Tucked right into this verdant area lies the fine town of Chau Doc, which is housing the culturally significant Kherme Village. If one wants to get a different cultural experience and get very close to the same, then a tour to visit Kherme Village in Chau Doc is a must! On this tour, get acquainted with or discover some of the sustainability-driven, ancient livelihoods of the Khmer, their history, and, of course, bear witness to the intricate process of making palm sugar from the majestic Palmyra palm. Ready to dive into the heart of the Mekong? Let’s begin
Situated in Chau Lang Commune, Tri Ton District, An Giang Province is Kherme Village. Getting to Kherme Village in Chau Doc itself is a big adventure. Here is explained how to get there easily:
By Bus
By Private Car
By Boat
Local Transportation to Kherme Village
Best Time to Visit: November to May (dry season).
In such a case, the options by which one can travel to Kherme Village in Chau Doc are just too many, all fun-filled and quite easy. Have fun and experience the rich Khmer culture!
Kherme Village
Kherme Village, centrally positioned in the Mekong Delta, exposes its centuries-long history. This village is majorly inhabited by Khmer People, who have well conserved their unique traditions and way of life despite changes in time. The people here are very hospitable, with intricate cultural practices defining them.
The Khmer people have a proud tradition in their rich crafts of making palm sugar within the Palmyra palm. This isn’t simply a livelihood; rather, it is an honored tradition passed through generations.
This village, with its history, has strongly cooperated with the formation process of the Mekong Delta and is an integral part of the cultural tapestry of this area. During this tour to visit Kherme Village in Chau Doc, you will have the chance to gain a deeper understanding of the historical journey of the Khmer as well as their contribution to this land. You can walk around to admire their nice traditional houses, ancient temples, and bustling local markets.
Forming the Sugar
After several hours of cooking, the saps thicken into a thick golden syrup. This is then poured onto molds to cool down and harden. Outcome blocks of palm sugar, each one an unspoken monument to the dedication and work ethic of those craftsmen. The blocks are grated or broken into chunks for cooking and baking.
make Palmyra palm sugar
En route to your tour to visit Kherme Village in Chau Doc, experience the culture of the Khmer. Visit the traditional making of palm sugar resistance—the type that is a culinary delicacy, an indulgence in many beautiful hands, loving care, and urgency skill
The Palmyra palm is a tall tree and symbolizes life, and nourishment for the Khmer people. It is called “thốt nốt" in Vietnamese. These trees are fine but above all very useful. On them, juice is used by the Khmer to produce palm sugar, an integral component of their cuisine and one of the principal products for their sale.
Processing palm sugar is the journey from tree to table. The process initiates with the careful selection of the Palmyra palm trees in their natural habitat, among rivers and streams. These trees, with their characteristic fan-shaped leaves and comfortably stout trunks, are tapped for their sweet liquor. This demands immense skill and precision since the tree-tapping process or collecting its sap should not be harmful.
Imagine ascending these grand trees at dawn with the traditional bamboo ladders. Experienced and agile sap collectors head up to the top, and gash a small cut into the flower stalk, allowing the sap to flow out into a container that has been tied to it. Collected, it is brought down to filter out any impurities.
Next, the sap is poured into large pots and cooked on an open flame. This section of the process needs vigilance at all moments. Not only is the sap stirred continuously to avoid burning it but also to make sure that it thickens evenly. Cooking sap gives off the sweet, inviting aroma of maple syrup.
After several hours of cooking, the saps thicken into a thick golden syrup. This is then poured onto molds to cool down and harden. Outcome blocks of palm sugar, each one an unspoken monument to the dedication and work ethic of those craftsmen. The blocks are grated or broken into chunks for cooking and baking. can be grated or broken into smaller pieces for use in cooking and baking.
Well, on your tour to visit Kherme Village, Chau Doc, you will get to have a firsthand look at the palm sugar production process. So this is much more than just having a view; it is being involved and getting to understand the labor and skills that go into this traditional craft.
Before the sun is up, every villager has prepared his or her tools for the day’s job: bamboo ladders, sharp knives, sturdy containers. Everything is checked and rechecked to be certain all will go well and safely.
In the early morning hours, the sap gathers and climbs onto tall Palmyra palms. Bamboo ladders are used for this purpose, light in weight yet stronger than any other. At the top, a precise cut is made on the flower stalk, and a container to collect the sap is attached. The practice is repeated on many trees, quite physically demanding yet rewarding.
