When the River Becomes the Destination

While most travelers in Vietnam instinctively point themselves toward the coast, something quieter has been unfolding inland. In 2025, An Giang unexpectedly climbed to the #2 spot on Google's Year in Search for domestic travel, drawing attention away from familiar beach names and toward the waterways, forests, and sacred mountains of the Mekong Delta. For those of us already living in or moving through this region, the rise makes sense. An Giang offers something that feels increasingly rare in Vietnam right now: space, depth, and a sense of travel that hasn't been overly packaged yet.

Da Lat still holds the #1 position and it always does when travelers crave cooler weather. As someone who lives in the Mekong Delta, at some point cooler weather becomes a necessity. But An Giang's leap over coastal giants like Phu Quoc and Da Nang signals a shift in what travelers are seeking: spiritual gratitude, extraordinary food, and the stunning tail end of the rainy season.

Here's everything you need to know about exploring An Giang right now without getting stuck behind the tour buses.

Why Is An Giang Suddenly Everywhere?

It comes down to three factors: timing, spirituality, and access.

The "Goldilocks" Window: December hits the sweet spot in the Delta. The annual flooding from September to November is receding, leaving the forests lush and vibrant, but the rain has stopped and the air is surprisingly cool. The landscape sits in that perfect post-flood glow: green, accessible, and breathtaking.

The UNESCO Effect: The biggest driver is spiritual. In late 2024, UNESCO officially recognized the Ba Chua Xu Festival as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This global recognition sparked a massive wave of pride and interest. As 2025 winds down, thousands are flocking to Sam Mountain to give thanks to the "Lady of the Realm" and pray for the New Year.

The New Expressway: Accessibility changed the game. The construction of the Chau Doc to Can Tho to Soc Trang Expressway has cut travel time significantly, making what used to be a long haul from HCMC much easier for weekend travelers.

The 3 Must-Experiences (And How to Do Them Right)

Most tourists rush through An Giang as a day trip. That's a mistake. Here's how to see the highlights properly.

1. Tra Su Cajuput Forest

A short distance from Châu Đốc sits Trà Sư Cajuput Forest, and during the flooding season, it doesn't look like the rest of the Delta. Water rises through the forest floor, turning solid ground into winding channels covered in electric-green duckweed. The cajuput trees shoot up from the water like natural pillars. You move through by boat, slowly, and the experience feels less touristic and more meditative—birdsong instead of engines, stillness instead of itineraries.

The Nomad Tip: Avoid the 10 AM rush when tour buses arrive. Get there right when they open at 7 AM or wait for golden hour around 4:30 PM. You'll have the birds (over 140 species!) and the silence to yourself.

Don't Miss: The bamboo walking bridge. It's the longest in Vietnam and takes you deeper into the forest than the boats go.

2. The Seven Mountains (Thất Sơn)

The Mekong Delta is famously flat, which makes An Giang extraordinary. It has mountains. Sam Mountain rises 284 meters, offering sweeping views over the rice paddies straight into Cambodia.

The Nomad Tip: Skip the cable car if you're comfortable on a bike. Rent a scooter and ride up the mountain road yourself just before sunset. The breeze is unbeatable.

3. Long Xuyen Floating Market

Everyone knows Cai Rang market in Can Tho, but honestly? It's becoming a bit of a theme park.

The Nomad Tip: For raw, authentic river culture, head to Long Xuyen. It's not as big, but it's real. You'll see local families trading vegetables and coffee on the river with almost no other tourists in sight.

The Foodie Trail: What to Eat

An Giang cuisine is a unique mix of Vietnamese and Khmer influences.

Bún Cá Châu Đốc: Not your average fish noodle. The broth is bright yellow from turmeric, topped with snakehead fish and crunchy dien dien (river hemp) flowers.

Bánh Bò Thốt Nốt: A sponge cake made from the region's famous Palmyra palm sugar. It's fluffy, golden, and has a smoky caramel sweetness you can't find anywhere else.

Lẩu Mắm (Fermented Fish Hotpot): The defining dish of the Delta. Rich, pungent, and loaded with wild river herbs. It's an umami bomb for the brave!

How to Beat the Crowds

Since An Giang is trending, weekends are busy.

Stay Overnight in Chau Doc: Most day-trippers leave by 4 PM. Book a hotel in the city, and the riverside promenade is yours all evening.

Visit the Temple at Night: The Ba Chua Xu Temple is open 24/7. Visiting at 9 PM is atmospheric, cooler, and far more peaceful than the chaotic daytime crush.

Work with a View: Need to blog? Head to the Victoria Nui Sam Lodge. You don't have to stay there. Just grab a coffee on their terrace for the best panoramic view in the Delta.

What This Moment Means

An Giang is having its moment in 2025, and it's not hard to see why. In a country where tourism has increasingly meant crowds, scheduled itineraries, and optimized Instagram angles, this province offers something different. It's dusty and vibrant and unapologetically authentic in ways that feel harder to find along the coast.

But moments like this don't last. The UNESCO recognition brought global attention. The new expressway brought accessibility. And now, Google's ranking has brought the crowds. What feels raw and unpolished today could easily become tomorrow's scripted experience.

I'm not saying don't go. I'm saying go now, while An Giang still feels like a discovery rather than a destination. While the temple visits still feel personal, the floating markets still belong to the locals, and the forests still hold their silence in the early morning light.

The Mekong Delta has always moved at its own pace, but change has a way of arriving faster than we expect. This is your window.