Where the Hau River meets the Cambodian border, Chau Doc is a mosaic of Cham fishing villages, Buddhist pagodas, and steaming bowls of bún cá — a gateway to authentic Mekong Delta life.
Chau Doc has no large cruise terminal; most river cruise vessels anchor mid-stream and use ship tenders or local sampans to reach the town pier.
💡 Pro move: Tender schedules are weather-dependent on the river. Allow extra time at the end of the day — the return tender queue can build up quickly.
Chau Doc is a river anchorage port; there is no fixed cruise terminal pier.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Mekong river cruise lines (Pandaw, Aqua, Viking, APT) | Hau River anchorage, tender to central waterfront📍 | Tendered |
| Small expedition / charter vessels | Victoria Chau Doc Hotel Pier or Ham Nhi Street Pier📍 | Tendered |
Chau Doc rewards those who get out on the water — the real sights are the floating villages, the forest, and the pilgrimage mountain a short ride from town.
Board a local boat and cross the Hau River to the Cham villages of Chau Giang and Chau Phong. Watch women weave traditional silk, visit a small mosque, and peer into floating fish-farm cages that supply much of southern Vietnam's catfish.
Find Chau Doc boat tours →Nui Sam (Sam Mountain) rises 284 m from the flat delta plain 6 km from town — the highest peak in the Mekong Delta. It's studded with pagodas, including the revered Bà Chúa Xứ Temple at the base — one of Vietnam's most visited pilgrimage sites — and a military fort near the summit with views across Cambodia.
Find Sam Mountain tours →A flooded melaleuca forest 25 km from Chau Doc, best visited by rowboat through mirror-still waterways shaded by white-barked cajuput trees. Egrets, cormorants, and kingfishers are abundant. A 23-metre watchtower offers a bird's-eye view over the canopy.
Find Tra Su Forest tours →The riverside wet market is a sensory dive into Mekong Delta produce — towers of fresh herbs, live fish, mắm (fermented fish paste) jars, and stalls selling bánh mì and bún cá. It's free, walkable from the pier, and most vibrant before 9 am.
Find Chau Doc food tours →For ships with a generous port call or overnight stay, Chau Doc is the classic overland-river gateway to Cambodia. Speedboats reach Phnom Penh in 5–6 hours passing through border formalities at Vinh Xuong. Check visa requirements well in advance.
Find Chau Doc to Phnom Penh tours →Chau Doc's compact riverfront is easily explored on foot, though the most rewarding sights require a boat or motorbike.
From the waterfront tender drop at 30 Tháng 4 Park, walk south along the Hau River embankment past fishing boats and vendor stalls to Chau Doc Market. Detour one block inland to Châu Phú Temple, a 19th-century Chinese-style temple dedicated to the local hero Thoại Ngọc Hầu. Return along the main street.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →Climate normals for Chau Doc, An Giang, Vietnam (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 76°F / 24°C | 69°F / 21°C | 16 | 6:22 AM | 5:55 PM |
| Feb | 78°F / 26°C | 68°F / 20°C | 11 | 6:20 AM | 6:07 PM |
| Mar | 83°F / 28°C | 72°F / 22°C | 9 | 6:06 AM | 6:10 PM |
| Apr | 87°F / 31°C | 75°F / 24°C | 9 | 5:48 AM | 6:10 PM |
| May | 92°F / 33°C | 79°F / 26°C | 15 | 5:37 AM | 6:14 PM |
| Jun | 94°F / 34°C | 80°F / 27°C | 15 | 5:37 AM | 6:22 PM |
| Jul | 93°F / 34°C | 80°F / 27°C | 18 | 5:44 AM | 6:26 PM |
| Aug | 93°F / 34°C | 79°F / 26°C | 18 | 5:49 AM | 6:18 PM |
| Sep | 88°F / 31°C | 77°F / 25°C | 24 | 5:49 AM | 6:00 PM |
| Oct | 83°F / 28°C | 75°F / 24°C | 26 | 5:48 AM | 5:41 PM |
| Nov | 80°F / 27°C | 74°F / 23°C | 24 | 5:55 AM | 5:32 PM |
| Dec | 77°F / 25°C | 71°F / 22°C | 23 | 6:09 AM | 5:39 PM |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Transport options from the pier — taxis, shuttles, transit passes, and whether ride-share apps work here.
The most common and affordable way to get around Chau Doc. Drivers wait near the pier; negotiate the fare before you ride.
Mai Linh (02963 922266) and Hoang Long (02963 688688) operate metered taxis in Chau Doc. Xanh SM electric taxis can be booked via app.
GrabBike is confirmed operational in Chau Doc. Coverage is more limited than in larger Vietnamese cities; download the app before your visit.
Traditional three-wheeled pedicabs are a leisurely way to explore the town center. Negotiate a flat fare or hourly rate with the driver.
Chau Doc is best explored by water. Local sampan tours visit the floating fishing village, Cham village, and Bassac River canals; cruise lines and local operators both offer half- and full-day trips.
Upcoming cruises that call at Chau Doc, An Giang, Vietnam. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
Other cruise ports within about 250 km.