The collected sap is then taken back to the village, filtered, and then poured into large pots for cooking over an open fire. It is cooked and stirred continually. This part of the process is very important because this determines how good the syrup will turn out to be. Therefore, stirring of the sap by turns at night is done, knowing that one should avoid burning and thickening to the right consistency.
Once the sap has thickened, it is poured into molds and left to cool and harden. The villagers use several shapes of molds, starting from the traditional rounds to recent modern designs in various shapes. Upon cooling, the sugar is removed from the molds to create beautiful round blocks of golden palm sugar. These blocks were then packed into blocks ready to sell or use in cooking.
Strolling around Kherme Village gives one an insight into the simple, yet rich lives of these Khmer people. There existed a peace in the way they lived, which did not separate them as individual beings from the relationship with natures and practices passed down from their ancestors. The morning started with all activities: men went off to the fields, women prepared food, and some children went to school while other small ones assisted their parents at home.
You will find admirably constructed stilt houses, designed to be able to make a stand against the floods of the Mekong Delta. Each house speaks its story, brightened by traditional decorations, usually together with a lush garden. It would also be where one finds a close-knit group: neighbors sharing their stories and food in a friendly atmosphere and laughter
The calendar is packed with varied festivals and rituals that are predicted to be spent by the Khmer people. One of the most prominent is the Chol Chnam Thmay. The village is dressed up during celebrations with vibrant decorations, traditional music, dance performances, and sumptuous feasts.
Another important festival is the Pchum Ben, which is a series of ceremonies and offerings done as homage to ancestors at one’s local pagoda. You will be able to join in such cultural festivities in parts for an even greater view and understanding of the spiritual world of the Khmer during your tour to visit Kherme Village in Chau Doc.
You aren’t just visiting Kherme Village; you are joining them. They welcome visitors so much that they allow tourists to join in the various traditions along with them. You will be invited to help in the preparation of a meal, try your hand at some traditional craft, or maybe learn a few words in Khmer.
Rather frequent are the workshops or interactive sessions on making souvenirs, like baskets woven from palm leaves or palm leaf hat-making. Practical workshops provide one not only the fun of touching and concentrating on things with their own hands but also give a peek into the dexterity and creativity of the Khmer
Food plays a central role in Khmer culture, so your tour to visit Kherme Village in Chau Doc provides an excellent culinary exploration into classic Khmer dishes, such as amok, an aromatic curry of either fish or chicken and bai sach chrouk, grilled pork with rice.
Markets are a feast for the senses: fresh produce, spices, and snacks galore—you may even cook alongside local chefs and learn how to prepare dishes with age-long recipes kept within generations.
While Kherme Village is an attraction, Chau Doc and its environs have much more to offer for your Mekong Tours.
Overview of Other Notable Sites in Chau Doc
Sam Mountain
Chau Doc Floating Market
Tips for Making the Most of Your Visit to Chau Doc
This will help ensure that you have a smooth and enjoyable tour of Kherme Village in Chau Doc; some practical information is hereby provided for your good
Accommodation Options in Chau Doc and Nearby Areas
Victoria Chau Doc Hote
Local Restaurants and Food Recommendations
Safety Tips and Cultural Etiquette
Essential Travel Information
Having an access tour to visit Kherme Village in Chau Doc, promises you a unique blend of cultural immersion, historical insight, and delightful experiences. This is not only the discovery of one of the beautiful areas of the Mekong Delta but also involves cooperation and support for the local populace and affluent culture evidenced among them.
Bring your sense of curiosity and luggage, and you are ready to embark on the ride of a lifetime. It awaits you with the hospitality of the Khmer race, the sweetness of Kherme Village, and the beauty of Chau Doc. Happy travels on your Mekong Tours adventure! Don’t forget to regularly follow our IMPRESS TRAVEL for more interesting information about traveling Mekong to and to book Mekong Tours at the best prices
The Mekong River, the ‘Mother of Waters’, is the heart and soul of mainland South-East Asia. Millions of people depend on its waters. It’s a way of life, a home for the spirits, the defining element in the everlasting battle for survival, and the foundation and boundaries of cultures and kingdoms across eons. The river speaks of the past and the future, of the eternally recurring cycles of nature, of the people living upstream and downstream, of survival, beauty and danger.
