Rach Gia City, Kiên Giang Province, Vietnam

Rach Gia City, Kiên Giang Province, Vietnam: Gateway to the Mekong Delta that still holds the charm of local life

When it comes to coastal cities in the Mekong Delta that firmly preserve their local charm, Rach Gia City in Kiên Giang Province is one destination I, mr.hotsia, highly recommend experiencing firsthand. Actually, I traveled here by boat from Phu Quoc Island, which was an exciting route that opened new perspectives on traveling in southern Vietnam unlike any other.

Why Rach Gia?

Rach Gia is the center of Kiên Giang Province, located on the Gulf of Thailand on the western side of the Mekong Delta. The city has about 23,000 residents and serves as the economic, administrative, and cultural hub of the province. It is also one of the four major cities in the Mekong Delta alongside Can Tho, Dat Mui, and Ho Chi Minh City. Therefore, it is a transit point for many travel routes by land and water.

The distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Rach Gia is about 250 kilometers. From Ha Tien City in the southern part of Kiên Giang Province, it is approximately 116 kilometers away. There is also a port connecting to both Phu Quoc Island and Ca Mau Province.

Atmosphere and Lifestyle in Rach Gia

The first time I stepped out from the pier in Rach Gia, the sea breeze and gentle waves mixed with the sounds of vendors in the fresh market created a warm feeling, unlike busy tourist cities. Tourists are not commonly seen here; mostly locals live simple lives. The people are friendly, smiling, and naturally greet travelers like me.

The large market in Rach Gia is the heart of daily activities. I walked past shops selling fresh, sweet, and fragrant sugar palm fruit, as well as small eateries filled with dishes I had never seen elsewhere, such as grilled pork rice called “cam Tum” and crab spirit noodle soup made with finely minced black crab meat seasoned uniquely. I tried it and found it perfectly balanced.

The Charm of Roasted Duck Street

One of my favorite things in this city is “Roasted Duck Street,” where I tasted roasted duck from many shops competing with their own secret recipes. I must say the roasted duck here is as delicious as anywhere in southern Vietnam. The locals love duck so much that this street has become the center for flavorful roasted duck. Anyone visiting here who doesn’t try the roasted duck is seriously missing out.

Accommodation in Rach Gia: Simple Comfort for Travelers

Accommodations in Rach Gia range from budget guesthouses to hotels with full amenities. I stayed at Kimco Hotel, which costs about 600 baht per night. The rooms are clean with air conditioning, hot water, and Wi-Fi. For those wanting to save more, I recommend “Nha Nghi Thien Trang,” near the sea pier, priced at only 360 baht per night but still very comfortable.

For booking accommodations in Vietnam, I usually use hotsia.com, which allows easy and fast booking through Agoda. The two main accommodation areas in Rach Gia are near the pier and the market, making it convenient for travel and food throughout the day.

Must-Try Foods in Rach Gia

If you are a fan of southern Vietnamese cuisine, Rach Gia will not disappoint. The local dishes here are diverse with unique flavors. The dishes I recommend are:

• Roasted Duck- Balanced flavor, crispy skin, tender duck meat, making you want to follow Roasted Duck Street to try many shops.
• Crab Spirit Noodle Soup- Made with finely minced black crab meat that is sweet and rich in flavor, a dish found only in this city.
• Grilled Pork Rice (Cam Tum)- A simple dish but with a strong taste that locals love to eat.
• Eel Rice Porridge- Available as both plain white rice porridge and red bean rice porridge, which I had never encountered before.

If interested in fresh seafood from Kiên Giang Province, I recommend reading aboutHa Tien Seafood, VietnamandPhu Quoc Island Seafoodwhich are not far from Rach Gia, and I, mr.hotsia, have shared in previous articles.

Travel and Connections to Other Places

Traveling to Rach Gia can be done in various convenient ways. I traveled by boat from Phu Quoc Island, which was fun and gave me a true experience of local life along the canals. You can also take a bus from Ho Chi Minh City or enter from the Cambodian side at Kép Province and then take a tuk-tuk to the city.

For those who enjoy challenges and want to experience canal life in the Mekong Delta, taking a boat to Rach Gia from Ca Mau Province or nearby provinces is another interesting option. The waterways here are still actively used and are an integral part of local life that should not be missed.

Rach Gia: A Stopover Before Phu Quoc Island and the Cambodian Border

Rach Gia is not a main tourist city where visitors stay long. Most use it as a stopover to continue to Phu Quoc Island or the Cambodian border. But for me, mr.hotsia, walking around this city, meeting people, tasting local food, and experiencing the fresh market atmosphere was a deep and memorable experience.

I invite everyone traveling to southern Vietnam to stop by Rach Gia at least once, and you will feel like you have discovered a unique side of Vietnam.

Additional Recommended Clips

For those who enjoy watching videos about Vietnamese food, I, mr.hotsia, recommend this clip:Vietnamese Grilled Button Squidwhich shows how to prepare fresh seafood dishes worth trying.