Going upstream of the Tien and Hau rivers flowing into Vietnam in An Giang and Dong Thap, visitors will conquer 3 border markers in a day.
Milestone 246 where the Hau River flows into Vietnam - Photo: MINH DUC
The Tien River is the main branch of the Mekong River, flowing into Vietnam in Thuong Phuoc 1 commune, Hong Ngu district, Dong Thap and Vinh Xuong commune, Tan Chau town, An Giang. The river flows through the provinces of Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh , Tien Giang and then flows into the sea through 6 mouths: Cua Tieu, Cua Dai, Ba Lai, Ham Luong, Co Chien, Cung Hau, with a total length of more than 235 km.
The Hau River is a tributary of the Mekong, flowing into Vietnam in Long Binh town, An Phu district, An Giang. The river flows through the provinces of An Giang, Can Tho city, Hau Giang, Soc Trang , Vinh Long and Tra Vinh, emptying into the sea through 3 mouths: Dinh An, Ba Thac (now no longer) and Tran De, with a total length of about 230 km.
Through the road to conquer the source of these rivers, visitors will check in at 3 milestones. If departing from Hong Ngu in the morning, you can visit all 3 milestones in a day, before returning to Chau Doc City to rest.
First, starting from the center of Hong Ngu, visitors follow provincial road 841 to reach landmark 240, belonging to Thuong Phuoc border gate. The distance is about 25 km, the last section is quite difficult to travel due to construction. Landmark 240 is located right on the road, close to the trade point between Thuong Phuoc border gate and Kaoh Roka international border gate, Pray Veng province, Cambodia. Visitors can freely approach the landmark without asking for permission from the border guards, but must maintain the minimum rules so as not to affect the general order.
Standing at marker 240, it is impossible to observe the headwaters of the Tien River on Vietnamese soil. To do this, you need to go to marker 241, which is parallel to marker 240, on the An Giang side. From Thuong Phuoc ferry, nearly 2 km away, take a ferry to An Giang, passing through the headwaters of the Tien River. The scene where the Mekong mainstream flows into Vietnam is very bustling, with sand-carrying ships and sand-mining cranes operating day and night.
After crossing the An Giang side at Vinh Xuong ferry, go another 1 km to reach checkpoint 241. To enter the landmark area, you need a letter of introduction or a permit from the border guards. If you are traveling freely for sightseeing purposes, you need to declare at Vinh Xuong Border Guard Station (about 2 km from the wharf).
After being granted permission, border guards will lead visitors to the landmark area, a walking distance of about 100 meters. The landmark area is like a small park, with trees and embankments. Standing here, you can observe the headwaters of the Tien River on Vietnamese soil, on the other side is Kandal province, Cambodia. Border guards will wait during the entire tour.
Next, to reach the source of the Hau River, there are two options: go around Chau Doc city, An Giang or follow the commune road along the East Branch canal. The direction through Chau Doc city is the main way, the road is big and beautiful, but about 60 km further. Meanwhile, the East Branch canal direction is a small road, requiring visitors to have map skills to locate, the distance from marker 241 is 18 km.
For a shorter route, from marker 241, use Google Maps to find the way to Phu Huu border station, then find the ferry across the river (about 50 meters away). After going to Dong Duc border station, visitors find the way to border marker 246 (1), a distance of 7.5 km.
Located next to Long Binh market, Long Binh town, An Phu district, An Giang, landmark 246 (1) is located in the middle of a large area of land, with a peaceful landscape, like a children's playground and a place for people to relax. Standing from this area, visitors can observe the close-up of the Ba Thac - Binh Di river junction, which are branches that form the Hau river.
The reason for the name 246 (1) is because this is an area where 3 markers are placed close together in places with complex terrain, not allowing single or double markers, usually at the junction of border rivers and streams. In this case, 246 (1) belongs to Vietnam, while 246 (2) and 246 (3) belong to Cambodia.
In Hong Ngu, don't forget to check in at the tra fish monument and go to Song Ngu floating house (Ly Thuong Kiet street, An Thanh ward) to enjoy famous fish hotpots with a unique river view. In Chau Doc, remember to save memories at the basa fish monument, stand on the bridge with a special name - Vinh Nguon - to watch Vinh Te canal and taste specialties of the Bay Nui region such as beef rice, seven-course beef, and yellow ant hotpot.
In the second half of the year, tourists can visit An Giang during the Ba Chua Xu Nui Sam Festival, which takes place from May 22 to June 3, and the Sene Dolta Festival combined with the Bay Nui bull racing, which takes place around the beginning of October.
Minh Duc
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