The Ngo's Family Runion - Ca Mau, Bac Lieu - March 2026

 We had a long travel day from Chau Doc to Can Tho, our final destination, with about 6 hours of driving via Ca Mau and a lunch stop in Bac Lieu before reaching the city. 

Ca Mau: known as Ca Mau province, located in the Mekong Delta region of Southern Vietnam. It's the absolute Southernmost province in the country, forming a Peninsula that is bordered by the Gulf of Thailand to the West and South China Sea to the East and South.

Ca Mau Monument Roundabout.

Bac Lieu:  Lies on the Ca Mau Peninsula roughly 50km Northeast of Ca Mau and about 100km South of Can Tho. Bac Lieu is best known for having one of the largest offshore wind farms in Southeast Asia.

In Bac Lieu, we visited the Tac Say Church, also known as Father Diep's Church, and the extravagant historic mansion of the famous "Bac Lieu Prince".

Tac Say Church - Father Diep's Church.

Tac Say Church, a huge Pilgrimage site in the Mekong Delta. It's famous as the final resting place of Father Truong Buu Diep, a heroic Catholic priest revered for sacrificing his life to save his parishioners. Father Diep is scheduled to be beatified in July, 2026.

Tac Say Church in Bac Lieu.

Our next stop was the Bac Lieu Prince's House, located about 5 km from the city center.  As one of the city's main attractions, this mansion was built in 1919 and was once the largest residence in Bac Lieu. Designed by a French architect, it features building materials imported from France. Today, the house remains well- maintained, and the surrounding grounds are beautifully manicured. 

One of many cars that Bac Lieu Prince owned.

My favorite,  the Volkswagen Beetle - The house in the background.

And an airplane ...too.

New Year decoration around the property.

Before reaching Can Tho, we made a surprise stop at An Nghiep Industrial Park in Soc Trang province. Situated along National Highway, its strategic locaction supports the efficient transport of goods to major ports of Can Tho and the coastal regions of Bac Lieu and Ca Mau.
 
The main highligh of the park is visiting the "Tan Hue Vien" factory which is renowned for producing Banh Pia, a famous traditional Vietnamese pastry. 

Entrance to "Tan Hue Vien" Tourist stop.

One of beautiful garden and water sculptures in Tan Hue Vien.


 The massive " blooming lotus" sculpture or "Lotus Palace"  is the prominent cultural landmark in the Tan Hue Vien tourist stop.

                                    Fun place to hang out while shopping for Banh Pia.

Long lines of customers pack the shops.

We arrived in Can Tho late in the evening. It had been a long, busy day of covering plenty of ground and enjoying tourist attractions along the way.  

We stay at the Charmant Suites a Boutique Hotel, Can Tho, ideally located just steps from Ninh Kieu Wharf. Knowing we had an early 4:00am departure for our floating market tour in the morning, we grabbed a quick bite at a nearby restaurants before turning in for the night.

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