Tien Giang (Vietnamese: Tiền Giang) is a coastal province in the Mekong Delta. This land stands out with a dense system of rivers, rich fruit gardens, long-standing traditional craft villages, and sincere rural people. Currently, Tien Giang is constantly developing and becoming the leading destination in the Western Region.
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The best time to explore Tien Giang
Before answering the most appropriate time to explore Tien Giang. You need to know a little overview of Tien Giang’s climate. From there, you will be able to easily grasp the most reasonable travel time. Just like most other cities in Vietnam. Tien Giang has two main seasons: the dry season (from December to April of the following year) and the rainy season (the remaining months). Tien Giang has a fairly high average temperature and hot weather all year round. The average temperature in a year in Tien Giang ranges from 27 degrees Celsius to 28 degrees Celsius.
Rowing sampan in My Tho
Although you can choose one of the two seasons above to make the most complete. However, Tien Giang still has outstanding times where you can come and experience exciting activities.
Flower seasons and festivals in Tien Giang during the year:
From December 15 to 23 Lunar Calendar: colorful flower villages are bustling with joyful spring atmosphere in Tan My Chanh (only about 1.5km from My Tho).
February: this is star apple season. To enjoy the most delicious star apples, you can go to the garden in Vinh Kim. The most accurate time is usually about 10 days after Lunar New Year.
March and April: ripe mango season. You just need to come to Cai Be to immediately enjoy ripe, yellow and sweet mangoes.
Cai Be Floating Market in Tien Giang (source: collected)
May until August: this is the time when durian and rambutan fruits ripen. Durian and rambutan are also two tropical fruits that most people choose. But don’t eat too much if you don’t want to get hot inside!
September – October: you will be able to enjoy longan fruits at this time. Come to Con Phung to enjoy the sweetness of Tien Giang longan.
December: ripe red and sweet watermelon will be a specialty for you during your trip to Tien Giang. You just need to go to Tan My Chanh and Go Cong to enjoy.
Above are the best times that you can choose to explore Tien Giang. Although it can be explored at any time. But please note that before going, you should check the schedule and weather carefully to have the most complete trip!
How To Get There From Ho Chi Minh City?
Tiền Giang is around 60 km from Ho Chi Minh City. If you want to get here from the city, then there are various ways for you to choose, such as motorbikes, private cars/buses, and even local buses. For more detailed materials, check out the information below to select your favourite way.
Motorbikes
You can follow one in two directions: first, go from the Phú Lâm roundabout, the second is to follow the Trung Luong highway. Therefore, based on the starting position, you should choose for yourself the most suitable direction.
– Private car/bus
If you travelling with your family members or with a big group, this is the best way to visit Tien Giang. The booking of a private car/bus can pick you up from anywhere in Ho Chi Minh City and then drop you off at your selected location. Also, you can use the car/bus to travel during your trip here.
– Local buses:
You buy a bus ticket to Tien Giang at the Western bus station or from travel agencies around the backpacker area in District 1. The bus ticket cost from 150.000VND/1 ticket or more, depending on the type of seat or bed you prefer. Traveling time takes more than 1 and a half hours of driving, and some of the famous bus companies that we recommend you should go with include: Futa, Tuan Hiep, Vu Linh, Manh Hung…
Futa bus – one of the famous bus company to Tien Giang
Top things to do in Tien Giang
Thoi Son Islet
Thoi Sơn Islet also known as Lan Islet (Unicon Islet), is located on the Tien river in Thoi Son commune, My Tho city. This tourist area has become one of the famous places in Tiền Giang attracting many tourists to visit every year.
The islet is a place for those who like simplicity, rusticity, and the style of Western gardens. Coming to Thoi Son, you will be able to row a boat through the canals like a true gardener, enjoy the cool water and breathe fresh air. In addition, you can also experience catching fish by hand – a popular activity when coming to this islet.
Fruit gardens, traditional craft villages making candy, rice paper, listen to folk music, enjoy honey tea, ride a horse-drawn carriage on the village road… are what attract many people to the area. If you want to enjoy fresh fruit, you should go in the summer because that is the time when the fruit grows most abundantly.
Location: Thoi Son, My Tho City.
Vinh Trang Pagoda
Vinh Trang Pagoda is one of the oldest and most famous architectural temples in Tiền Giang. The splendid but simple features of this Buddhist construction are the results of the combination of Eastern and Western architectural styles. The pagoda is surrounded by gardens of ornamental trees, and bonsai, creating a peaceful atmosphere. At the pagoda,
there are 60 statues of Buddha carved and cast from wood, bronze, and cement and all are covered in bright yellow. These statues were cast in the late 19th century or the early 20th century, and represent the pinnacle of sculpture in the Mekong Delta.
Address: My An Hamlet, My Phong, My Tho City.
Get 10 – 15% off with our daily tour to visit Vinh Trang Pagoda and Thoi Son islet.
Cai Be floating market.
