Chau Doc, a place associated with the sacred with the feng shui pre-tam Giang, post-history and mystery with many religious beliefs has existed for a long time. Referring to this land, one cannot help but remember that Ba Chua Xu Temple is a famous spiritual tourist destination not only in the Southwest region, but also known by overseas Vietnamese.
By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Chau Doc Visitor Guide
1. Better to Know as a Tourist
Ticket: Free
Spend-time: One hour (approx)
Hours: Dawn – dusk
Food: Yes
Shop: Yes
Parking lot: Yes
Blog: https://vemekong.com/ba-chua-xu-temple-chau-doc-nui-sam/
Address: Vinh Tay cluster, Nui sam ward, Chau Doc city, An Giang province.
Added values: With its flexibility and practicality, it is expected that Ba Temple attracts tourists every year to visit and visit, especially on each New Year’s Eve and Spring, contributing to the development of An Giang’s tourism industry.
Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from The Ba Chua Xu Temple? Or maybe you found it too crowded here? We’ve got some ideas! Check out our list: Tra Su Cajuput Forest (24km), Sam Mountain (3Km), Cam Mountain – Forbidden Mountain (37 km), Chau Doc Floating Market (11 km), 30 Thang 4 Park in Chau Doc (9km)…
2. Travel Guide to The Ba Chua Xu Temple
According to legend, about 200 years ago, local people in Chau Doc discovered the statue of Ba at the top of Sam mountain and wanted to bring it down. However, dozens of strong young men tried to carry the statue of her, but could not. Then through her mouth, “Miss Dong” told her that only nine virgins needed to be carried up and down. But at the foot of the mountain, the statue suddenly became heavy and could not walk anymore. People think that she chose this place to live here and set up a shrine to worship.
Another legend related to this temple is about the merits of Mr. Thoai Ngoc Hau. When he went to fight foreign invaders at the border, Chau Thi Te prayed to Ba Chua Xu to help him calm the enemy and keep the village peaceful. To give thanks for the effective things, Mr. Thoi Ngoc Hau invited her from the top of Sam mountain to build a spacious temple at the foot of the mountain and chose April 24 as the day to worship her.
In the past, Ba Temple was simply built of bamboo and leaves, facing the northwest, the back is turned to the cliff, and the main hall overlooks the road and village fields. In 1870, the temple was rebuilt by people with bricks from Ho Duoc lake. During the four years from 1972 to 1976, Ba Temple was rebuilt by two architects, Huynh Kim Mang and Nguyen Ba Lang, to create its present appearance.
On the other legends about the origin of the Ba Chua Xu statue. According to folklore, in the years 1820 – 1825, the Siamese army came to harass our country and chased the people to the top of Sam mountain when they met the statue of Mrs. They tried to carry the statue but could not lift it, one of them got angry and broke her arm and he was immediately punished. Since then, people called Ba Chua Xu and set up a shrine to let Ba Chua bless the rain, good harvest, avoid robbers, and get rid of diseases.
The Temple of Ba Chua Xu has the layout of the word ” Quoc”, the shape of a tower in the shape of a blooming lotus, a three-storey three-storey roof, tiled with blue pipes, the corner of the roof soaring like the bow of a sailing boat. The patterns in the ancient main hall show bold artistic expression. Above, strong and beautiful idols spread their arms to support the trusses. The frames and doors are all carved, engraved, exquisitely decorated with many splendid frames. In particular, the statue behind the statue of Ba, the four ancient pillars in front of the main hall are almost kept the same. The architectural complex of the temple has the main hall (where the statue of Ba is worshiped), martial arts, a living room and a chamber of the nobles. Inside the temple, it is designed and decorated with bold Indian art. The temple doors are carved and sculpted by artisans. In particular, many poles and diaphragms here are also inlaid with brilliant gilded vermilion.
The statue of Ba is placed in the middle of the main hall, surrounded by the Council altar in front, Tien Hien and Hau Hien are placed on both sides. The Uncle altar is placed on the left side, there is a very large stone Linga, about 1.2m high, and the Co altar is on the right side, which worships a small wooden goddess statue, …
3. What to Do –See – Eat at The Lady Temple
On each New Year’s occasion, Ba Chua Xu Temple attracts a large number of locals and visitors from all over the world. They come to burn incense and pray for a prosperous and happy new year. The Temple of the Goddess of Sam Mountain clearly shows the Vietnamese people’s belief in Mother Goddess worship. It is no coincidence that Ba Chua Xu Temple every year attracts more than 3 million Buddhists from all over the world flocking to pilgrimage, worship and pray for peace, luck and fortune.
The campus is extremely spacious and airy with ancient trees, shady green and many beautifully shaped scenes. The highlight of the space is brilliant flowers. In the evening, when the lights come on, the space of the ancient temple is more sparkling. Visiting the temple, lighting incense to pray for good peace and good things for yourself and your family, you can climb up to the high floor of the temple, admire the scenery from above, look towards the distance, you can see a whole corner of the city.
