Chau Giang Khmer and Cham communities

Grab a bicycle and head across the Mekong from Chau Doc's downtown ferry terminal to Chau Giang (it can also be visited on foot). It's a completely different feel here with mosques and Khmer style wooden houses more common than the Vietnamese style dwellings.

The Mubarak Mosque is only a few hundred metres from the ferry landing.

There are no specific sites worth noting but this is a great area for spending a few hours cycling or walking and absorbing the unique diversity of this community. It's very friendly too.

The Khmer and Cham communities here are remnants from the many shifts the area has experienced over the centuries. Southern Vietnam was once ruled by the Cham Kingdom which was gradually crushed by the southward movement of the Viet people.

Likewise, Vietnam's Mekong Delta territory was in Khmer hands prior to the gradual encroachment of Vietnamese during the past 3 centuries. There are large Khmer communities in the Mekong Delta towns of Chau Doc, Soc Trang and Tra Vinh.

Travel tips

The main ferry terminal to Chau Giang is in the middle of town. An additional fee is required for bicycles and motor bikes.