Xeo Quyt Relic Area in Dong Thap Province

With the slogan “Conservation of historic preservation country soul”, Xeo Quyt Relic Area is a great place to learn about the resistance against America through the base and a small museum. Xeo Quyt is also known as the small Dong Thap, with a large number of species of wild animals and plants, cajuput jungles, a system of rivers and channels, dining area providing specialty foods, lotus and water lily ponds.

Xeo Quyt Relic Area is one of the top tourist attractions in Dong Thap Province – the kingdom of lotus in Mekong Delta. Besides learning less-known stories and seeing resistance base against the U.S. in Vietnam War, tourists have great opportunities to immerse the unique local life, enjoy great local dishes and buy many souvenirs and specialty foods to bring home.

Entrance to Xeo Quyt Relic Area

Entrance to Xeo Quyt Relic Area.

General Information

Location: No. 458, Hamlet 4, My Hiep Commune, Cao Lanh District, Dong Thap Province. CLICK HERE to see the location of the area. Xeo Quyt is 147 km from Ho Chi Minh City and 1,862 km from Hanoi.

Tel: +84 673 910 297 | +84 673 910 397

Website: www.xeoquyt.vn

Email: xeoquyt@dongthap.gov.vn

Admission fee: VND 20,000/adult, free for child under 1.4 m

Wedding photo service: VND 200,000/couple

Fishing: VND 200,000/fishing rod

Opening hours: 7:30 – 18:00

gate control - Xeo Quyt Relic Area in Dong Thap Province

After buying tickets, tourists pass through gate control, the walk under the shade of bamboo trees.

How to reach Xeo Quyt?

If tourists start from North or Central Vietnam, they should reach Ho Chi Minh City by bus/air/train. From Ho Chi Minh City, tourists can choose to go to Dong Thap by private car/taxi/bus/motorbike.

By private car: the most comfortable choice but expensive; contact +84 938314386 to book the car.

By taxi:

Mai Linh: 02773 68 6868; Vinasun: 02773 86 6666; Sen Hong: 02773 99 5577.

By bus:

Phuong Trang: 19006067 (HCMC) – 0277 3876850 (Cao Lanh City);

Quoc Hoang: 0903 353494 (HCMC) – 0277 3854588 (Cao Lanh City);

Hung Cuong: 028 39556844 (HCMC) – 0277 3829468 (Tam Nong District);

From Cao Lanh City or Tam Nong District, tourists should take a taxi or motorbike taxi to Xeo Quyt. Cao Lanh is about 8 km from Xeo Quyt.

 

Warmest Greetings To All from Tracy Do! If you have any questions about Vietnam including Vietnam tours, do not hesitate to contact me.

Tracy’s team has provided excellent Vietnam tours and Vietnam travel services to thousands of guests for 10 years. We specialize in Ho Chi Minh City Day Trips including Ho Chi Minh Motorbike Tour, Ho Chi Minh Food Tour, Mekong Delta Tour, Cu Chi Tunnel Tour, Ho Chi Minh Transfer Service and Shore Excursion and others. Let us have a chance to show you Vietnam to the fullest.

 

Name of Xeo Quyt

The name Xẻo Quýt contains two words: xẻo and quýt. Xẻo refers to a narrow waterway, which is similar to canals in Mekong Delta, but it is narrow, usually zigzag and has a low water level. Perhaps Xeo Quyt Area has lots of xẻo so that it is called Xẻo Quýt.

Quýt literally means mandarin in Vietnamese. However, their is no any relation with an area with jungle forests where there are not mandarin trees. Vietnamese people usually call quốc (Cuculus poliocephalus) – a species of bird quýt. In Xeo Quyt forests, these birds are abundant, so that the area is named Xẻo cuốc or Xẻo quýt.

History – craggy terrain & resistance base of Viet Cong Soldier

Xeo Quyt is known as the Dong Thap people’s heart base in wartime. From 1960 to 1975, the provincial party committee of Kien Phong (former name of Dong Thap) stand fast to lead the military and local people to implement successfully the resistance against America.

Why could Xeo Quyt be able to protect Vietcong from the enemy? It has an interlacing ditches system in flooded cajuput forests, connecting bunkers, fortifications, field house and many others of the cadres and soldiers in wartime. With craggy terrain and the protection of Dong Thap people and Vietcong soldiers, the enemy could not attack directly but only drop bombs and artillery. So that Xeo Quyt base was always kept secret and safe.

