This morning we left Can Thou and spent 3 scenic hours driving along the Mekong region countryside to Chau Doc with great stops for photo opportunities. Draped along the banks of the Hau Giang River, Chau Doc sees plenty of travelers using the river route between Cambodia and Vietnam. A likeable little town with significant Chinese, Cham and Khmer communities, Chau Doc's cultural diversity – apparent in the mosques, temples, churches and nearby pilgrimage sites – makes it fascinating to explore. We checked into our hotel, a beautiful mountain resort overlooking the flatlands, enjoyed a delicious lunch and off to explore the area? On our drive up Sam Mountain, to the Chau Phu Temple, one of the holiest sites in Southern Vietnam, the view of the endless rice paddy fields overlooking Cambodia is quite a site. On our descent from the mountain, we toured the Tay An Pagoda, a Vietnamese Buddhist temple with a mix of Vietnamese and India architectural styles. Our boat trip to the Cham communities across the river was another highlight of the day. We visited the Phum-Soai Village, the first Muslim Cham people’s village in is also home to many old Cham stilt houses, we also visited the Chau Gaing mosque. We returned to the hotel for the evening. Today, was the hottest day yet but another great day of touring in the Mekong. This is part 1 of a 3 part blog.
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