As tourism continues to develop, travelers are increasingly drawn to the simple and natural values of nature. Perhaps that is why recently, the Western tourism has attracted great attention from tourists both domestically and internationally. One of the famous destinations that should be included in your Western travel itinerary is Chau Doc Market in Chau Doc City, An Giang Province. So, Cuong will guide you on shopping at Chau Doc Market in the Western region in 2023. Let’s explore Chau Doc Market together.
1. Where is this place?
Chau Doc Market, commonly known as Mam Market by locals, is a market area that gathers hundreds of delicious and unique types of fermented fish. Chau Doc fish sauce is a famous brand that has been around for over 200 years, made from local fish, some from fish farming, and some caught naturally, fresh and nutritious.
Despite its fame, many people still forget the exact address of Chau Doc Market when asked where it is located. Located about 1.6km west of the city center of Chau Doc on Bach Dang Street in Chau Phu A Ward, Chau Doc Market is the largest dried seafood and fermented fish market in the Southwest region of Vietnam.
If you are a distant guest and not familiar with the roads, you can ask the locals or the hotel reception where you are staying to guide you on how to get here. Most people in An Giang are very enthusiastic about giving directions to tourists. An Giang Market is located near the Chau Doc River, from here, you can visit the Cham villages, visit the Ong Pagoda, or follow Tan Lo Kieu Luong to reach the Ba Chua Xu Temple, Thoai Ngoc Hau Tomb…
When is the best time to visit Chau Doc?
The favorable weather makes visiting Chau Doc easy at any time of the year. May is when the rainy season begins, if you want to fully experience the life of the western rivers and canals, the best time is from August to November when typical activities of the flood season such as floating markets take place. However, if you want to avoid high prices, it is best to avoid visiting during Tet (Lunar New Year) as it is crowded and prices tend to rise.
2. How to get there?
To get to Chau Doc Market, Cuong will guide you from the city center at the intersection of Hoang Dieu, Truong Dua, Nguyen Van Thoai, and Tan Lo Kieu Luong. From this intersection, turn onto Nguyen Van Thoai and go straight for about 1.4 km. When you reach the intersection with Quang Trung Street, turn left, about 130m then turn right onto Bach Dang Street or Chi Lang Street. If you turn onto Bach Dang Street, Chau Doc Market will be on your right, and if you turn onto Chi Lang Street, Chau Doc Market will be on your left.
3. How to travel?
On foot
In areas like the center of Chau Doc town (Chau Doc Market, Bo De Pagoda, 30/4 Park,…), and Sam Mountain area (Tay An Pagoda, Mieu Ba, Thoai Ngoc Hau Tomb), tourists can explore on foot.
Bicycle
Cycling on the roads of the Mekong Delta is a worthwhile experience, giving you more time to fully appreciate and explore every corner of Chau Doc. As the attractions in Chau Doc are not far from each other, with just a bicycle, tourists can easily explore the border town located at the confluence of the Hau rivers.
Motorbike, motorbike taxi
This is the most convenient and mobile means of transportation. Travelers can contact (or negotiate) with hotels to rent one. Rental prices range from 120,000 to 200,000 VND per day. The price of a cyclo in Chau Doc is also relatively cheap, but remember to negotiate the price as tourists are often quoted higher prices.
Pedal rickshaw (cyclo)
Pedal rickshaws are a very popular means of transportation in Chau Doc. Not only local residents but even tourists from near and far find this mode of transportation fascinating. However, tourists should also consider safety factors before choosing this means of transportation. Pedal rickshaws are a beautiful feature of the daily life of people in the Mekong Delta provinces in general and An Giang in particular. Recently, due to the ban on pedal rickshaws, this mode of transportation has gradually become less common.