The market was formed by local people who cultivated and settled down the delta during the XVII – XVIII centuries. During its heyday, Cai Be floating market was known as the unsleeping market. Every day, lots of boats and rafts gathered here from 3.00 – 5.00 am until late in the afternoon. They have been sold from fabrics, and seafood to appliances, and drinks…but the most outstanding was fruits. Currently, agricultural products and foods are being offered to tourists and local people in this market. Although the market is often open all day, the busiest time is at sunrise.
Location: Cai Be District, Tien Giang.
Join our daily tour to explore Cai Be and kayaking with 10% discount
Tan Phong Islet
Following Thoi Son Island is the famous Tan Phong Islet located on the romantic Tien River, next to the Cai Be floating market. Coming to Tan Phong, you will be able to immerse yourself in the cool and green atmosphere of the garden areas. Along with that, you can also do boating activities, swimming, enjoy attractive specialties, participate in attractive folk games, experience “bathing in the islet” etc.
The islet is also famous for its growing large and succulent rambutans as well as fresh fruits from Western Region.
Location: Tan Phong, Cai Lay District.
Dong Tam snake farm
The Dong Tam snake farm is the centre for breeding snakes producing venom for local and exportation. The snake farm is also known as one of the largest snake conservation areas in the South of Vietnam.
The farm has an area of up to 30 hectares, which includes many services, such as eco-tourism, snake reservation, snake museum, traditional house, restaurant, and herbal garden…Here, visitors can observe the life of more than 40 species of snakes, animals, and some specimens of snakes, including more than 200 king cobras.
Address: Binh Duc Commune, Chau Thanh District.
Vinh Kim Fruit garden
Vinh Kim fruit garden is one of the most attractive places to visit in Tien Giang. Because this region not only has a lot of delicious and attractive fruits but is also a famous tourist destination with cool, fresh air and many delicious dishes. Summer is also the time when many tourists come to Vinh Kim orchard to try the most famous specialities of Mỹ Tho such as Lo Ren star apple, Ngu Hiep durian, orange, … along with many fruits have long been familiar to the daily menu of Mekong Delta such as rambutan, longan, tangerine, guava, mango…
Location: Vinh Kim, Chau Thanh District, Tien Giang
Sac Tu Linh Thuu Pagoda
The Sac Tu Linh Thuu Pagoda was built around the 18th century, usually called Long Tu Pagoda. Although it has been restored many times, the pagoda still retains its distinct ancient architectural features.
The main hall of the pagoda is decorated very dignifiedly. It is also a preserve of many ancient statues, giant bells, and many couplets. There is also a cluster of stone statues telling about the life of Shakyamuni Buddha from his birth date until his awakening. Listed as an ancient pagoda in Tien Giang, Linh Thuu Pagoda is a famous pilgrimage site that attracts a large number of Buddhists to come to worship every day.
Location: Cho hamlet, Chau Thanh District, Tien Giang.
Dong Hoa Hiep ancient village
Dong Hoa Hiep is one of the four most famous ancient house villages in Vietnam. This place has a harmonious combination of Eastern and Western architecture, creating a unique look.
Coming to the ancient village, you will be able to walk on long tree-shaded paths or row a boat and admire the peaceful picture of the village.
The highlight and most tourist attraction in the ancient village which most of the houses have been existing from 150 to 200 years. These houses all have the style of Southwestern garden houses and the most famous are: the ancient houses of Mr. Ba Duc, Mr. Xoat, Mr. Kiet,…
My Tho Roman Catholic diocese
The Roman Catholic diocese is one of the most ancient buildings in Tien Giang. It was built around 1906 and is located in 23 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Ward 7, My Tho city. This is the third church built in My Tho with the overall architecture designed according to the Greek-Roman architecture of the Renaissance.
Around and inside the church are intricately carved patterns and motifs. Here, you will feel the majesty, antiquity and be easily attracted by the design that the church brings.
If you have the opportunity to travel to Tien Giang, do not miss this ancient architectural work!
What are speciality food in Tien Giang?
Hủ tiếu Mỹ Tho (Mỹ Tho clear rice noodle soup): a mix of broth, tender rice noodles, toppings, fresh vegetables, herbs… The food is usually topped with seasoned ground pork, the small intestine of the pig, toasted ground dried shrimp, pork liver, coriander, green onion, and char siu pork…depending on the preferences of visitors.
My Tho clear rice noodle soup (source: collected)
Bánh Bèo (Bloating fern-shaped cakes) in Hàng Bông market: this food comprises three different parts: the plain cake made from rice flour, the filling made from mung bean, shrimp, deep-fried onion, pork skin, and the sauce made from fish sauce, garlic, sugar, and chilli pepper.
Cá lóc nướng trui (Grilled snakehead): the main ingredients forming “cá lóc nướng trui” is a snakehead that should be wild, large, and fresh. The snakehead will be grilled on the rice straws then will be served with raw vegetables and tamarind sauce, sweet and sour…
Grilled snakehead
Tân Phong rice snail: a hot boild snail usually used with a mix of chilli-lime fish sauce and ginger.
There are also other ways to process these snails such as snails steamed with coconut water, snails fried with garlic and chilli, rice snails rolled with rice paper, etc. Every dish is delicious and full of flavour.
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