Coming to An Giang to explore and travel, you definitely cannot ignore learning about the culture and history in this land. Not only is this place famous for its variety of beautiful, majestic natural scenery or spiritual attractions, but this place also has many heroic historical sites. One of them is the historical site of the Ba Chuc tomb – A place to remember the dead and describe the crimes that the Khmer Rouge did to the people here.
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: No
Shop: No
Parking lot: Yes
Blog: https://vemekong.com/ba-chuc-tomb-tri-ton-an-giang/
Address: Ba Chuc town, An Giang is located at the foot of That Son mountain range | 7 mountains in majestic An Giang, this place is only about 7km from the border of Vietnam and Cambodia.
Added values: This place keeps the remains of innocent people murdered and is considered an indictment of Pol Pot’s genocide, forever remembered. At the same time, it affirms the humane values, righteousness and noble international obligations of the Vietnamese Volunteer Army for the cause of Cambodia’s liberation from the genocidal regime and national reconstruction.
Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from Ba Chuc tomb? Or maybe you found it too crowded here? We’ve got some ideas! Check out our list: Tra Su Cajuput Forest (30 km), Sam Mountain (31 Km), Cam Mountain – Forbidden Mountain (33 km), Chau Doc Floating Market (36 km), 30 Thang 4 Park in Chau Doc (36 km)…
2. Travel Guide to Ba Chuc Tomb
At the beginning of 1977, the population of Ba Chuc was more than 16,000 people, mainly living on agriculture, traditional handicrafts, and small trade. This is also the origin and center of Tu An Hieu Nghia religion, with many festivals and ceremonies reflecting the rich spiritual life of local people.
Since the day the South was liberated, together with the whole country, the people of Ba Chuc commune went into overcoming the consequences of the war, trying their best to build a prosperous and happy life. The peaceful atmosphere here was not long before they had to face the genocidal war caused by the Pol Pot group.
On the night of April 30, 1977, at the same time as 14 border communes of An Giang province, Pol Pot sent troops to attack and brutally slaughter our people. The culmination of this crime was the massacre of 3,157 people in Ba Chuc from April 18 to April 30, 1978. After 12 days and nights of being occupied by the Pol Pots, Ba Chuc was drowned in a sea of blood. Wherever they went, they plundered property, burned down public buildings; massacred our compatriots, young and old, men and women. Scenes of serial murder, barbarism taking place everywhere, no pen can describe it. Most of the victims were shot, slashed and beheaded. Many women were raped, staked in private, children were stabbed before killing or tearing people in half, holding their feet and hitting their heads against trees…
Phi Lai Pagoda is one of the heavily damaged sites. Here, the Pol Pots killed nearly 300 innocent people. Under the temple’s altar, there were 43 people hiding, and 40 people were killed by grenades. At Tam Buu pagoda, the Pol Pot army arrested more than 800 people, led them to Vinh Thong iron bridge, and shot and killed them. The fields of Phu Cuong, Ba Chuc, and Tuong mountains lost their cool green color, instead there were hundreds of dead people lying on top of each other.
After the massacre, Ba Chuc was left with only a desolate land with endless pain. It was the most difficult period of Ba Chuc. Some survivors lost loved ones, and did not dare to return to their hometown because they were haunted by horrible memories. But there are also people who have stayed because of their love for the deceased as well as living fully with their homeland. Many people who fled the enemy returned to face many difficulties: homeless, cattle and livestock were killed, crops and gardens were destroyed. All facilities were almost leveled, Ba Chuc was engulfed in mourning and full of the smell of death.
After the massacre passed, more than 30 diplomatic, press and United Nations delegations came to witness the crimes of the Pol Pots against the Ba Chuc people. An Giang Red Cross Society participated in helping people collect the bodies of the deceased for cremation in April 1978. Everyone took advantage of the search for what was left after the time of Pol Pot’s occupation in the commune.
3. What to Do –See – Eat at Ba Chuc Tomb
The first tomb house was built right after the southwest border war ended in 1979. At that time, the tomb was built quite simply in the shape of a hexagon with the outstanding feature of 4 arms holding 4 soaked swords. The blood stuck in the ground, showing the will of the Vietnamese people to hate the barbaric murderers of Pol Pot.
In 2013, the tomb house was rebuilt, a complex of works about 5 hectares wide, including the tomb house, memorial house, hall and Tam Buu pagoda, Phi Lai.
The highlight of the current Ba Chuc Tomb House is designed in the shape of an upside down lotus flower, with 8 lotus petals painted in white, to reduce the scene of mourning and death. Each lotus petal is a place to display a group of remains by age and gender, such as: 86 women over 60 years old; 155 women between 21 and 40 years old; 88 girls aged 16 to 20 years old; 264 children from 3 to 15 years old; 23 males between 16 and 20.
Visiting this special relic site, visitors can understand the entire history of the massacre in the past, with clear and complete pictures, evidence and annotations at the Gallery.
Although black and white photos have faded over time, the shooting technique is not as sharp as it is now, but many images are realistic, terrifying, haunting viewers, because of the brutality and barbarity of the genocide.
And also in this house, the items such as stakes, awls, knives, hammers… that Pol Pot troops used to torture and kill the people of Ba Chuc in particular and An Giang in general were placed quietly in glass cages, but contains the power to denounce terrible crimes just through a few attached description lines.
Coming to the area displaying the remains, visitors do not seem to feel fear and gloom; On the contrary, the tomb house is displayed and arranged in an airy way, along with a high and wide space, full of light, somewhat reducing the pain and sadness. Here, the incense smoke never goes out, there are always people to visit and visit. Many people could not hold back their tears of sympathy and pity for innocent people.
The old enemies also gradually fade into oblivion, just like how the Ba Chuc people still warmly welcome their new life. If you have the opportunity to travel to An Giang, come to this land to understand that waking up every morning without hearing gunfire is a great happiness.
More than forty years have passed, from the land of pain with empty hands, the people of Ba Chuc have suppressed their pain, united, and determined to rise up with a strong vitality like the village’s ancient oil tree. The 300-year-old oil tree in the center of Ba Chuc town, although dead, but one day a flock of birds brought back the seeds of the leather tree, and the sprouts proliferated on the old dry tree, making the tree like to be reborn. It is a symbol of the strong vitality of Ba Chuc people. No longer a dead land, a difficult mountainous commune, it has become a bustling town of Tri Ton district.
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 Ba Chuc Tomb
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 Ba Chuc Tomb 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 Ba Chuc Tomb
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 Ba Chuc Tomb (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
