Soc Trang
Soc Trang is located about 240km south of Ho Chi Minh City and 60km southeast of Can Tho City. It takes origin from the Khmer term “Srok Kh’leang” which means ‘a place where silver is held’ for the name Soc trang.
The present-day metropolitan city has many Khmers living in it. The numerous temples in this place are built according to the Khmer style, which influences local culture a lot. It is a vibrant community with an approximate population of 120,000. It has a few English speakers but not many people speak the language so they see few tourists around here.
Most provinces in Mekong Delta including Soc Trang have two distinct seasons: rainy season from May to November and dry season from December to April. Visit Soc Trang during dry season to avoid sudden showers.
Tourism In Soc Trang
The name of Soc Trang derives from a Khmer word Srock Kh’leang which means “a place to store silver.” The majority of the people in this area are Khmers. Thus, at any Khmer pagoda and Kinh culture (Kinh is a major ethnic group), you can see many traces of Cambodian culture.
Soc Trang’s chief attraction is its temple. Most of them were designed with reference to the Khmer culture. Their meticulous attention to detail makes the designs belonging to the Khmer easily identifiable. When in Soc Trang, travellers must visit the most famous pagoda Doi Pagoda or Bat Pagoda, an architectural masterpiece that houses splendid reliefs and sculptures depicting animals, beautiful symbols on pillars as well as roof. The pagoda has very beautiful architecture and its enormous roof harbors hundreds of bats. Some hang upside down from high branches having a wing span exceeding a meter appearing like big ripe pears. Another ancient one similar to Cambodian design is also Kh’leang Pagoda; it is among the oldest surviving temples in Soc Trang today. Constructed originally from wood with palm-leaf thatched roofing since 1533 then later remade using brick walls while tiles were placed on top instead. Also kept at Khleang Pagoda are manuscripts describing not only the background of Soc Trng but also this pagoda itself. Many people know about the clay statues of Buddhas and dragons at Clay Pagoda within SocTran Province. It also has six big candles which can last for half a century before burning out completely. While visiting Chen Kieu Pagoda, be ready for some unbelievable Chinese designs.
There are other activities apart from historic sites where tourists can engage themselves such as Binh An Tourist Area for leisure purposes. This region bears similarity to Dam Sen Cultural Park in Ho Chi Minh City but on smaller scale too. This gives tourists a wide chance to engage in recreational and entertainment activities. For a province of the Mekong Delta, Binh An Tourist Area has generated an atmosphere of a quiet town infused with Khmer cultural identity.
The spiritual life seriously affects them. Ooc-Om-Boc Festival is celebrated by Khmers once a year (on the 15th day of the 10th lunar month). This festival is aimed at praying for the Moon Deity for bountiful crops, abundant fish from rivers and good health of people. Besides the ceremony, there is also boat racing. The Ngo boat is a tree trunk cut into the shape of a diamond with its ends curled up. Thousands of sportsmen and viewers join this exciting race as part of cultural festival games.
Soc Trang - Introduction
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Soc Trang Travel Guide
Best Time To Visit Soc Trang
The weather there is so pleasant, you can visit Soc Trang almost any time of the year. There are two seasons in Soc Trang’s climate that are: rainy season starting from May to October and dry season starting from November till April next year. Annual average temperature is around 26 degrees Celsius while storms and floods occur rarely.
Around October of lunar calendar every year might be your best time to go on a journey to Soc Trang, Vietnam. Do not simply drop by; come over here too. However, you can also choose famous places with nice atmosphere and attend Ooc-Om-Bok Festival- the largest Khmer community festival with beautiful ambiance. There are two major activities during this festival; the boat race and the water lamp drop which you can take part in as well.
Attractions & Things To See
Every floating market in the Mekong Delta has one unique characteristic that distinguishes it from others.
In Soc Trang province, for instance, the Nga Nam floating market is located where five rivers whose directions are different converge; these rivers include ones flowing: out to Ca Mau, in from Phung Hien, through to Thanh Tri, across from Vinh Quoi and down Long My. It is called “Nga Nam” because of this.
The market is a major distribution point for various commodities being sold by hundreds of boats and canoes due to its strategic position. At the end of each Lunar New Year festival, the market place becomes more active.
The best time to visit Nga Nam Floating Market is early morning when sunrise in the east is slow and many people already are about business.
Food & Restaurants in Soc Trang
When going to Soc Trang, never ignore the scrumptious native food. As a result of combining of many different ethnic groups, Soc Trang cuisine is both diverse and full-bodied. But in the case every individual ethnic group has its own unique dishes, here are some things you should not miss if you are around:
Noodle soup with fish:This meal is known for its stewed soup. Pork bones cook together with it for long hours. Remove the fat. Moreover, the noodles made here only use fish as a protein source instead of pork shrimp or fresh squid. In Soc Trang noodle soup, fatty fish meat tastes sweet and hot.
Rice vermicelli salad: A kind of salad dish with its ingredients.For example shrimp, vermicelli, vegetables … And local folks convert them into 1 bowl mixed wit water drops then eat like enjoying rice
