Although this provincial capital itself offers only a few sights within the city limits, Cao Lãnh serves as a springboard for exploring the luscious forests or wild birds of Vietnam. The ·ng Tháp Museum, 226 Nguy[n Thái Hßc, off Nguy[n Hu_, houses a diverse and well-kept collection of items related to the province—unfortunately, all signs are in Vietnamese. (Open daily 7-11am and 1:30-5pm. Free.) Nearby, on Nguy[n Hu_ about 1km southwest of the city center, stands the ostentatious Mausoleum of Nguy[n Sinh S c, the burial place of H· Chí Minh’s venerable father. The tomb is shaded by a giant concrete clamshell, although, and unlike his son’s tomb, Nguy[n Sinh S c’s body is not actually viewable. (Open daily 7-11am and 1:30-5pm. Free.) Farther out, Xëo Quít Forest, about 25km from the city, is a national preservation site that was formerly a Vi_t Cÿng base camp. Tall trees and tangled plants form a lush canopy over narrow waterways and a few scattered VC bunkers. You can hire a canoe to take you through the forest (5000) or just walk along the path (4000). Either journey takes about 30min. (From Cao Lãnh, take a motorbike or a tour from ·ng Tháp Tourist Office to the forest. Open daily 7am-6pm.) Tam N®ng Park, 40km from Cao Lãnh, is home to thousands of red-necked cranes that migrate here between December and August—the visit is only worthwhile during these months. A 2-3hr. boat ride around the park costs 400,000. (Take a motorbike or a tour to the park. Open daily 7am-5pm.)
Bình Minh 1, 157 Hùng V™£ng, is the best budget hotel in town and is located just one street from the river. The owner speaks good English. (☎853 423. Rooms 50,000-100,000.) Xuñn Mai 2, 33 Lˆ Qu• ®n, is on a road off Nguy[n Hu_ and has comfortable rooms with attached baths. (☎853 600. Rooms 130,000-150,000.) S®ng Trà 3, 178 Nguy[n Hu_, is run by the tourist office. The hotel has spacious rooms and offers massage and steambath services for 50,000 each. (☎852 504. Breakfast included. Rooms US$14-20.) In addition to the restaurants in the first two hotels, Á Chñu 2, 105B Ly Th™ng Kit, is a good place to fill up. They do a few Western dishes, but huge crispy meat pancakes (bánh xeò; 5000) are their specialty, even though they’re not listed on the menu. (☎852 202. Most meals 20,000-40,000. Open daily 6am-10pm.) Á D®ng 1, 76 Nguy[n Hu_, serves big portions of great Vietnamese fare for breakfast and lunch. (Meals 15,000. Open daily 5:30am-2pm.) For even cheaper eats, there are sit-down food stalls across from the market on Ly Th™ng Kit. (Open during the day.)
Buses arrive at the station on Ly Th™ng Kit, in the city center, and go to: HCMC (4hr.; every hr. 4am-4pm; 26,000); MÅ Tho (2hr.; 9am; 20,000); Sa éc (2hr.; 7:30am; 9000); Trà Vinh (3hr.; 8am; 19,000); Vænh Long (2hr.; 8am; 14,000). The main thoroughfare in this small town is Nguy[n Hu_, which runs past the main post office and bank. Intersecting Nguy[n Hu_ is Ly Th™ng Kit, which runs past the bus station to the river. The indoor market is at the corner of Ly Th™ng Kit and Nguy[n Du, and towards the river is a big fish market. ·ng Tháp Tourist Office, 2 #c Binh Ki]u, has informational brochures on the province and arranges boat tours. (☎855 637. Open daily 7:30-11:30am and 1:30-5pm.) The bank is at 87 Nguy[n Hu_. (Currency exchange, MC/V cash advances, ATM, and Western Union. Open daily 7-11am and 1:30-5pm.) Internet is in the building connected to the post office. (3000 per hr. Open daily 6am-10pm.) The post office is across from the bank, at 83 Nguy[n Hu_. (Phone and fax services. Open daily 6am-9pm.)
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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