Bus
When visiting various attractions in Chau Doc, as they are quite close to each other, you can use bicycles or motorcycles. However, in Chau Doc, there is a bus route from the city center to Nui Sam, Tinh Bien, so you can use this mode of transportation. Bus stops in the city center are also easy to find. Buses in Chau Doc mainly serve the transportation needs of local residents. However, tourists can also use buses to travel from the city center of Chau Doc to the Nui Sam area and vice versa.
Taxi
Wherever we go, we always see the presence of taxi companies, and Chau Doc is no exception. And as always, taxis are always a safe choice but also a bit luxurious because they are considered the most expensive means of transportation. In the city of Chau Doc, Cuong only saw 3 taxi companies: Mai Linh Taxi (0763 922266), Hoang Long Taxi (0763 688688), Duc Thanh Taxi (0763 852403), and Long Xuyen Taxi Company (076 3858788).
Ferries, boats, ships
Due to the unique nature of the river region, some tourist spots (Cham village, Bung Binh Thien, fishing villages) require the use of ferries, boats, or canoes. The 30/4 Park area (also known as Ba Sa Fish Park) is where the most boats are concentrated. Alternatively, you can take a ferry or rent a boat at the Chau Doc Tourist Port – 03 Le Loi, Chau Phu Ward, or contact the phone number 0763550949 to make reservations.
4. What does Chau Doc Market offer?
Stalls start selling from 5 am, and within a few minutes, the market becomes bustling with people coming and going. Standing outside the market, you can already smell the fragrant aroma of various types of fermented fish and deliciously prepared foods.
Inside the market, it is divided into many separate and clean sections, each selling different products, all of which are safe and high-quality specialties from the beloved land of An Giang. These sections include ready-to-eat food processing area, vegetable and fruit market, fermented fish market, clothing market, etc.
First is the section dedicated to various types of fermented fish, each stall selling dozens of different types of fermented fish, each stored in its own container with a price tag for easy selection such as fermented snakehead fish, linh fish, striped fish, ba khia fish, etc. All creating a distinctive flavor and vibrant colors for the entire market. At Chau Doc Market, you cannot miss the wide variety of fermented fish: snakehead fish, linh fish, striped fish, ba khia fish, etc. Each type of fermented fish at Chau Doc Market is labeled with the name of the fish used as the main ingredient for easy remembrance. Many fermented fish stalls have become famous at Chau Doc Market for many years, known to locals and tourists such as Healthy Grandma’s fermented fish, Hai Xuyen fermented fish… The prices here are relatively cheap, ranging from 40,000-400,000 VND/kg. One of the most popular products is Thai fermented fish. Snakehead fish is deboned, skinned, then chopped and mixed with shredded papaya, pork belly, rice flakes, sugar, and chili. The sugar used in the fish is palm sugar, a specialty of An Giang. Thai fermented fish is served with raw vegetables, bitter bananas, boiled pork belly, making it delicious and irresistible.
Whether it’s raining or sunny, the Chau Doc market is always bustling with buyers. Not only famous for various types of fermented fish paste, the market also offers a wide range of delicious snacks such as sponge cakes, Chinese sausages, dried foods, steamed rice cakes, pig skin cakes, sticky rice cakes, fish sauce noodles, Chau Doc-style noodle soup, etc. All of these are made from fresh and delicious local ingredients, ensuring a flavorful taste and hygiene.
Next, there are stalls selling all kinds of sweet cakes from regular sponge cakes to salted egg sponge cakes, and sausage sponge cakes. They come in various sizes: large ones for sharing with friends and family, and small ones for you to enjoy while exploring the market. Then, there are colorful displays of pig skin cakes, steamed rice cakes, coconut milk jelly cakes, and pandan leaf sponge cakes that will tempt you to taste.
In addition to various types of sweet cakes, Chau Doc market also has many delicious savory food stalls. Aunt Le’s snakehead fish vermicelli has been sold at the market for 10 years, priced at 15,000 VND per bowl. The dish of stir-fried clams with white rice costs only 10,000 VND per serving. Shrimp cakes, fried frogs, various sticky rice cakes… are all delicious snacks that are very affordable!
