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 Chau
Doc sits on a tributary of the Bassic River and is an incredibly
friendly bustling little city. It is also considered to be one of the
important trading and marketing center for the surrounding countryside.
The people here are known for being very warm and approachable. Chau Doc
is also right on the Cambodian Border and if you were able to enter
 Cambodia
by boat, you would pass through here.
Until the mid-18th century this region was part of Cambodia. There is
still a large Khmer population and the largest Cham settlement in the
Delta. The Chau Doc district is also the seat of the 1 - 1.5 million
followers of the Hoa Hao religion, founded in 1939 at the village of Hoa
Hao.
What to See
There are numerous interesting temples here, especially at Nui Sam and
at Ba Chuc there is a temple and ossuary containing the remains of 2,500
Khmer Krom massacred by the Khmer Rouge in September 1978.
 1.
Sam Mountain (Nui Sam)
The main attraction of Chau Doc is Sam Mountain. Situated 5 kilometers
southwest from town along Bao Ho Thoai Street, the mountain has a number
of pagodas at its base, and some kind of army listening post on the top.
There are also several sanctuaries, tombs and temple that populate the
rocky hill’s façade. The main pagoda gets full marks for kitsch. Most
visitors come only to see Tay An Pagoda, Lady Chua Xu Temple, and the
Tomb of Thoai Ngoc Hau, but walk right up to the top of the hill where
you can get a good view of the surrounding countryside.
 2.
Chau Phu Temple
Built in 1926, the temple was used for locals to worship Thoai Ngoc Hau,
the man responsible for building the nearby Chau Doc Canal that defines
the border between Vietnam and Cambodia.
 3.
Market
Chau Doc has a large covered street market on Le Cong Thanh Street. This
market is large with stalls selling wares ranging from fresh produce and
black market goods smuggled in from Thailand spreads from the riverfront
down and along Le Cong Thanh Doc, Phu Thu, Bach Dang and Chi Lang
streets.
Here you can get everything from something tasty to eat to a new Hi Fi.
There is also a great food market by the river, past the post office.
 4.
Ba Chuc
Situated between Chau Doc and Long Xuyen, there is a temple and ossuary
dedicated to over 3,000 Vietnamese that the Khmer Rouge massacred in
September 1978 which may be found in Ba Chuc. It is a popular place for
pilgrimage and remembrance for people who have perished during Khmer
rule and the atmosphere can best be described as very moving and truly
tranquil.
 5.
Hoa Hao
Twenty kilometers east of Chau Doc, it was at Hoa Hao that Hyunh Phu So
founded
A very influential indigenous religion that attempted to rid Buddhism of
its pagodas and clergy.
After WW II, the Hoa Hao community created an anti Marxist political
party called Don Xa, which led to Huynh Phu So's assassination by the
Viet Minh. After 1975, the Communists clamped down on the Hoa Hao and
the sect lost much of its influence.
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