The boat on lotus lagoon takes visitors to river port where dinghies are available to be continue new journey. They slowly move on the green "path" full of water-fern. The journey is inside forest among sound of birds and night herons. Sometimes looking up, you will see several young birds in the nest jumped out as welcoming strangers. You there seem to forget that you have been drought region of Bay Nui region with very hot weather…

As many other regions, Bay Nui, An Giang in every summer are extremely hot with high temperature, low water level in canals. Car takes visitors to Tra Su tourism destination. Step out of car, the sun heat is like heat from boiled oil pan blowing onto face as being burned. But after crossing iron bridge only a few minutes, the feeling is completely changed. Mangrove covers immensely everywhere with green color. The water turns to yellow as amber’s color. Tra Su forest (Tinh Bien district, An Giang) in summer is still cool even though temperatures outside is sometime up to 35 degrees Celsius.
 

 

At next resting station, visitors can rent double-bike to ride around mangrove forest. This road is only about 5-6 kilometers long. Above is full of green color of tree forest, under ditches are whisking their tails fishes creating strange sounds. Until the long canal with cool water and immense green mangrove forests appear in front of eyes, visitors cannot go by bike anymore but small boat, canoe will help you easily sneak among canals, explore forest.
After sitting safely on small boats, visitors begin a journey to discover the vast Tra Su forest among water as being in flood season even though it is drought. The boat is surfing smoothly on canal suddenly reduces speed then turns right. The vast front space is full of lotus. The front way is covered full of lotus. The boat wriggles on water surface to go through lotus field. The driver downs speed for tourists to have time to sightsee, take photos. Occasionally, he points toward the birds, storks "walking" on grass, on water-fern floating on water. There are big birds, sometimes mycteria leucocephala perch on mangrove tree looking the boat coming then suddenly fly into deep forest. In blooming season, lotus field looks larger and larger. The green background of lotus leaves and water-fern dots blooming pink flowers swaying lightly in the wind.
 

 

Flooded mangrove forest creates a diverse ecosystem, preserves many rare species. This is a young forest, mangrove trees are only 10-15 years old. Ecosystem in Tra Su is not rich as in U Minh Thuong and U Minh Ha in Ca Mau peninsula. However, with drought area of Bay Nui half-mountain terrain, mangrove forest becomes a unique and rare ecosystem. There are only 70 species of birds but there are darter, anhinga melanogaster and Indian painted stork recorded in the Red List. Not to mention 11 species of mammals and fishes reside and reproduce in this forest all year around.
The greatest thing is sightseeing by dinghy – the popular means of transportation here. Tourists from afar enjoy sitting on dinghy and moving easily in forest. Several girls wear green “áo bà ba” (kind of shirt used by South Vietnamese people), a bandanna around neck and conical hat gracefully. They take visitors into deeply, through the bird regions. 
 

This area is the residence of large flocks of bird so motor vehicle is not allowed here. Even tourists can’t make noisy to avoid affecting birds’ life. Thanks to quiet, visitors easily catch eyes many birds playing not so far from dinghy. A lot of big birds perch on mangrove branches or young birds leave their nests standing on high branches to try flying. These girls are also guiders so they know the name and habit of all bird species. While visitors are enjoying cool atmosphere, she is looking for nearby birds to introduce.

This 850 ha forest is surrounded by closed dyke which can keep water in dry season and receive water in flood season. Flood season comes, more fishes from Mekong river flow to forest to reside and reproduce. Therefore, the quantity of birds also rises. Many of them migrate from elsewhere. Recently, flocks of flying fox and bat living in Chua Doi (Soc Trang) come here together to reside adding to the list of species for Tra Su ecosystem. Finally, visitors are taken to a watchtower view entire the mangrove forest and Bay Nui region.

From Tra Su forest, you only need moving 10-20 kilometers to reach the famous spiritual tourism attraction of An Giang, such as Nui Cam, Ba Chua Xu Nui Sam pagoda, mosques of Cham people located next to Hau river ... You move further about 80 kilometers to arrive Cua Tay beach of Kien Giang with Ha Tien, Kien Luong destination. They are famous for Hang pagoda, Hon Phu Tu, Mui Nai, Da Dung and the offshore islands considered as Ha Long in the South.

21 day Vietnam - Cambodia Package Tour visit Tra Su.
3 day Mekong Delta Tour takes you to Tra Su.