RACH GIA

Rach Gia has advantage of sea tourism and forms a borderline, marine traffic of the province as well as of the South's western areas. its terrain is rather flat, surrounded with fields and gardens. it is contiguous to the sea and Hon Dat district, Chau Thanh district and Tan Hiep in the Northwest, the South - Southeast and the North respectively.

      Rach Gia has interlacing canal system, including Hien canal that is 50 meter wide and 12 kilometer long, close to the sea, flowing from the North to the South and splits the city into 2 parts. Rach gia beach is mud ground, lying in the Gulf of Thailand's West sea and has the favourable marine traffic system, so hundred - ton ships can travel from Rach Gia to HCMC through canal and large rivers. Big ships can exchange goods with other domestic ports and some South - east Asian countries by the sea route. The interprovincial road 80 is 285 kilometer long, spread asphalt, connects national road 1 with HCMC. There are routes to Ha Tien's towns through seaway and roadway. trade, tourism services, industry, handicrafts and seafood are Rach Gia's positions of strength 

1. Nguyen Trung Truc Communal House: ( 18 Nguyen Cong Tru, Vinh Thanh Quarter ):

         Nguyen Trung Truc, the leader in the anti - French resistance movement in Tan An executed in 1868 was worshipped here. There are ancestral tablets and portraiture of Nguyen Trung Truc and some of his his generals in the sanctuary, and a secular banyan in the yard. Each year, on the anniversary of his death, hundreds to thousands of attend the festival and pray for Nguyen Trung Truc.

2. Tam Bao Pagoda ( Thien An Pagoda - Vinh Bao ward ):

        At the end of thirtieth century, Duong thi Can ( or Hoang ) build pagoda of cottage roof and earthen walls near Hien canal's bank in order to lead a religious life. She was instrumental in transporting foods for Gia Long emperor's soldiers, thus the pagoda was honoured as "Conferred Tam Bao". In 1913, Most Venerable Thich Tri Thien presided in the pagoda and made it become the VietNamese Revolution's place of activities and weapon manufacture. Then, he was arrested by the French colony, deported and passed away in Con Dao island. The pagoda's garden has many trees sculptured like dragons, deer and other animals. the interior is ancient and sculptured. Beside the sanctuary is three - storeyed Tam Bao Town where the Buddha is worshipped in the the third storey ( Buddha Treasure ), the Lotus Sutra ( Sutra ) in the second storey ( Dharma Treasure ), and Most Venarable in the first storey ( Sangha Treasure )    

3. Vinh Hoa communal House ( Nguyen Hung son Road, Vinh Thanh Van ward ) :

        Cultural activities of VietNamese in Rach Gia have been taken place here since the pre - Nguyen period. At first, it was calledHoi Dong Temple and later is Vinh Hoa communal House characterized by the traditional communal house's architecture. It was called "the ancient temple" in the "history of the unification of great Viet Nam" book. In the past, the local peopleworshipped it for many timeseach year and had summerfestival with many activities like classical drama, spin the top, cock - fighting, lion dance,.....

4. Quan Thanh De pagoda ( Hung Vuong Road, Vinh Thanh Van ward ):

       It was build in 1752. Some Chinese emigrated there to settle and built a temple to worship Tien Hien ( sage of forme time ) on the foundation of Gia Da ancient pagoda so it used to be called Vinh Lac pagoda or Vinh Lac temple by the local people. In 1927, Vinh Lac temple was repaired and dedicated to Quan Van Truong ( Quan Thanh De ). It is recognized to be the national art - architecture relic thanks to its architecture with fine and sophisticated designs.

5. Lang Cat Pagoda - Ratanarangsi( Ratanarangsi means "the halo of the gem" )

        It is the national art - architecture relic. At the beginning of the fifteenth century, Vinh Lac was near the sea, remote with only some of the ethnic Khmer lived here and bushy vegetation and lurking wild beasts. Most Venerable Rich - Thi - Chi came here to preach religion, called upon Khmer buddhist believers to build the pagoda for spirit activities. It is characterized by Khmer pagoda's architecture with many sophisticated designs. 

