Long Xuyên

Long Xuyên About this sound pronunciation (help·info) is the capital city of An Giang Province, in the Mekong Delta region of southwestern Vietnam. It is located at approximately 1,950 km south of Hanoi, 189 km from Ho Chi Minh City, and 45 km from the boundary with Cambodia. The population of Long Xuyen city is over 300,000 (2007), with an area of only 130 km².

Long Xuyen is the second most prosperous town in southwestern Vietnam, just after Can Tho city.

Long Xuyên is the center of the Hoa Hao religion. There are also many Catholic churches, as well as some people who follow Buddhism and other religions.

The local people often go to supermarkets on Saturday and Sunday. Also, former president Ton Duc Thang's birthday is celebrated in My Hoa Hung (Tiger Island).

Local dishes include the standard Vietnamese fare as well as some variations on the area specialties (for example basa fish, mắm thái, and thot not coconuts).

Each year, many tourists pass through Long Xuyen, on their way to Chau Doc, which is a major stop-over on the way to Cambodia. However, tourists rarely stay in Long Xuyen.

Bà Chúa Xứ Shrine is a sacred place that is visited by many people who pray for financial success. Each March, Chau Doc celebrates the Bà Chúa Xứ festival, a large religious festival on top of Sam mountain.