After eating, don’t forget to quench your thirst with water and refreshing coconut water! The market also offers a variety of fruits for you to enjoy such as tamarind, mango… If you’re not into fresh fruits, you can try the sweet and sour preserved fruits with chili and salt, equally enticing.
In addition, this place also sells various types of fruits and specialty vegetables from the An Giang river region such as thot not, sugar apple, star apple, persimmon, custard apple, bananas, etc. You can indulge in eating and choose special dishes to bring back as gifts. Moreover, the é seed sweet soup with cotton candy is also a famous snack at Chau Doc market and very attractive to the ladies. You can buy a few bags, add some shaved ice, and enjoy a cool and fragrant treat!!
5. What to buy at Chau Doc market?
Chau Doc market in An Giang sells a variety of different items, divided into sections such as ready-to-eat processed food, fruits and vegetables market, fish sauce market, clothing market, etc. Thanks to its well-organized layout, when you come here, you can easily explore and find the items you need. Below are some typical items of the market that are recommended for shopping:
5.1 Various types of fish sauce
Besides being called Chau Doc market, locals also refer to it by another familiar name, Chau Mam market. This is a gathering place for the exchange and sale of various types of fermented fish such as linh fish, chot fish, snakehead fish, pickled eggplant, etc. When you visit Chau Doc market, even standing hundreds of meters away, you can already smell the distinctive aroma emanating from the stalls in the fish market area.
Especially, the prices of fermented fish here are extremely cheap, seemingly only half or one-third compared to other places. Therefore, if you are a fan of fermented fish, this is the perfect place for you to stock up on everything.
At the stalls selling fermented fish, the sellers also invest in lighting up various types of lights and displaying them beautifully.
5.2 Instant food area: fermented fish noodle soup, fish noodle soup, coconut worm water,…
After wandering around the fish sauce market, we decided to head to the food area as our stomachs were very hungry. The fragrant smell of large pots of broth mixed with inviting calls created a bustling and indescribable atmosphere. However, if it’s your first time here, you might feel a bit overwhelmed because most of the vendors are very persuasive, some even come to you to invite you to their eating area.
The market is famous for its An Giang specialties that are extremely enticing such as rice vermicelli with fish sauce, noodle soup, Quang noodles, dry noodles,… Especially, after enjoying the food, don’t forget to order yourself a refreshing glass of thot not juice – a specialty of the Seven Mountains region in An Giang.
Among the dishes here, I rate the rice vermicelli with fish sauce as deserving of 5 stars due to its extremely unique and delicious flavor. Each bowl of vermicelli served will always come with water lily stems, a distinctive ingredient with a fragrant, fresh, and mild taste that becomes more addictive with each bite.
However, it seems that the dishes in Chau Doc are seasoned quite carefully, so the food tends to be slightly salty, if you’re not used to it, make sure to inform the restaurant owner beforehand!
5.3 Sweet pastries and various fruits and vegetables from An Giang
Throughout the small alleys of the market, you can easily see various street vendors selling items like Ba Nui sponge cake, sandwich cakes, preserved kumquats, grinding fruits, etc. It seems like all the tempting snacks are neatly packed around the old lady’s stall. The prices are quite cheap, with Ba Nui sponge cake costing only around 5000 VND for a large piece. Preserved kumquats and preserved grapefruits are also priced at only 7-8000 VND per 100 grams.
Moreover, there are some very unique cakes and preserves brought by the Khmer people from different villages, adding to the diverse culinary scene of the already famous market. Before buying, you can freely taste without worrying about being watched or noticed.
Oh, one more delicious item you should buy in bulk to avoid regret is the An Giang tamarind. The price is only around 40,000 VND per kilogram, and they are sold abundantly, almost everywhere in the market.
