Soc Trang – Khmer Heritage in the Heart of the Delta

Soc Trang Province is the cultural heartland of the Khmer Krom (southern Khmer) community in Vietnam, with over 400,000 Khmer residents and more than 90 traditional Khmer pagodas. The most famous is Mahatup Pagoda (Bat Pagoda) – home to tens of thousands of large fruit bats that roost in the surrounding trees during the day and swarm dramatically at sunset. The Dat Set Pagoda is notable for its unique clay statues moulded over centuries by a single family of artisans. The annual Ok Om Bok Festival (October–November by lunar calendar) features spectacular Ngo boat racing on the Maspero River, drawing enormous crowds. Soc Trang is 230 km from Ho Chi Minh City (5 hours).