On 9th April 1992, the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) decide to recognize Xeo Quyt as the Historic National Culture, a “red address” to teach the traditional revolution for this generation and future generations.

The craggy terrain of Xeo Quyt Relic Area in Dong Thap Province

The craggy terrain of Xeo Quyt.

Map of Xeo Quyt Relic

In order to help tourists to learn more about the resistance base, Dong Thap’s government and tourism have mark positions of defense work, minefields, replicate working and living places of Viet Cong in cajuput forests, build a unique trail and dig waterways so that tourists can explore Xeo Quyt Base at its best. Read more about Xeo Quyt Relic Area – Military base for the Viet Cong.

Vestiges Sightseeing Map - Xeo Quyt Relic Area in Dong Thap Province

The vestiges sightseeing map of the relic.
1. Z-shaped defense work
2. The secret underground shelter of comrade Tran Anh Dien
3. The office and residence of comrade Nguyen The Huu
4. The Province Party Standing Committee’s meeting hall
5. The kitchen of Province
6. The secretariat office
7. The house of comrade Nguyen Dac Loc
8. Field house of the secretariat office
9. Stake minefield
10. Individual L shaped fighting and defense work
11. Province Party Committee guest house
12. The Z-shaped fighting and defense work for two persons
13. The barrack house of C279
14. The secret underground shelter of comrade Nguyen Xuan Truong
15. The secret underground shelter of comrade Tran Anh Dien
16. The Z-shaped defense work
17. The secret underground shelter of comrade Nguyen The Huu
18. The board of manager vestiges office
19. Fish pond
PLATOON POST
1. Kinh Xang post’s 3,000 meters distance
2. Xeo Muong post’s 1,500 meters distance
3. Kinh Xang Phen post’s 1,000 meters distance

A-shaped defense work - Xeo Quyt Relic Area in Dong Thap Province

A-shaped defense work.

Table and chairs for guests in the office and residence of comrade Nguyen The Huu - Xeo Quyt Relic Area in Dong Thap Province

3. Table and chairs in the office and residence of comrade Nguyen The Huu – secretary of the Province Party Committee (1974-1975)

Firewook dryer in 1968 - Xeo Quyt Relic Area in Dong Thap Province

5. Firewook dryer in 1968 in the kitchen of province

The secretariat office - Xeo Quyt Relic Area in Dong Thap Province

6. The secretariat office (1973-1975) in service of the province party leadership

Stake minefield - Xeo Quyt Relic Area in Dong Thap Province

9. Stake minefield, a grenade death trap against helicopters landing and entering and tanks attacking safe zone

Check out all photos of places including houses, offices, defense works, fish pond in the sightseeing map HERE.

Cajuput Forests, Interlacing Ditches Systems, Plants & Wild Animals

In recent, Xeo Quyt is known as not only a historic site but also a nature reserve place of Dong Thap Muoi. Coming to this place, visitors not only learn more about the heart-broken war but also enjoy the fresh air and unspoil natural beauty. Nowadays, the area has over 170 species of plants and over 200 species of wild animals. There are 7 species of family Ranidae (frogs, toads), 22 members of class Reptilia, 73 species of fishes, 91 species of birds, 7 species of mammals. Xeo Quyt houses 13 species in Vietnam Red Book: Burmese python (trăn mốc), Ptyas mucosa (Rắn hổ trâu), Tourists can walk in the cajuput forests to creep and immerse in the wild nature. When the sun is going down, birds return to the forests, sing beautiful songs which win the heart of most people.

 - Xeo Quyt Relic Area in Dong Thap Province

Fern in the cajuput forest.

There is a lot of greenery in Xeo Quyt.

Walking or By Boat

Tourists can choose to explore the military base by boat or walking. In fact, the trail and the waterway are parallel.

the trail and the waterway are parallel - Xeo Quyt Relic Area in Dong Thap Province

The trail and the waterway are parallel.

By boat

It takes 30-45 to explore the base by boat. The boat registration fee is VND 15,000/person. A boat hosts 3-4 persons.