6. Shopping experience at Chau Doc Market, An Giang
If you are a tourist, when visiting any market, you need to have some small shopping tips to ensure you buy items at the right price and avoid being overcharged.
Chau Doc Market is a large market in An Giang province, attracting many out-of-town visitors. Therefore, the situation of price bargaining and taking advantage of tourists is inevitable. In this exciting journey (mixed with a bit of blood-curdling experience), some important points to note have been drawn as follows:
Ask for prices at the food stalls: You should do this because even for the same cold drink, locals pay only 10K, while tourists like Cuong have to pay up to 20K for a cup. It seems like the stall owners can easily recognize Cuong as a visitor and may “mistakenly” charge him more…
Negotiate prices if buying clothes and shoes: For the locals from Ba Nui area, skillful bargaining is probably not unfamiliar. But if you are a visitor and feel hesitant to negotiate, the best way is to inquire about the prices before buying! By doing this, you will notice that for the same item, the quality is the same but the prices can vary significantly!
Beware of fake goods: An Giang is close to the Cambodian border and is a place where goods are sourced from other regions like Thailand, China, so besides quality products, there are still many fake goods imitating famous brands. When buying, remember to check the barcode and packaging carefully. Fake products usually have poor color and printing quality, so with a keen eye, you will notice them right away.
7. How to eat?
To have a full meal, you can try dishes like fish noodle soup, grilled nem noodle, mixed salad noodle, roasted dolphin fish noodle, sizzling cake, pork soup with rice, beef pho… these dishes are considered specialties of the people in Chau Doc city and are favored by many tourists.
If you want to snack and try various dishes, you can have crispy fried river shrimp cakes, rolled frog legs in flour, fried quail eggs with meat, stir-fried clams with white rice, fresh vegetable spring rolls, fish meat spring rolls, water fern cake, pork sausage, etc.
One thing to note when looking for snacks is to visit stalls selling from pushcarts, street vendors, or small stalls. The snacks at these places are usually prepared by skilled people, so the food will be delicious.
In addition to the dishes served on the spot, the familiar bread is a dish that you can find anywhere in Chau Doc Market. With diverse preparations from many dishes like beef sausage bread, pork sausage bread, pan-fried bread, Chinese sausage bread, meatball bread, lap xuong sausage bread, spring roll bread… you can choose any dish you like.
Along with savory dishes, sweet treats like sponge cake with thot not seeds, pig skin cake, pandan leaf cake, sponge cake are all delicious and attractive. These sweet treats are sold alongside dishes like fish noodle soup, pho, or bread.
Among these sweet treats, the sponge cake must be mentioned with types like meat sponge cake, salted egg sponge cake, lap xuong sausage sponge cake, milk sponge cake, khom sponge cake. Various teas like thot not seed tea, lotus seed tea, cotton flower tea, thot not seed water, bean tea, bean cake tea… are dishes that you can enjoy on the spot or take away.
With over 100 dishes and specialties available at the market, you will surely not be able to taste them all. Therefore, according to Cuong’s experience, you can refer to the following menu lists:
Chau Doc snakehead fish noodle soup
Anyone who visits the Mekong Delta and once stops by An Giang will surely find it hard to forget the taste of “tô bún cá” (vermicelli with fish soup) after trying it once. Not difficult to prepare, yet with ingredients unique to the Mekong Delta, a bowl of “tô bún” carries the distinctive flavor of Chau Doc. The sweetness of fresh snakehead fish, the fragrant smell of water lilies, and the wild water spinach from the floating season have made “tô bún cá” from the Mekong Delta enchant the hearts of those who taste it.
Bánh bò thốt nốt
Banh bo thot not is a favorite dish of people in the Mekong Delta and is also a famous specialty of An Giang. The delicious, sweet, and fatty taste of thot not sugar makes tourists nod in praise even after just one taste. Although it is a simple dish, banh bo thot not is considered a specialty of Chau Doc, made from local, simple ingredients by the skilled hands of honest farmers from the Seven Mountains region.
