ideal time to visit
One of the best times to visit Chau Doc floating village is during the flood season, from August to November every year. At this time, the river scene becomes extremely poetic and fertile, the rising water carries alluvium and many natural products. This is also the time when people are busy with fishing and trading activities, creating a vibrant and bustling atmosphere. Visiting the floating village during this season, you will have the opportunity to fully admire the beauty of life of the residents of the river area.
Prepare sunscreen and insect repellent
Since you will be on the water and exposed to the sun most of the time, it is essential to bring sun protection items. You should bring hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen to protect your skin from the harmful effects of UV rays. At the same time, because the floating village environment is different from the mainland, there may be many mosquitoes and insects, so you should bring mosquito and insect repellent to avoid being bitten.
Combine visiting nearby places
Besides exploring the floating village, you can also combine visiting other destinations in the Chau Doc area to enrich your experience. Cham villages such as Chau Phong and Chau Giang are worth visiting to learn about the unique culture of the Cham community and admire the typical stilt houses. In addition, famous spiritual sites such as Ba Chua Xu Temple, Tay An Pagoda or Sam Mountain are also interesting options in the journey to explore Chau Doc.
Sinhcafe not only brings visitors memorable travel experiences through a variety of tours, but also introduces the characteristics of each region across Vietnam. In particular, the Chau Doc floating market tour is an exciting journey, taking visitors to explore the unique river culture of the Southwest region, experiencing the simple, friendly life of the local people. With a team of enthusiastic, professional tour guides and convenient services, Sinhcafe is committed to bringing you a complete trip, leaving unforgettable memories of the natural beauty and people of Vietnam. Let’s explore and enjoy these wonderful journeys to discover Vietnam with Sinhcafe!