Pros:

  • Enjoy cruising narrow and zigzag canal under the shade of green trees and vines in cajuput jungle is a memorable experience. The boat is called “xuồng ba lá” which literally means three-leaf boat or three-piece boat because the small boat is made from three pieces of wood.
  • Each boat is riden by a friendly local female guide in black Ao ba ba top and bottom set. She does not only ride the boat but also introduce to tourists remarkable stops on the boat route, tell them interesting and hidden stories about the Vietnam War.
  • Tourists do not walk for about 1 km in order to see the base. This choice is better for the elderly and family with babies.

Cons:

  • Tourists must pay the extra boat registration fee which is VND 15,000/person.
  • As you can see on the vestige sightseeing map, the thin blue line depicts the boat route. Tourists will miss some places on the trail.
Registration desk for the boat tour - Xeo Quyt Relic Area in Dong Thap Province

Registration desk for the boat tour. Handicraft makers make hyacinth baskets in a shelter next to the boat docking area amid the cajuput forest.

Boat docking area - Xeo Quyt Relic Area in Dong Thap Province

Docking area.

Boat tour - Xeo Quyt Relic Area in Dong Thap Province

A beautiful section of the waterway, with tiny water ferns, plants and green old trees on the boat tour.

Foreigners are excited at sitting on a xuồng ba lá on a boat tour.

Foreigners are excited at sitting on a xuồng ba lá on a boat tour.

Mekong Delta Tour

By walking

Pros:

  • No fee for walking choice;
  • Beautiful trail with lots of things to see;
  • Tourists can choose to end the tour soon if they turn left at the crossroad, the total length is about 1 km. They will see the same places as on boat tour;
  • If tourists do not turn left but go straight, they will see more places, the total length of the route is about 1.5 km.

Cons:

  • Walking 1-1.5 km for about 45 minutes is sometimes not a good choice if tourists have walked so much on previous days of their trip.
  • Old people and families with babies do not prefer the trail to the boat tour.
  • Xeo Quyt is usually the last stop on designed Dong Thap full day tour. Tourists often get tired at this attraction and prefer the boats.
Lines of cajuput trees along the trail - Xeo Quyt Relic Area in Dong Thap Province

Lines of cajuput trees along the trail.

A nice bridge across a narrow canal - Xeo Quyt Relic Area in Dong Thap Province

A nice bridge across a narrow canal.

The longest bridge in the cajuput jungle - Xeo Quyt Relic Area in Dong Thap Province

The longest bridge on the trail in the cajuput jungle.

Gallery of Xeo Quyt Relic’s History

Walking or crusing in Xeo Quyt base, tourists learn about rugged terrains, positions and models of defense works, office and residences of comrades. Hundreds of artifacts in the Gallery of Xeo Quyt Relic’s History are evidence of the past, gives them an insider’s view of the heroic fight against the strong enemy. Read more about Gallery of Xeo Quyt Relic’s History.

warheads, bombs, table, stove, smithy in Gallery of Xeo Quyt Relic's History

Warhead bullets, bombs made by America and UK used by the enemy to bombard in Xeo Quyt;
The wooden table in the house of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Phuong who supplied and help Viet Cong in Xeo Quyt
The smithy made and used by comrade Le Van Huu to make instruments and weapons (1972-1975)
Stoves created and used by soldiers in order to cook daily.

Piece of parachute fabric, parachute mosquito net, documents and notebooks, plate, flashlight, stainless steel mug in Gallery of Xeo Quyt Relic's History

Piece of parachute fabric, parachute mosquito net, documents and notebooks, plate, flashlight, stainless steel mug.

Learn about other displaying artifact in the Gallery of Xeo Quyt Relic’s History HERE.

Restaurant & Drink Stall – What to eat and drink?

The restaurant offers a spacious dining area and a wide range of specialty foods. The top dishes include grilled snakehead fish with spring lotus leaf, chicken boiled with vinegar leaf, steamed snail with pepper, rice dragon blood lotus leaf package, perch warehouse clay pot and other great dishes will definitely bring to tourists the new discoveries on unique culinary flavors of pink lotus Dong Thap hometown. Ingredients include lively hemibagrus, loach, eel, frogs, shrimps, snakehead, banana flower and fresh lotus seeds, bitter melon, roselle. Specialty drinks include Lotus seed milk and Lotus wine. Prices range between VND 20,000 and 250,000. Another highlight of Xeo Quyt Restaurant is the spacious and eco-friendly restaurants with shelters made of leaf, wood and bamboo. There is a shelter above a large water lily pond with beautiful flowers and nice birds walking and hunting for foods on the leaves. Learn more about list of dishes and prices, photos of the beautiful restaurant HERE.