Goi sau dau
The sầu đâu tree, also known as the xoan ăn gỏi tree, is a wild plant, most commonly found in Chau Doc and the Bay Nui region of An Giang. The leaves of the sầu đâu tree are small, long, and thin. When young, the shoots are a purple color. Sầu đâu salad is best known as the most distinctive specialty when it comes to the sầu đâu tree, from shrimp salad, meat salad, fish salad to dried salad, everything is excellent. Dried snakehead fish, after being grilled, is torn into small pieces and mixed with sầu đâu shoots, then dipped in a thick, spicy, sour tamarind fish sauce, creating a slightly bitter taste of sầu đâu and a salty, sweet, chewy taste of fish blending together, enhancing the flavor. The unique, mouth-watering aroma of this dish is completely different from any other salad.
Seven-course beef
The seven mountain beef dishes in Sam include boiled beef heart, beef served with rice vermicelli, beef porridge, beef mixed with bread, beef stir-fried with basil leaves, beef stir-fried with vegetables, and beef steak. The main ingredient for these dishes is beef from the Seven Mountains region, tender, sweet, and incredibly delicious. The characteristic feature of making these seven beef dishes is that people rarely buy pre-made beef at the market, but instead buy a whole live cow, preferably a calf (or young cow, just one that is still young or almost mature). After preparing the beef, they use straw to tighten the cow’s skin, called “bê thui,” the meat with the skin is sweet and chewy.
Tung lò mò
Tung lò mò, from its name, has aroused much curiosity among foreign visitors, is a traditional dish of the Cham people in An Giang province, also known as beef sausage. The Cham people follow Islam and abstain from pork, so the dish Tung lò mò they make only uses beef as the main ingredient.
When visiting the area where the Cham people live in Chau Doc, tourists will see in front of their houses long coils of meat hanging on red-dark bamboo poles or wooden racks. That is the famous Tung lò mò dish of the Cham people.
Tung lo mo has two types, sour and non-sour. The sour type has rice added to create a slightly sour taste, giving it a very unique flavor and aroma. The non-sour type is for tourists who are not accustomed to the sour taste.
Grill a piece of tung lo mo on the stove, when it is just cooked, take it down, cut it into small pieces, then pick up a hot piece and dip it in soy sauce, you will feel the strange aftertaste in your mouth. From the aroma of grilled beef, the rich taste of beef fat, the light sourness of Chinese sausage to the sweet, salty, spicy taste of soy sauce mixed with the aroma of basil, the sharpness of peppercorns, all create a unique and interesting flavor.
Rice cake – pickled eggplant
“Cơm nị” and “cà púa” are also famous traditional dishes of the Chăm Châu Giang village. These two dishes complement each other harmoniously, with a relatively elaborate cooking method that is unique and quite unfamiliar to both Vietnamese and international tourists. “Cơm nị” is cooked with rice and milk, sometimes adding dried grapes according to individual preferences. On the other hand, “cà púa” is made with beef, seasoned with a unique blend of spices such as wine, ginger, coconut milk, curry, onions, etc., creating a distinctive feature of the ethnic cuisine.
8. Things to keep in mind when visiting and having fun here
- The ideal time to visit and explore the market is from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM.
- Wear neat and comfortable clothing for easy movement.
- The market is very large and divided into two areas, so make sure to visit both areas to experience the hustle and bustle.
- Keep your personal belongings safe while visiting and shopping at the market.
- Avoid buying products without labels or buy from reputable sellers at the market.
- Negotiate prices before purchasing items with relatively high prices.
- Don’t fill up on just one dish, try multiple dishes to experience the delicious flavors of An Giang specialties.
- Many savory and sweet dishes are sold at small stalls or street vendors, all of which are delicious. They are usually very cheap, ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 VND, so feel free to indulge.
