Located in the north of the Tien River, Tien Giang is a province in the Mekong River Delta. It borders Long An Province and Ho Chi Minh City to the north and northeast, Dong Thap Province to the west, and the South China Sea to the east. It is referred to as a rice basket in the Mekong River Delta and the country’s largest fruit producing area.
Topography
Tien Giang Province’s terrain is flat, with a slope of below 1%, which is 0-1.6 meters above sea level. It is composed of three areas, including fruit area alongside the Tien River, Dong Thap Muoi area and the coastal area of Go Cong.
Climate
Tien Giang Province lies in the tropical monsoon climate zone. It has two main seasons: the wet and the dry. The wet season runs from May to October. The dry season lasts from December to April. The average annual temperature ranges between 27oC and 28oC.
Tourism
Tien Giang has rich aquatic supply including freshwater fish, brackish fish, and saltwater fish. Some of special fruits are Trung Luong plum, Vinh Kim star-apple, Cai Be guava, sweet mango, rambutan, and thick-skinned orange. Many fruits, vegetable, and other products are anchored on lively Cai Be Floating Market and Tan Phong Island, along Tien Giang River. Cai Be Floating Market is held where the Tien Giang River forms the border between the provinces of Tien Giang, Vinh Long, and Ben Tre. It takes about one hour to reach the market from Vinh Long City.
Tan Phong Island is famous for growing large and succulent rambutans in beautiful gardens next to floating market. Also, an interesting site to visit is the Catholic Church situated on the riverside. Visitors also like to picking fruit, enjoy them and experience the life of Mekong River Delta community in orchards of Thoi Son Island. This island became a tourist attraction since 1990.
Everyday hundreds of tourists come to visit and explore the local life. The area features traditional houses inhabited by many generations, gardens with fruit-laden trees, and modest restaurants amidst fruit and bonsai gardens. You can rest on the way and taste the fruits. Strolling on the small path through the island, you will be mesmerized by the fragrance from colorful gardens of plum, mango, jackfruit and longan. Coming there, you will have chances to eat fruits as many as you wish, drink tea with honey and listen to folk songs and music. Located 12km from My Tho City, Dong Tam Snake Farm is an interesting place to see snake, bird and mutant turtles.
Tien Giang still preserves historical sites, such as Vinh Trang Pagoda and Go Thanh Oc Eo Vestiges. Vinh Trang Pagoda is the greatest pagoda of Tien Giang Province. The splendid but simple features of this Buddhist construction are a result of the harmonious fusion of Asian and European architectural styles. Go Thanh Oc Eo Vestiges is a large area with ancient relics on a layer of clay, 3m above the sea level and a hill-lock of 1ha large.
This Oc Eo archaeological site has yielded numerous important artifacts produced by the ancient Kingdom of Funan (1st – 6th centuries AD). Go Thanh site has been restored and embellished, becoming a good destination for visitors to understand more thoroughly about the history of a culture which existed thousands of years ago in the Funan Kingdom and the identities of Oc Eo Culture.
Several festivals in Tien Giang: Nging Ong Festival (10th day of the 3rd lunar month) to honor the soul of the Whale, Tu Kiet Festival (15th and 16th day of the 8th lunar month) to commemorate four heroes who fought against the French colonialists.
Transportation
My Tho City is 70km from Vinh Long, 70km from Ho Chi Minh City, and 103km from Can Tho City, 179km from Chau Doc and 182km from Rach Gia.