6. The Cathedral (Nguyễn Trung Trực road, Vinh Thanh ward)

       An architectural work built of red bricks in 1918 and rebuilt in 1972. Sacrament is held from 10 a.m to moon on Sundays at the cathedral.

7. The sea-elapsed urban district

        It is projected on 420,000 hectare land area. This is Kiên Giang’s new residential district and administrative center. The residential district includes modern buildings and luxurious villas. Tourists can enjoy the sunset down the west sea at romantic restaurants and coffee bars.

8. The Rach Giá TradeCenter (Vĩnh Quang ward)

       This is the largest trade center in Kiên Giang, divided into 3 large-scale and modern trade areas. Tourists can buy everything from household goods to specialities, fresh sea products when coming here. There are luxutious hotels, restaurants famous for delicious dishes and high quality bus station served all provincial and inter-provincial routers.

9. An Hòa Cultural Park (An Bình ward)

      Located near the Rạch Sỏi bridge’s leg, has a land area of over 40 hectares and many amusement centers. The province’s trade fairs and significant cultural activities are often taken place here. The An Hòa night market buy foods and goods every night from 17h-24h.

10. Ta Nien village communal house (Vinh Hoa Dong commune, Chau Thanh province)

         It Was initially Vĩnh Hòa Đông communal house anh then becamethe place to worship national heroes such as: Nguyễn Hiếu Điều, Nguyễn Trung Trực, Lâm Quang Ky as well as the God of soil Ngô Quyền Hóa who was accredited with founding the village. Hundreds, thousands of the full-moon day of January each year. The village is aslo famous for Tà Niên sedge mat.

 11. Kien Giang Museum(Nguyễn Văn Trỗi road , Vinh Thanh Vân ward)

        The most ancient and beautiful house remained in Rach Giá city is used as the showroom of Kien Giang museum. The “traditional oriental archirtecture lay-out” is unique and beautiful. The outside looks like a French villa while the inside is designed as in traditional Vietnamese house. The complicated and sophisticated designs, precious wooden furniture encrusted with mother of pearl make the house more splendid.

12. The Great Buddha Pagoda (Quang Trung road, Vĩnh Quang ward):

        Only is Sakyamuni Buddha wroshipped here. There is an over hundred-year old Uu Đàm tree originated from Srilanka in the yard. The prayer meeting is taken place every day from 4 a.m to 6 a.m and from 5 p.m to 7 p.m.

13. Nguyen Hien Dieu Communal House ( Mai thi Hong Hanh Road, Rach Soi ) :

Coporal Nguyen Hien Dieu was acredited with suppressing a rebellion in Minh Mang dynasty and after his death, the local people built the temple dedicate to him. His ancestral tablet was worshipped in some communal houses: Cay Tram Well, Cau Quay ( An Hoa commune ), Ta Nien ( Chau Thanh ) and Nguyen Trung Truc ( Rach Gia ). 

14. Hoi Dong Suong Cemetery ( Nguyen Trung Truc road, An Hoa, opposite Kien Giang House of Culture ) :

        It is an attractive cultural tourist destination, built of preciouspink, white and green monolithic marbles carved sotiphiscatedly with many sculptured designs of birds, vegetation, flowers and leaves, and mascot, etc. The rokery on the right is called Dong Son Grave, built by Vietnamese group and the one on the left is named Tay Son Grave, built by Chinese group.

15. Pho Minh Pagoda – Samantaprabhasa Pagoda ( Co Bac road – Co Giang, Vinh Bao ward ) :

         It is a small pagoda, built in 1967 and has a Sakyamuni Budda’s statue requested from Thailand Buddhism Association. Vietnamese Sakyamuni Buddha’s statue is next to the Thai’s one. The pagoda opens everyday for local people and tourists to visit and pray.