- If you want to buy local specialties to take home, ask the seller to pack them carefully in plastic or glass jars or boxes.
- It’s best to visit in the summer for a more relaxed and leisurely experience. There is a wide variety of food here at very affordable prices, and many products from Cambodia, especially cigarettes. When you’re here, make sure to visit the antique market 2km away. In the evening, there is delicious vegetarian noodle soup across from the market.
- Additionally, there are many Thai products sold here. However, be sure to carefully check the design, brand, and barcode of the products to avoid buying counterfeit goods.
9. Some suggested attractions near Chau Doc Market
Chau Doc Market is located in the city center, close to many eateries offering delicious food and beautiful attractions in An Giang. Here are some suggested places to visit, making it convenient for exploration without taking up much time.
Sam Mountain
With an area of about 280 hectares and an average height of 241 meters, Sam Mountain is a very famous tourist destination that anyone visiting Chau Doc must visit. This mountain is covered with lush green trees all year round, and in the summer, it is adorned with the bright red color of phoenix flowers, nestled beside winding canals. Sam Mountain is also a gathering place for a system of ancient temples, pagodas, and fascinating caves, creating a beautiful and charming landscape amidst the rich delta region.
Mieu Ba Chua Xu
Address: at the foot of Sam Mountain, Chau Doc, An Giang
Whether you are traveling to An Giang independently or joining one of the Mekong Delta day tours, the Ba Chua Xu Temple is a place worth visiting to pay respects and explore. Unlike other worship temples, this place will amaze you with its intricate architectural design. Moreover, due to its spiritual significance, you will feel a sense of tranquility enveloping the area when you visit. This famous Mekong Delta tourist spot is one of the familiar spiritual tourism destinations for travelers who enjoy this type of travel. Located at the foot of Sam Mountain, Ba Chua Xu Temple welcomes around 2 million pilgrims every year. Pilgrims often visit the temple from the first to the third lunar month to pray for peace and prosperity in the new year. To meet the needs of pilgrims, locals here also provide services such as selling offerings, renting roasted pigs, releasing birds, and fortune-telling for the new year… However, make sure to inquire about prices before making a purchase to get the best deal.
Tay An Co Tu
Address: Nui Sam loop road, Chau Doc, An Giang
Tay An ancient pagoda is located near Ba temple. After visiting the temple, you can go to the pagoda to pray for peace, worship the Buddha statue in the main hall. This is one of the temples following the Northern sect, still preserving the familiar traditional architecture in the Khmer land. Especially, the pagoda has many picturesque views, perfect for taking photos and checking in. Just within half an hour here, our group has already filled up seventy-four photos!
Tram Tra Su Forest
Address: Van Giao, Tinh Bien, An Giang
Tra Su Melaleuca Forest is located in Tinh Bien, An Giang, about 1 hour away from Chau Doc market. This is a suitable suggestion for 2 days 1 night Mekong Delta tours or during festive seasons. When we visited at the end of March, it was not the flooding season, but the forest was still very beautiful. The entrance fee here is 100,000 VND per person, including the boat ride to explore the melaleuca forest and visit the inner areas.
The most impressive thing here is the extremely hospitable and enthusiastic nature of the boat rowers. One of them shared that during the low season, they can only earn 150,000 VND a day, but it’s still better than struggling to catch crabs or snails.
Rice paddy fields
The highlight of An Giang is the vast green rice fields, stretching out beautifully like a painting. Along the road leading from the center of Chau Doc to the tourist spots, it’s not hard to see the expansive fields of green rice plants growing lushly. Next to them are golden ripe rice paddies, just a glance is enough to bring a strangely peaceful feeling. When you come here, remember to slow down a bit because there will be mesmerizing beautiful scenes that you must capture. Occasionally, you will come across some Khmer temples, their architecture resembling that of the distant land of Thailand, seemingly shrunk down in the land of Seven Mountains.
