Unlock Dong Thap’s secrets, landmarks and spots that you’d be mad to miss, even if you’re a local. Xeo Quyt Forest & Secret Bunker is one of the hidden gems for the real travel explorers. A revolutionary base during the anti-French and US resistance wars, the 20ha cajeput forest of present-day Xeo Quyt National Relic Area has been reclaimed and become an attractive historical and ecological tourist site in the southern delta. Xeo Quyt is also known as the small Dong Thap, with a large number of species of wild animals and plants, cajuput jungles, a system of rivers and channels, a dining area providing specialty foods, lotus and water lily ponds.
By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Sa Dec Visitor Guide
1. Better to know as a tourist
Ticket: 20,000VND; Phone: +84 673 910 297 | +84 673 910 397
Spend-time: 2 hours (approx)
Hours: Daily 7:30 am to 6 pm
Restaurant: Yes, big one.
Shop: Yes
Paking lot: Yes for coach
Email: xeoquyt@dongthap.gov.vn; Website: www.xeoquyt.vn
Blog: https://vemekong.com/xeo-quyt-forest-secret-bunker/
Address: No. 458, Hamlet 4, My Hiep Commune, Cao Lanh District, Dong Thap Province. Xeo Quyt is 147 km from Ho Chi Minh City and 68 km from Can Tho City.
Recognition(s): was recognised as a national historical relic in 1992, Xeo Quyt is a tourist destination containing many interesting things of unspoiled nature and a place to keep traces of the arduous struggle period of the Dong Thap army and people.
Added values: Coming here, visitors can feel the beautiful natural scenery, stroll along the trails or sit on a dinghy weaving through the canals, shaded by the nearly 50-year-old melaleuca trees. The tree is covered with a green rope like a charming watercolor painting. Visitors will be really comfortable with the pure environment, breathing the fresh air of a quiet, poetic space…
Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from Xeo Quyt Forest – Xeo Quyt Relic Area? Or maybe you found it too crowded here? We’ve got some ideas! Check out our list: Huynh Thuy Le Ancient House (15km), Dong Thap Museum (27km), Tram Chim National Park (Birding tour) (62km), Thap Muoi Lotus Field in Dong Thap (22km)…
2. Travel guide to Xeo Quyt Forest & Secret Bunker
Xeo Quyt used to be a marshy area, home to many wild animals, and a revolutionary base in the resistance war against America (1960 – 1975). Today, coming to Xeo Quyt, visitors have the opportunity to explore the historic site of about 50 hectares, covered with 20 hectares of old cajuput forest with diverse fauna and flora including: 170 species of plants; 200 species of wild animals, reptiles, of which 13 species of animals have been listed in the Red Book of Vietnam. The area is strictly protected, making Xeo Quyt an attractive eco-tourist destination.
Following a unique 1.5km-long path under the shade of trees or floating on boats through small creeks, visitors will find themselves immersed in the green natural space, exploring the old battlefield, listening to stories about the arduous lives of revolutionary soldiers in secret bases, shacks, kitchens, meeting rooms… These relic items are still preserved up to now.
Coming to Xeo Quyt, visitors will have a chance to join interesting experiences such as rowing boats, practise basket knitting. In addition, visitors can also enjoy local dishes and the melody of Don ca tai tu songs.
Visiting the area, tourists can find the local community telling stories of historical events. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Xuan, 85 year old, one of witnesses, shared: “The war had ended, but the memories of supplying food, medicine, and protection of revolutionary cadres are still in my mind. Telling visitors about the stories I had witnessed, I feel proud of having contributed to preserving history and traditions for the next generation”.
Although being heavily devastated during the war, in 1975 by the end of the war, more than 100,000ha of submerged forests remained, covering parts of Long An, An Giang, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau provinces and producing a wonderful ecological system of the alluvial land at the Mekong River’s estuary.
3. What to Do – See – Eat Xeo Quyt Forest – Xeo Quyt Relic Area
If you go in the lotus season, you will see a beautiful natural picture with the characteristics of Dong Thap Muoi. The restaurant offers a spacious dining area and a wide range of specialty foods. The top dishes include grilled snakehead fish with spring lotus leaf, chicken boiled with lemon leaf, steamed snail with pepper, red rice wrapped with lotus leaf, grilled harvest mouse, eel cooked with sour soup, grilled frog and other great dishes will definitely bring to tourists the new discoveries on unique culinary flavors of pink lotus Dong Thap hometown. Prices range between VND 20,000 and 250,000.
4. Free Itineraries from VeMekong
As a local travel expert, we have some ideas for you to think about.
From Dong Thap 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 Dong Thap. 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 Dong Thap daily tour with local, you can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com
5. Google Maps of Xeo Quyt Forest – Xeo Quyt Relic Area
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 Xeo Quyt Forest – Xeo Quyt Relic Area 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 Dong Thap 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 Dong Thap.
7. Responsible Travel and Advice to Visit Xeo Quyt Forest – Xeo Quyt Relic Area
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 Xeo Quyt Forest – Xeo Quyt Relic Area (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. 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
You can stay in a homestay which is in the Sa Dec flower village, this will help you have the best experience in Sa Dec, Dong Thap province. There are so many flower gardeners who are watering and gardening the Sadec flower farms in the early morning with the amazing Sa Dec sunrise.
If you plan to extend your travel to Sa Dec homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.
Visit Sa Dec 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 Sa Dec responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.
Sa Dec 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 Sa Dec 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 Hu Tieu Sa Dec (Sa Dec noodle soup), Sadec Crab Hotpot, Nem Lai Vung (Vietnamese fermented pork roll in Lai Vung), Sa Giang shrimp chips, Lai Vung tangerine fruit…
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 Sa Dec in the rainy season, as Sa Dec always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.
Sa Dec tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Sa Dec Flower Village, Huynh Thuy Le ancient house, Tu Ton Rose Garden, Dong Thap Museum, Xeo Quyt forest – Xeo Quyt relic area, Gao Giong Ecotourism park (Cao Lanh), Lai Vung tangerine garden, Tram Chim National Park (Birding tour), Kim Hue Pagoda, Thap Muoi Lotus Field in Dong Thap, Dinh Yen Mat Making Village, Kien An Cung Pagoda, Phuong Nam Cultural Tourism Area, Phuoc Kien pagoda (lotus leaf pagoda), The Burial Place of Nguyen Sinh Sac, Sa Dec Town Park, Happy Land Hung Thy Tourist Area, date fruit garden, Sa Dec Market, Lai Vung Tangerine Garden
Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Sa Dec, Dong Thap province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!
“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.
Thank you
