A compact river town near the Cambodian border where cyclo convoys weave past silk workshops, floating fish farms dot the muddy Tiền River, and local markets spill color onto the waterfront.
Tan Chau is a river port on the Tiền River — ships tie up at a basic riverside pier or anchor midstream and ferry passengers ashore by traditional wooden sampan.
💡 Pro move: There is no large cruise terminal or tourist infrastructure. This is a small rural town — embrace the authenticity and stay with your group or a local guide.
Tan Chau has a simple riverside concrete pier used by river cruise lines; no ocean-going terminal exists.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Viking, AmaWaterways, Scenic, Avalon, Uniworld | Tan Chau riverfront pier, Tiền River📍 | Docked |
| Expedition / smaller river vessels | Midstream anchor with sampan transfer to town pier📍 | Tendered |
Excursions here are short and immersive — silk workshops, floating fish farms, and a Cham Muslim village are the highlights, usually arranged by the cruise line.
Watch artisans dip and sun-dry fabric in mặc nưa fruit juice up to 100 times over 45 days to produce Tan Chau's signature lustrous black silk. One of Vietnam's most distinctive traditional crafts.
Find Tan Chau silk tour packages →Board a wooden sampan to reach the floating wooden houseboats that double as Basa fish farms. Feed the fish and watch the water boil as thousands rush to the surface — a memorable Mekong moment.
Find Mekong Delta river excursions →A short boat ride across the river brings you to a village of the Cham ethnic minority, practicing Muslims who maintain their own weaving traditions. Visit the Mubarak Mosque and browse vibrant hand-loomed sarongs.
Find Cham village tours from Tan Chau →Tan Chau's colorful Cao Dai Temple is a visual feast — the syncretic religion blends Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, and more under the watchful 'Divine Eye.' Free to enter with modest dress required.
Find Cao Dai cultural tours →Dive into the chaotic, sensory-rich local market for tropical fruits, live seafood, and local snacks. Try bánh bò thốt nốt (palmyra palm sugar cake) or grab a cà phê sữa đá on a plastic stool.
Find Mekong Delta food tours →Tan Chau is compact and easily walkable from the pier — a short loop covers the market, waterfront, and Cao Dai Temple.
From the river pier, follow the waterfront promenade north to watch river traffic, then cut inland to Tan Chau Market for tropical fruits and local goods, loop past the Cao Dai Temple, and return to the pier.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →Transport options from the pier — taxis, shuttles, transit passes, and whether ride-share apps work here.
The classic Tan Chau experience — motorized three-wheeled rickshaws are the primary local transport for short hops around town. Negotiate fare before boarding; rides within the town center are very cheap.
Pedal-powered cyclos are also available for leisurely rides through the market area and silk-weaving village. A fun, slow-paced way to see the town.
Small wooden sampans ferry passengers to floating fish farms and across the river to Cambodia border areas. Typically arranged through cruise line or dockside operators.
Metered taxis serve An Giang province at roughly 10,000–12,000 VND per kilometer. Useful for longer trips out of town, but xe loi is more practical in the town itself.
Grab operates in An Giang province, but driver availability in small-town Tan Chau can be limited. Worth trying the app if xe loi is unavailable.
Upcoming cruises that call at Tan Chau, An Giang, Vietnam. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
Other cruise ports within about 250 km.