Major city · Vietnam
Chau DocChâu Đốc
Stay one or two nights in Châu Đốc for Sam Mountain, the Cham villages and floating fish farms, and the Trà Sư flooded forest (best September–November), or to take the Mekong boat to Phnom Penh.
Châu Đốc is a river town on the Cambodian border where Vietnamese, Khmer, Cham and Chinese communities meet. Sam Mountain's temples draw huge pilgrim crowds, and the Hậu River carries houseboats with fish farms beneath them. It belongs to An Giang province, which absorbed Kiên Giang in 2025 (check).
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- VND
- Best months
- Sep–Nov (flooded forest) or Dec–Apr (dry)
- avoid Pilgrimage peak in the 4th lunar month (Sam Mountain crowds)
- Airports
- VCA · SGN
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 5Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Vietnam ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal; lookalike sites charge extra.
- Vietnam ↗Crossing streets: walk slowly and steadily; motorbikes flow around you — do not stop or run.
- Vietnam ↗Carry Vietnamese đồng in small notes; many stalls and taxis are cash-only.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Chau Doc113 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Chau Doc, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?VND in small notes (10k–100k) for stalls, markets, xe ôm and tips at spas.Vietnam-wide
- SIM or eSIMViettel, Vinaphone and Mobifone sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport and a face photo are required for registration.Vietnam-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Vietnam-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: Round up or 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.Vietnam-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/F. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Vietnam-wide
- SafetySafe; border paperwork is the main hassle.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in cities and hotels; squat toilets and no paper in rural stops and on long buses — carry tissues.Vietnam-wide
- Emergency numbers113 police · 114 fire · 115 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums close on Monday; the Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum is also closed on Friday and shuts for maintenance for about two months each year (usually…Vietnam-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportVCA Cần Thơ (3–3.5 h by car).
- Getting aroundWalk the centre; motorbike taxis and cars to Sam Mountain and Trà Sư; boats on the river.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Museum or sight ticketTrà Sư entry + boats₫150,000–250,000 (≈ US$6–10) (check)
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed or homestay bed, a night, per person₫150,000 (≈ US$6)
- Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room₫700,000 (≈ US$30)
- High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room₫1,800,000 (≈ US$70)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₫450,000 (≈ US$18) · Mid ₫1,000,000 (≈ US$40) · High ₫2,000,000 (≈ US$80)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- VCA Cần Thơ (3–3.5 h by car) · SGN Tân Sơn Nhất (6 h by bus)
- Phrases
- Vietnamese phrasebook
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Feb
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Mar
Best
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Apr
Best
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
May
not flagged
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Jun
not flagged
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jul
not flagged
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Aug
not flagged
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Sep
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Oct
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Nov
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Dec
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Best: Sep–Apr. Month by month →
Warmest Apr (35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)), coolest Jan (22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C) low), wettest Sep (22 rain days), driest Feb (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Chau Doc: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
2 rd
Feb
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
1 rd
Mar
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
2 rd
Apr
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
5 rd
May
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
15 rd
Jun
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
18 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
19 rd
Aug
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
20 rd
Sep
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
22 rd
Oct
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
21 rd
Nov
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
13 rd
Dec
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
5 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Walk the centre; motorbike taxis and cars to Sam Mountain and Trà Sư; boats on the river.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Trà Sư cajuput forest
goDoor to door: Half day
Car 40 min + boats
Best Sep–Nov when flooded.
Phnom Penh by Mekong boat
goDoor to door: Onward
Speedboat 5 h
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Riverside town centre
Walk to the market and boats.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ₫400,000–700,000 (≈ US$16–30) excl. bed
- Mid
- ₫800,000–1,500,000 (≈ US$35–60) excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 1 night × ₫700,000 | ₫700,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ₫1,000,000 | ₫2,000,000 |
| Boat to Phnom Penh2 × ₫650,000 · US$25–30 (check) | ₫1,300,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ₫400,000 |
| Trip total≈ ₫2,200,000 per person per day, bed included | ₫4,400,000≈ US$170 |
2026 estimate in đồng; flights and tours excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Trà Sư entry + boats | ₫150,000–250,000 (≈ US$6–10) (check) |
| Boat to Phnom Penh | ₫600,000–900,000 (≈ US$25–35) (check) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The Phnom Penh boat: confirm visa-on-arrival rules for Cambodia and the departure time the day before.
- Pilgrim crowds at Sam Mountain in the 4th lunar month.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 113
- Fire
- 114
- Ambulance
- 115
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Chau DocChâu Đốc
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Cho tôi đến địa chỉ nàyPlease take me to this address
Emergency
- Police113
- Fire114
- Ambulance115
Embassy
Cambodian consulate in Ho Chi Minh City; visa rules on the Cambodia page.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Cần Thơ → Châu Đốc, bus: ₫120,000–180,000 (≈ US$5–7), 3–3.5 h
Say or show
- Xin chào — Hello (sin chow)
- Cảm ơn — Thank you (gahm un)
- Bao nhiêu tiền? — How much is this? (bow nyew tee-en)
- Không cay — Not spicy, please (khom kai)
- Tính tiền — The bill, please (ting tee-en)
- Dừng ở đây — Stop here, please (yung uh day)
Show the address in Vietnamese with street and house number.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Chau Doc. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Sep–Nov (flooded forest) or Dec–Apr (dry) · avoid Pilgrimage peak in the 4th lunar month (Sam Mountain crowds) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 2 bands
- 2 day-trips, door to door
- 2 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Sunrise on Sam Mountain
Sources
- officialVietnam National Authority of Tourism
- secondaryWikivoyage — Chau Doc