Sam Mountain

Three miles (5 km) southwest of Chau Doc is a rocky hill is literally honeycombed with sanctuaries, tombs, and temples. Most visitors come only to see Tay An Pagoda, Lady Chua Xu Temple, and the Tomb of Thoai Ngoc Hau, but walk right up to the top of the hill where you can get a good view of the surrounding countryside. From here you can appreciate that this is some of the most productive land in Vietnam.

The riverside and sprawling central market, a crossroads for goods to and from nearby Cambodia, are the real attractions. A stroll in the central market area any given morning is a real feast for the eyes (and the nose), and there are some small temples in the small downtown area. Even the most budget tour will take you to the floating villages in wooden sampans rowed in the unique "forward stroke" Vietnamese style (give it a try). You'll get to see a unique way of life and visit one of the many catfish farms that, collectively, are taking the world market by storm.

This little riverside border town is the main stopover for travelers going to and from Cambodia, but it is itself worthy of a brief visit. The town is a real throwback: You'll still see old-style Ho Chi Minh surries, a two-wheel cart on the back of a regular bicycle, instead of the standard cyclo. There's a floating market, a unique floating village, ethnic Cham villages, and a small pilgrimage peak outside of town, and all can be visited through most tours.

Chau Doc is part of most tours of the Mekong Delta. Contact any traveler cafe or travel agent in Ho Chi Minh, and you can arrange a visit here as part of a tour either returning to Ho Chi Minh or with connections to Cambodia. Chau Doc is 285km (177 miles) southwest of Saigon, and the bus ride combines with visits to other hamlets in the delta, boat trips, and lunch stops, and makes for a fun, full day.