Soc Trang travel guide
Located deep in the Mekong Delta, Soc Trang is borded by the Hau River, Tra Vinh Province, Can Tho, Hau Giang Province, Bac Lieu Province and the East Vietnam Sea. Soc Trang is also a home to 89 pagodas of Khmer group, 47 pagodas of Hoa people. Here are Soc Trang travel guide which you definitely should not miss in 2022.
1. The best time to visit Soc Trang
From May to October, there is a concentration of rainstorms; flooding week may occur in August, whirlwind events usually occur in July. From November to April next year, also known as dry season, the weather is somehow nice and it is the best time to take a trip to Soc Trang.
2. How to get to Soc Trang?
Air travel
After arriving at Can Tho international airport, it takes you 62km driving by car to arrive at Soc Trang city.
Bus travel
Public buses are always affordable; however, make sure you can bear the crowd and the uncomfort because of the multiple stops.
Express boat travel
There is Con Dao – Soc Trang – Con Dao route by speedboat everyday.
Bicycle and motorcycle travel
The most convenient way to get to Soc Trang, but make sure you take a break in a long journey.
Soc Trang travel guide – Top destinations in Soc Trang?
It is definitely regrettable if you miss the following destinations as visiting Soc Trang.
1. Visit Tan Long Stork Garden
Besides virgin forests that mother nature gifted for Mekong Delta, Tan Long Stork Garden deserves all of your attention in Soc Trang. How to get there? From Nga Nam floating market whose township is Nga Nam, follow provincial highway 42 for about 5km until you reach Tan Long stork market. There are canoes for rent for you to discover how a typical Mekong Delta landscape looks like.
2. Nga Nam Floating Market
Cai Rang (Can Tho), Cai Be (Tien Giang Province) or Nga Bay ( Hau Giang Province) floating markets, Nga Nam Floating Market in Soc Trang Province altogether make themselves a germ of the Mekong Delta. Located about 60 kilometers from Soc Trang center, Nga Nam Province floating market is one of the oldest floating markets in the history of the region.
3. Khmer Museum
Soc Trang is now home to a lot of Khmer pagodas. Located opposite Kh’leang Pagoda in Ward 6, Khmer Museum is an architectural work in the style of Khmer pagoda. The hand tools from the previous centuries are displayed which clearly reflects the economic life, cultural activities, religions, beliefs, show the skill of the ancient artisans.
4. Kh’leang Pagoda
The name Kh’Leang from Khmer will be transferred to “land of warehouses”, reminiscent of a rich and rich ancient land. The Khmer-style ancient temple. Kh’Leang in Soc Trang could have been transported straight from Cambodia. Originally built from bamboo in 1533, it had a complete concrete rebuild in 1905. Location of Kh’leang pagoda is 53 Ton Duc Thang Street, Ward 6, Soc Trang City, Soc Trang Province.
5. Chen Kieu Pagoda
Located on Dai Tam Commune, My Xuyen District, Soc Trang Province, Che Kieu pagoda has an interesting history about its name. The monks tiled old broken porcelain bowls, plates on the walls, stairs, and many other locations to create extremely impressive motifs during the process of pagoda reconstruction in 1969.
Must-try specialties in Soc Trang
1. Me lao – Sesame Apple
It would be a pity if you skipped Mè Láo as you visit Soc Trang. Thin taro is dried under the sun for about 3 days, then it is cut into a rectangular piece of taro and mixed with the sugar water that has been made the filling of the candy. Then roll it over ripe roasted sesame. Aroma of sesame and the sweetness of the malt covering the outer layer make Mè Láo special.
2. Banh bau – Cake with jelly
It would be a pity if you miss Bánh Bầu, speciality of Soc Trang. Rice flour, green beans and eggs are main ingredients to make Bánh Bầu. Chopped pork marinated with thick spices are served inside. It would be perfect if they go with vegetables such as basil, lettuce, cabbage, ginger …
3. Banh Pia _ Pia cake
Soc Trang has something that a sweet tooth will never miss which is a combination of Chinese cuisine and Western cuisine. The ingredients for this cake are wheat flour, durian kernel, salted eggs and taro, green beans, ..
4. Bun ca – Noodle soup with fish
Stewed soup with pig bones for a long time is the unique characteristic of this Bún cá. Fish, shrimp, squid, pork will be used as topping for the dish. The sweetness of the soup, the fat and fresh taste of the stewed soup from pig bones and the fish meat altogether make it an unforgettable taste.
5. Bun nuoc leo – Rice vermicelli noodle soup
Bún nước lèo is not a speciality of Soc Trang when it is really popular in most of the provinces in the Mekong Delta. However, it is said that Bun nuoc leo originated in Soc Trang province where it is home of many Khmer people. The flavor of bún nước lèo varies in places, and that of Soc Trang has its own flavor and is very special. It is not only rich in nutrition but also flavorful. A bowl of Nuoc leo rice noodle soup in Soc Trang is full of toppings, veggies and herbs.
What to bring?
-Hat, sunglasses, sunblock, scarf are those things you should not forget to bring along.
-Do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream if you plan to stay at Soc Trang homestay.
