Ward 6, Soc Trang City. Built in 1533, it was originally made of wood with a roof thatched with palm leaves.

The pagoda was later reconstructed with brick, and the roof was covered with tiles. The pagoda consists of a central chamber and a range of wooden stilt-houses, used as places for holding traditional ceremonies and for housing the pagoda's monks. Additionally, there is a tower containing ashes of the dead, a cremation chamber, a guesthouse, and the Pothi School for teaching the Khmer language. The Khleang Pagoda also houses writings from ancient books, which tell about the origins of Soc Trang and the pagoda.

built during the 16th century. It is one of the oldest pagodas in the province and has been renovated several times since. The latest time is in the early of 2010 after a fire at the pagoda in 2007 had made the sanctum of the pagoda completely destroyed.

The pagoda presents Khmer arts, with skilful, symbolic decorations on its pillars and roof and splendid relieves and statues. An ancient Buddha statue and a number of Buddhist books written on sugar palm leaves can be admired there. There's also a beautifully painted Khmer longboat here which as the type used at the Ooc Om Boc Festival. The pagoda is not only famous for its beautiful architecture, but also for its very large roof that houses tens of thousands of bats. Some have wingspans of more than a meter and resemble large ripe pears as they hang upside down from the upper branches. They cling to tree all day, fly away at night to seek food, and return the following morning.

The bats never eat the fruit in the garden. Behind the pagoda, there are odd tombs painted with the image of a pig on each one. The first tomb was erected in memory of a pig q with five toenails (usually pigs have only four toenails) that died in 1996. Others rare pigs o with five toenails have survived and are being raised by the monks. These pigs are pets. After dieing, they were buried there.

Coming here, tourists have opportunities to join many recreation and entertainment activities. The tree-lined road system, swimming pools, fishponds and other facilities are well arranged. Behind the gate lies a man-made mountain with 30 to 40m high. Atop the mountain stands a big statue of Avalokitesvara.

At the foot of the mountain there are fishponds and paths. Inside the mountain is a mini hotel. Next to the mountain stands a two-storey villa built in the mixed Russian and Chinese architectural style, where wedding ceremonies, parties or banquets can be held. The Binh An Tourist Area has stirred up the atmosphere of a peaceful town imbued with Khmer cultural identity in a province of the Mekong Delta.

abundant crops and fish from the rivers, as well as good health for the villagers. When the moon begins to appear on the 15th day of the 10th lunar month, people place trays of offerings composed of green rice flakes (the indispensable one of the ceremony), ripe bananas, fresh coconut, and potatoes, in the yards of the pagoda or of residents' houses.

Everyone sits and waits for the moon slowly rising. When the moon reaches the top, everyone puts one's hands together toward the moon. In the ritual, the officiating priest put green rice flakes for each attending child, slap on back and ask what they wishes for new crop. Their answers are everyone's desire and belief for the coming bumper crops. Apart from the ceremony is the Ngo boat race. The Ngo boat, called tuk ngo in the Khmer language, is a tree trunk carved in the shape of a diamond with curved ends. The navigation of such a boat requires practice and skill because it can easily be capsized. This exciting race, organized as a cultural sport festival, attracts hundreds of thousands of participants and spectators.

Hang

1 Hung Vuong St., 
Tel: 3820 034

Hung 1

24 Hung Vuong St., 
Tel: 3824 376 
Good food, popular place

Khanh Hung

17 Tran Hung Dao St., 
Tel: 3821 027

Thien True

2 Hung Vuong St., 
Tel: 3610 831

Thanh Than

204 Phu Loi St., 
Tel: 3611 119