4. Free Itineraries from VeMekong
As a local travel expert, we have some ideas for you to think about.
From Chau Doc city center:
Route 1:
Route 2:
Route 3:
If you do not have much time left, it is easy to check out spots in one full day by boat or with bike or with motorbike and car. But there are much more than tourist sites like these in An Giang. Make sure you have more time to feel and explore more about the hidden gems and the culture, food, night life, wildlife and forest as well. Top tip: Stay in a homestay nearby, so you have more chances to visit it and surroundings. If you are looking for the package An Giang daily tours with local, you can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com
5. Google Maps of The Ba Chua Xu Temple
Google Maps made a name for itself helping people travel from one place to another, avoid traffic (You probably know the route from your hotel to the gas station by heart, but what you can’t be sure about is gridlock), measure a distance, get back to the hotel on time, share the location…
6. Visit The Ba Chua Xu Temple by yourself
Solo traveller? Travelling on your own means you will get out of any difficult situations by yourself. This, in turn, leads to more satisfying travel experiences and helps you improve your problem-solving skills. These days we rarely get the chance to sit with ourselves and simply be. That’s why you should consider the time you spend alone on your trip as a gift.
It is possible for solo travellers to use google maps and do it alone. But sometimes they need to update local maintained roads and bridges which close and lead you a longer road than the road from Google maps. It is just about the time. It takes more time to find the correct garden to come. Adventure is always fun. Wifi is strong in An Giang village! The locals find it hard to speak English as well. Top tip: Sticking to one canal and keeping going along it which gives you more things to see and avoids getting lost. Contact vemekong.com to hire a car, scooter with English-speaking-guide or cycling tours in An Giang.
7. Responsible Travel and Advice The Lady Temple
Don’t get us wrong. But we assure you that you totally agree with us. “Do not give candy and things to the children when you plan to visit any local villages”, the kids will leave the school and follow the sweets and later they find some things to give you or sell to you. The garden is a little forest, don’t pick and touch the flowers or fruits without the local’s smiles. We deal with traveling green and leaving green behind, not plastic. Top tip: Vemekong.com are some of the companies that care a lot about responsible travel and local respectation.
8. Amazing Video flycam/drone of The lady Temple (4k)
If a picture says a thousand words, it stands to reason that the video says many times more.
9. Incredible Tips for Photography, Specialists, KOLs, Media and Influencers
To get the best of the best for your unique writing, featuring, photo, video and insider’s stories. We do recommend you to have a local travel expert, the one who always gets more ground information and makes sure every single element is solved perfectly. The Vemekong (very exclusive Mekong) team is your priority choice. Email and have a private talk with them to customize your journey smoothly, personal and the most ultimately amazing. You can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com
10. Pro Tips
Best time to visit Chau Doc floating market, Long Xuyen floating market is from 5:30am-6:30am. I hope you have an amazing sunrise on the Mekong Delta river.
You can stay in a homestay which is near the floating market, this will help you out the best option. Then you can hire a scooter, car or bike and explore it by yourself, but you still need to hire a boat for the floating market tour.
If you plan to extend your travel to Chau Doc homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.
Visit Chau Doc or do any customized tours, please choose reputable providers with boat trips equipped with lifebuoys, jackets, motorcycle and cycling tours with the helmets and. Safety is a priority! Choose Chau Doc responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.
Chau Doc food & drink guide ranges from street food, authentic, fancy to fusion foods. As a tropical land of many fresh vegetables and homegrown gardens, which always make Chau Doc cuisines fresh, close to nature and very traditional. If you are a food lover, don’t hesitate to put other bites onto your food lists such as Bun Ca Chau Doc (the soft noodle is cooked with fish), Banh bo cake of Chau Doc, Sugar palm fruit, Caramelized and Braised Catfish, Grilled Rice-field Rat with Salt and Chili, Long Xuyen Broken Rice, Nui Cam Pancake, O Thum’s Chicken Grilled with Lime Leaves, Sour Soup with Siamese Mud Carp Soup & Sesbania Flower, Stir-fried Shrimp with Sesbania Flower, Phu Huong Beef Noodle Soup, Basa Fish Hotpot, Mam (Fermented Fish)…
Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunblock, scarf to wear when visiting temples, pagodas, and the cathedral.
Bring the raincoat if you’re planning a trip to Chau Doc in the rainy season, as Chau Doc always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.
Chau Doc tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Tra Su Cajuput forest & Birdwatching, Chau Doc Floating Village, Fish Farm & Cham Minority Village, Chau Doc floating market & small canal, Sam mountain, Tuc Dup hill, Chau Doc river tour, Chau Doc cycling tour, Chau Doc photography tour, Ta Pa Rice Fields, Vinh Te Canal, Seven-Mountain Ox Racing Festival, Tay An Pagoda, Chau Doc Market, The Lady Temple – The Ba Chua Xu Temple, Phuoc Dien Pagoda – Hang Pagoda, Thoai Ngoc Hau Tomb,
Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Chau Doc, An Giang province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!
“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.
Thank you