Foreigners can’t appreciate the role of the river in the lives of those who live in the Mekong basin. It influences every aspect of their daily existence, shaping not only the land, but also the people themselves.
The Mekong Basin extends over 795,000km2. More than 70 million people, 55 million of which inhabit the watershed area lying within Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Viet Nam, depend on the river and its tributaries for food, water and transport. At 4,350km, the Mekong is the longest river in Southeast Asia and the 12th longest in the world.
The river runs from its source deep in China’s Tsinghai Province through the eastern part of Tibet. From Yunnan province, it becomes the border between Myanmar and Laos, and between Laos and Thailand. From there it surges across Cambodia to Phnom Penh, where the Bassac River branches off. The two rivers continue to divide into nine outlets, the Cuu Long (Nine Dragons) of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, and finally discharge into the East Sea. The river is navigable from the delta to Southern Laos, where massive waterfalls near the Cambodian border prevent boats from travelling further.
About nine-tenths of the people in the Lower Mekong Basin are engaged in agriculture, mostly rice production on a massive scale, for which irrigation from the Mekong River is essential. A substantial proportion is exported, thus providing the staple diet of a far greater number than just those living in the area.
The Mekong River is also very rich in fish, the single most important source of animal protein in the diet of people living in the Lower Mekong Basin.
What is included: Transfer, tour guide, hotel in Can Tho, lunch, entrance fee(s), boat trip in Cai Be
What is included: Transfer, tour guide, hotel breakfast, lunch, entrance fee(s), boat trip in Can Tho
| Hotels in Can Tho | ||
| Star | Hotel | Room Type |
| 3-Star hotel in Can Tho | Hau Giang Hotel | Superior |
| 4-Star hotel in Can Tho | Muong Thanh Hotel | Superior |
| 5-Star hotel in Can Tho | Victoria Hotel | Superior |
We went on a private trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, the whole trip plan was organized for us by the Impress Travel Company from Vietnam, the company did an amazing job, the whole trip was organized in a wonderful way with an amazing match between the various parties, their choices were correct and the quality of the hotels chosen were very high quality and it is important to note that the price was low in comparison To other agencies, thanks to Impress Travel and especially to Daniel who was tolerant and open to changes and organized the route for us.
Impress travel were amazing. Did my bookings with Daniel for our tour of Vietnam and I must say Daniel was very professional and prompt with his services. All the arrangement, plans, pick-up & drop-off services, hotels, vehicles, sightseeing tours and guides were spot on and excellent. Did 4 nights Hanoi, 1 night Hà Long Bay cruise, 3 nights Hoian, 4 nights Saigon and 1 night in Can Tho. It was totally awesome. Every part of the journey was superbly arranged and planned. I will highly recommend Impress Travel for anyone interested in visiting Vietnam. Very organized and reliable!
I booked with Impress Travel in July. My contact person was Tommy Thang. He is an amazing person. He was very helpful. He changed my program twice for me. Very accommodating!
We started our holiday in the north (Sapa)of Vietnam and travelled down to HCMC.
The tour was fantastic, Tommy's arrangements were to the"T".
I will always use them if I have to visit the area again and recommend them to one and all.
Thank you once again Mr.Tommy and the Impress Team.
Sulaiman Pochee
Great value for money with 4 stars hotel accommodation for 4 couples. The tour guide has been very helpful and brought us to amazing places in Sapa. We want to thanks Thuy the tour guide and especially Mark from Impress Travel for his great service and assurance throughout our trip. We’ll definitely use his service for other tour packages in other parts of Vietnam.
This is the second time we travel to Vietnam with IMPRESS Travel. First time, we booked our holiday to Hanoi, Halong Bay & Sapa during Dec 2018 with Impress.
Second time, we travel to Hoi An, Hue & Danang (Central Vietnam) during Jan 2019.
My friends & I are very glad & happy with all the hotels stay in Central Vietnam, the meals provided are delicious. We are greatly appreciated with all the tour arrangement by Tommy & his team (tour guide).
Especially, Mr. NHAT C.V. He is helpful, cheerful, knowledgeable and very professional. He always volunteer to take a nice pictures for six of us (group) .
We enjoyed our holiday with Impress travel. We will definitely come back to Vietnam again with Impress
