Dong Thap is on the Mekong Delta. Cao Lanh Town is 162km from Ho Chi Minh City. Average annual temperature is about 27ºC. From January to May every year, this is the season for tourists to see, photograph cranes in the dawn and sunset. Dong Thap has relic of Oc Eo Culture in Go Thap, numerous historic remains and valuable places of scenic beauty.

Dong Thap Highlights: 

++ Tram Chim National Park

Location: The Park covers Communes of Phu Duc, Phu Hiep, Phu Tho, Tan Cong Sinh in Tam Nong District, Dong Thap Province, about 800m from Tram Chim Small Town.
Characteristic: The Park is in the lowest area of the Mekong River water logged plain submerged and in the centre of Dong Thap Muoi.

The Park has a forest of Cajuput and hearth of many kind of birds with specific floristic composition: cajeput, reeds, lotus, water lily, ghost rice, rush …; plentiful fauna: python, turtles, eels, snakes, fresh-water fishes, and water bird as storks, herons, spot-billed ducks, water chicken … especially red-headed, bare-necked cranes coming in dry season each year.

From January to May each year, when sky is clear, visitors will see from the horizon many black spot coming. It is crane flock returning after months of emigrating to evade flood. This is also the season, when tourists come to Tram Chim for seeing, photographing cranes in the dawn and sunset.

Tram Chim - a reduced model of Dong Thap Muoi - with natural history of collective ecology of geomorphology, hydrography and underwater creatures, is an ideal rendezvous place of tourists from all over the world.

 ++ Xeo Quyt Relic

Location: It belongs to two Communes of My Hiep and My Long, Cao Lanh District, Dong Thap Province.
Characteristics: A revolutionary base during the anti-French and US resistance wars, the 20ha cajeput forest of present-day Xeo Quyt has been reclaimed and become an attractive historical and ecological tourist site in the southern delta. 

To visit the boundless watery cajeput forest in the Plain of Reeds by boat is really an interesting excursion. Boating in the cajeput forest of Xeo Quyt requires a lot of skill. To move forward, the boat glides between cajeput trees, whose roots are rough and covered with a brown and thin multi-layer skin. The air is cool and humid and has the fragrance of the cajeput flowers and latex. Now and then, a bird singing or fish splashing produces a sudden sound that echoes amid the quiet environment.

The forest looks like a floating painting. Around it, climbing plants grow along the cajeput trees and brighten under the sunlight. All bring about an atmosphere of a nature full of vitality and wildness. Xeo Quyt reminds visitors of the former vast cajeput forests in the Plains of Reeds and U Minh areas. 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. The cajeput forests work as a great water reservoir to fight against salt water and acidity and regulate the humidity during the dry season. During the war, they were ideal destinations for the liberation army men. The crisscrossing canals, built in the early 20th century, became transportation routes and enabled the local people to reclaim land, develop forestry and prevent fire. At the time, the so-called "socio-cultural and economic cajeput forest development" was encouraged and it is linked with the national history of land reclaiming and defence.

The cajeput forests, submerged in the red brown water, are an ideal habitation for numerous kinds of birds, fish and wild animals, typical for the tropical region. The cajeput timber, due to its flexibility and resistance to rotting, are often used in house building and basement floors. Xeo Quyt, a small part in the vast cajeput forests, was a successful undertaking to restore and preserve the cajeput forests to their original historical and ecological background. Further preservation will be considered and implemented. But more importantly, effort should be made by everyone to protect the unique ecological system of the entire submerged area, whose history has developed along with land reclaiming and defending of the fertile southern region.

++ Go Thap

Location: In Communes of My Hoa and Tan Kieu, Thap Muoi District, Dong Thap Province, 43km from Cao Lanh City.
Characteristics: Go Thap Archaeological Area is well known for 5 main relics: Thap Muoi Hill, Co Tu Tower, Binh Kieu Grave, Minh Su Temple, and Ba Chua Xu Temple. Relics in this area bear great cultural and historical value. 

Co Tu Tower is 100m north of Thap Muoi Hill. It was built during the Thieu Tri period (1841-1842) and was formerly known as the Temple of Chan Lap.

Behind this temple is the Dong Thap Muoi military base, which was under the command of Doc Binh Kieu, one of the leaders of the resistance against French troops. More than 2000 years ago, Thap Muoi Hill was a residential area. Archaeologists have discovered a number of antiques in this area, especially artifacts belonging to the Oc-Eo civilization. During both National Resistance Movements against the French Troops and the US Army, the military base supported liberation organizations and other resistance activities.

With its historical and cultural value, the Ministry of Culture and Information has nationally recognized Go Thap as a cultural vestige. It is expected to be developed into an interesting tourist area of the Dong Thap region.

 Travel Guides in 67cities and Provinces of Vietnam:

Hanoi|Hochiminh(Saigon)|Halong|Hue|Hoian|Haiphong|Catba|Hoabinh|Caobang|laocai|Maichau|
Sapa|Sonla|Dienbienphu|Thainguyen|Phutho|Babe-Backan|Hagiang|langson|Bacninh|Hatay|
Haiduong|NinhBinh|Thaibinh|Quangninh|DongHoi|QuangBinh|Quangtri|Phuyen|Phutho|Thanhhoa|
Nghean|Hatinh|Danang|Taynguyen|Kontum|Gialai|Daknong|Daklak|Dalat|BinhDinh|Nhatrang|
PhanThiet|Muine|Vungtau|KienGiang|Phuquoc|Tayninh|Vinhlong|Travinh|Dongthap|Tiengiang|
Angiang|Cantho|Bentre|Camau|