Sa Dec travel guide

Sa Dec is a small, sleepy town in the Dong Thap province and it was the original setting of the autobiographical novel “The Lover” by Marguerite Duras. This romantic and charming little town still isn’t very touristy and a true hidden gem in the Mekong delta travel.

There is a very busy, authentic market near the river and a lot of architecture from the colonial period, such as the old market, as well as numerous old mansions and merchant homes. One of these houses belonged to the protagonist in Marguerite Duras’ novel and has been lovingly and traditionally restored. The riverside road Nguyen Hue invites for a stroll with its cafés, market stalls and the old French church in the background. South Vietnam tours

Located in the centre of Sa Dec is the Kien An Chung pagoda, which has a colourful history (it has served as a prison before) and is once again family owned today. But you can still visit it on request. The Tu Phuoc Huong pagoda is influenced by the Chinese and once served as a community centre.

Sa Dec travel guide

Flowering Sa Dec
Sa Dec is also famous for its flower gardens. Even in colonial times Sa Dec was known as the “Garden of Cochin-China.” Especially before the Tet festival - many Vietnamese come from Saigon to Sa Dec to go shopping.

• AMA LOTUS CRUISE

Sa Dec greets you with its mass of tile kilns and bricks along the river bank. Situated more than 20km upriver of Vinh Long, the French writer Marguerite Duras lived on this charming town when she was a child. Decades later, the town’s riverside mansions, shop house terraces, and bustling stretch of the Mekong were the backdrop for the movie adaptation of The Lover.

Wandering along the Nguyen Hue is a noteworthy experience where visitors will see umbrella-lined lanes that mask Sa Dec’s riverside market. Walking along the waterfront provides guests with glimpses of everyday life as rheumy old men play checkers and vendors sell all sorts of fruits from their wicker baskets.