The beautiful shelter of the restaurant is built above the water lily pond - Xeo Quyt Relic Area

The beautiful shelter of the restaurant is built above the water lily pond.

Xeo Quyt Restaurant

The restaurant has some shelters with a capacity for hundreds of people.

Lotus seed milk - a specialty drink of Dong Thap - the kingdom of lotus

Lotus seed milk – a specialty drink of Dong Thap – the kingdom of lotus

Souvenir Store – What to buy?

Stuffed lotus – the symbol of Dong Thap tourism, honey in cajuput forests, hyacinth hats, Hong Ngu checkered scarfs, dried lotus seeds, lotus seed core tea, stuffed lotus babies. Read more about top things to buy in Xeo Quyt Area, Dong Thap.

Souvenir shop in Xeo Quyt Relic Area

Souvenir shop in Xeo Quyt Relic Area is made of wood and nipa palm leaves. Hong Ngu checkered scarfs and Ao ba ba tops are favorite souvenirs in the relic area.

Stuffed lotus baby, hyacinth hat, conical hat, green fabric hat which was usually worn by Viet Cong, lotus seed core tea, dried lotus seed - souvenir shop in Xeo Quyt

Stuffed lotus babies, hyacinth hats, conical hats, green fabric hats which were usually worn by Viet Cong, lotus seed core tea, dried lotus seeds.

Experience the lives of Dong Thap Muoi people and camping

There is a wide range of activities for tourists to experience the lives of Dong Thap Muoi people such as:

  • unloading branches to catch fishes, netting, fishing;
  • watching traditional performances trade including crafting products from hyacinth;
  • participating in folk games: racing dinghy, catching ducks on the river, passing monkey bridge, catching fishes by baskets;
  • communicating with local artists and enjoying Vietnamese traditional music.
  • drinking lotus heart tea;
  • eating extractor rice dotted with sesame salt.

In addition, Xeo Quyt has channels, lotus and water lily ponds, exhibition of tools used by Dong Thap people for earning their living by farming and catching fishes.

Xeo Quyt has a picnic and camping area with monkey bridge, rope, giant ball, ponds, canal, stage for the above activities.

Monkey bridge, rope, giant ball floating on canal

Monkey bridge, rope, giant ball floating on canal.

Exhibition of traditional rice production and fishing equipment in Mekong Delta

Traditional rice production and fishing equipment in Mekong Delta displayed in the area helps tourists learn more about the local life in the past when most of Dong Thap people earn their living by fishing and cultivating rice.

Baskets, bamboo fish trap, fishing net which are called nơm, lợp, lờ

Baskets, bamboo fish trap, fishing net which are called nơm, lợp, lờ. Learn more…

Ách đôi, cộ used to transfer rice, rake (bừa), bàn cào, mỏ sảy, chang, hoe (cuốc), bừa.

Ách đôi, cộ used to transfer rice, straw, rake (bừa), bàn cào, mỏ sảy, chang, hoe (cuốc), bừa.

Bicycle Rent

Tandem bicycles for rent in Xeo Quyt

These tandem bicycles are for rent, the price is VND 20,000/bicycle/30 minutes.

Kids love to ride bicycles in the spacious Xeo quyt Area

Kids love to ride bicycles in the spacious Xeo quyt Area.

What to bring with you on the trip to Xeo Quyt Relic?

On Xeo Quyt trips, tourists should bring the following things:

  • Coat, hat (or cap), mask, sunscreen in dry season from November to the ends in April/early May with late February to May;
  • Raincoat, umbrella, rain shoes in rainy season May to early November with the months from June to August receiving the highest rainfall of the year.
  • Insect repellent;

Regulation at Xeo Quyt Relic Area

  • Please do not pick flowers, break branches at the tourist sightseeing destinations;
  • Please preserve the Cultural Heritage;
  • Ensuring food safety is to contribute to responsible tourism development;
  • No dirty writing and drawing is culture;
  • Please keep the environment green, clean, beautiful;
  • Complying correctly with the rules at the sightseeing destination is civilized
  • Your idea contributions – Dong Thap’s tourism improvement;
  • To behave culturally – to act civilly;
  • Build a responsible tourism environment together with us.
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