HISTORY OF DONG THAP
Dong Thap is a newly cultivated area from the 17th and 18th centuries, under the Nguyen dynasties. The foundation of this area adhered to a powerful struggling history against nature, dangerous animals and aggressors.
The south of Đồng Tháp province whose center is Sa Đéc plays a very significant role. Many researchers have shown that overseas Vietnamese got to go to Sa Đéc for reclaiming and setting up hamlets between the late 17th century and the early 18th century. After the civil war between the Nguyễn Ánh and Tây Sơn siblings, Gia Long was on the throne to help stabilize Sa Đéc and made it become a part of Vĩnh An district. Sa Đéc, then with a favorable geographical location, did become the most crowded trading center of the Mekong Delta at that time, only smaller than Cholon within Saigon. Since 30 April 1975, has been merged with Sa Đéc to become Đồng Tháp Province.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT DONG THAP
It will be very interesting if you come to Dong Thap around October to December (from September to November of the lunar calendar) to experience the floating season in Dong Thap. If you want to hunt photos, you should go to Dong Thap in the lotus season in August or the Lunar New Year to take pictures of Sa Dec flower village and Lai Vung pink mandarin garden and admire the scene of each flock of cranes rushing to fly back their nest when the sun sets.
MAIN ATTRACTIONS IN DONG THAP
1.Sa Dec Flower Village is located in Tan Qui Dong Commune, Sa Dec City, and is accreted every year by Tien River. Being more than 100 years old, the village is a place specializing in planting and supplying flowers, ornamental plants, bon sai for domestic and foreign areas, especially on the occasion of the New Year and local festivals.
2.Tram Chim National Park is a prominent ecotourism site of Dong Thap in the territory of 7 communes of Tam Nong district, Dong Thap province. With an area of over 7,000 hectares with stunning landscapes, vast waterways, thousands of melaleuca forests and rich flora and fauna (more than 130 different species); Tram Chim is recognized as the 4th Ramsar site in Vietnam and 2,000th in the world.
3.Nguyen Sinh Sac Tomb - Nguyen Sinh Sac relic is located in Cao Lanh City and is divided into 2 main areas (one area includes the grave and memorial house, the other includes stilt house and Uncle Ho fish pond). This is the place to express gratitude towards the father of President Ho Chi Minh. Every year on October 27th of the lunar calendar, people and tourists gather to celebrate the ceremony in a solemn atmosphere as if it is a big local festival.
4.Phuoc Kien Pagoda (also known as Lotus Pagoda) is located in Hoa Tan commune, Chau Thanh district. Inside the temple, people grow a kind of lotus that features giant leaves. These leaves can have a diameter of 1.5 to 2 m, with thick and large veins, and 4-5 cm high edges that make the leaves look like a giant green plate. Especially, a leave can withstand the weight of an adult up to 70kg.
5.Dam Sen Thap Muoi (Lotus Fields in Thap Muoi) - Just having been exploited for about a year, this destination has attracted many tourists to come and visit. Dong Sen is located in My Hoa commune, Thap Muoi district, 40 km away from Cao Lanh city, visitors come here to enjoy the soothing atmosphere, try themselves in the costume of a three-piece dress and “non la” (palm-leaf conical hat). In addition, visitors can enjoy dishes made from lotus such as: lotus sweet soup, lotus steamed rice, lotus chicken salad, fish grilled with lotus leaf...
6.Xeo Quyt Eco - Tourism Site. Xeo Quyt is locally known as one of the site enables you to admire the lush green cajuput forest especually by a local wooden sampan. While soaking up the fresh air and cool breeze drom the forest, you are told Vietnamese people's pround stories happening during the wartime. Apart from those activities, it's also a chance to taste food which once saved lives of many guerillas in the past.
7. Gao Giong Eco - Tourism Park. Gao Giong is well-known for its bird yard. The bird sanctuary covers 35 hectares with diversified species including egrets, sparrows, wild ducks and herons, and, especially a some rare species listed in the Red Book. This is a 2,000ha complex of cajeput forest where more than 15 species of precious birds live, nest and lay eggs.
SPECIALTIES OF DONG THAP
It is regret if you do not try the dishes: " Linh" fish soup with "Dien Dien" flower, crab hotpot, frog fried butter, stir - fried frog with coconut milk, chili and grilled frogs or frog porridge, stir - fried mouse, tearing milling, gutter rat fat, Sa Dec noodles. Besides, you also buy special gifts for your friends and family such as Lai Vung pink mandarin, pink lotus wine, Chau Thanh logans, Sa Giang Shrimp Crackers...
Source: Internet
