Snakes and apples tempt tourists in Mekong Delta

      The Mekong Delta has become well-known for its floating markets, orchards, ancient pagodas, splendid islands and endless mangrove forests.
Touring Tien Giang province, the gateway to the western region of southern Vietnam, tourists are advised visit Chau Thanh district to see the wild life of snakes at the Dong Tam Snake Farm, Vietnamese history in Rach Gam Xoai Mut historical relics and the ancient architecture of Sac Tu Linh Thuu pagoda.
Dong Tam Snake Farm, located about 10km from My Tho city in the direction of Vinh Long and under Vietnamese Military Zone No. 9, is one of the country’s largest snake-breeding centers and maker of anti-venom. The farm covers 11 hectares, including simulated wilderness areas, and is home to sheep, ostriches, yellow tortoises, tigers, crocodiles and of course snakes. The farm is also considered the country’s only snake museum and attracts local and foreign tourists with its special ecological characters and a collection of 52 types of snakes, including poisonous.
Visiting the farm, tourists will learn how to treat snakebites, how to remove venom and some of the uses venom has in making medicine.
Most of the snakes raised here are pythons and cobras. The king cobras are raised only for exhibit. They are aggressive and capable of spitting poison; don’t get too close to their cages. The largest cobra here is 18 kilometers long.
Tourists can buy snake wine, snake flour, glue and anti-venom.
From the snake farm, on Road 864 along the Tien River, tourists should stop by Rach Gam-Xoai Mut historical relics in Kim Son Commune to enter Vietnamese history and learn of the victory of the Tay Son army led by Nguyen Hue against Siamese invaders on the 19th and 20th days of the first month in 1785. The site covers 2 hectares and features exhibition house No.1 under the monument of national hero Nguyen Hue, exhibition house No.2 near the river and an ancient house.
The site is surrounded by the endless green of coconut trees, bamboo trees and colorful flowers. The bronze monument of national hero Nguyen Hue is 20 kilograms in weight, 8 meters in height and covered by bas-reliefs of meticulous and elegant patterns featuring the glorious victory of the Tay Son army. Meanwhile, the 225-square-meter ancient house is representative of the ancient style of architecture in the Mekong Delta. There is a restaurant built of bamboo trees and coconut leaves here that offers a cool place for tourists to sample the region’s specialties.
In Chau Thanh district, tourists can escape big city noise pollution and admire examples of ancient architecture at Sac Tu Linh Thuu pagoda in Thanh Phu commune. The pagoda was built in the eighteenth century and rebuilt in 1992 in harmony with the original design with 79 pillars, statues of Buddha and 49 lights.
After visiting cultural and historical sites, visitors can kick back in a canoe and drift into orchards of indigenous fruits, of which the Lo Ren star apple is nationally famous.