Mekong River Delta with its unique characteristics is one of the best choice for you when coming to Vietnam.
There is no shortage of delightful activities for you to do and most of them are associated with water because this region is home to hundreds of canals.
And exploring the floating fish farm is one of interesting things you should try when taking Mekong Delta tours.
The floating village of Chau Doc
To begin a morning in the city called “the kingdom of fish sauce,” nothing can be as great as taking a boat sightseeing on Chau Doc river – a peaceful and dreaming river with the legend of the first days of reclamation in Chau Doc. The river reflects the ups and downs of the catfish farming village which has long been famous in the area of Mekong Delta.
Located to the west of Chau Doc city center, about 3 kilometres of riverway in the direction of upstream Cuu Long river delta in An Phu district, Chau Doc floating village is a freshwater fish farming village formed in the 60s of the last century.
At first, there were only a few floating rafts raising fish in a natural way, without feeding because of good water sources. However, from the 70s onwards, due to the high economic benefits, the number of fish rafts has increased significantly and gradually become a focal economic point of An Giang.
The highlight is that between 1990 and 2005, Chau Phu, Phu Tan, Cho Moi, and Vinh Nguon regions had more than 2,000 fish rafts with an average annual output of over 20,000 tons.
The majority of fish raised in floating rafts of the region are all catfish varieties such as pangasius and basa, mainly for export to Western Europe and North America. In later times, in order to increase productivity, fish farmers here have applied science and technology to farming, so they have added varieties of oxyeleotris marmorata or java barb, etc.
In recent years, due to climate change and polluted water source in the Mekong river, the number of fish rafts has gradually decreased. Although no longer flourishing as before, the imprint of a floating fish village on Chau Doc river still remains. Especially, the unique name of the occupation ancestor called “Mrs. Cau” is very interesting.
How to get here
Since it is a tourist spot on the river, it is necessary to use the ship or boat. Therefore, if you want to go to Chau Doc floating village, you must go to Chau Doc junction (about 500 meters from Victoria hotel) or Chau Giang wharf located across Chau Doc town to rent a boat.
Boat rentals at each point will have different price levels, depending on the visiting points and the number of travelers. Generally, you can be assured that the price is relatively reasonable.
Besides renting a boat at the wharf, you can ask the hotel receptionist to hire or buy a tour at major hotels to make the trip comfortable without preparing about anything.
What to do in Chau Doc fishing village
Floating fish raft exploration
With all that is the mark of a golden age when it used to be a focal economic point of An Giang, the floating village of Chau Doc is a place worthy to come once. Visiting here, in the space of houses floating along the upstream Cuu Long river and two branches of Tien river, Hau river, you will admire the process of raising fish in the river, listen to stories of ups and downs, of the profession here.
Afterward, you will work with them to experience as a fisherman such as taking raw materials for fish food, checking the health of the fish, weighing, and feeding them, etc. These jobs are simple but very interesting.
In addition to the experience on the floating rafts on the river, you can immerse yourself in the cultural life here that has long been famous. This is a life that not only includes eating, transporting, and living on the river but also is a multi-purpose living place related to immigration and survival, creating the unique characteristics of the people in the Southwest region.
Deep understanding of the colorful Cham culture
With a floating village tour on Chau Doc river, you can visit the nearby Cham villages of Chau Giang and Chau Phong. The two Cham Muslim villages are famous and interesting in An Giang because of owning the unique and harmonious cultural characteristics.
In here, you will learn about the life and customs of Cham Muslim people originating from Java island, Indonesia. Along with that, you will visit and learn the mosque and the traditional weaving profession which has been handed down for generations. Of course, you can buy yourself brocade sheets and clothes as gifts for your family and friends after your trip.
The floating fish raft village of Chau Doc is home to the largest number of raft houses in the Mekong Delta region. In addition to developing the traditional fish farming, the village is also known as a unique and interesting tourist spot attracting many tourists. For the Mekong Delta tours or Phu Quoc tours, feel free to contact us or visit our website. If the article is useful for you, don’t hesitate to like and share with others. Thank you.
