Encompassing 700,000 hectares of land and water, Dong Thap Muoi is a distinctive low-lying area covering parts of Long An, Tien Giang and Dong Thap provinces and renowned for its interlacing network of river channels and canals. The site is ideal for visitors to pass through forests where one can see the extreme beauty of nature and glimpse the daily life of the locals.
Go Thap is in the highest part of Dong Thap Muoi and is considered the heart of the area. Resting above the floodwaters and striking amidst endless green rice fields, Go Thap is located in Tan Kieu Commune, Thap Muoi District, in Dong Thap Province, 11 kilometers north of Thap Muoi.
Go Thap Archaeological Area is well known for five relics: Thap Muoi Hill, Co Tu Tower, Binh Kieu Grave, Minh Su Temple and Xu Lady Temple. Relics in this area bear great cultural and historical value. Archaeologists have discovered a number of antiques in this area, especially artifacts belonging to the Oc-Eo civilization and dating back as early as 100 AD.
With its historical and cultural value, the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) has recognized Go Thap as a national cultural vestige. It is expected to be developed into an interesting eco-tourist area.
Visiting Go Thap, tourists will be amazed at the primitive landscape. In the dry season, Go Thap has many boundless and sinuous sand dunes. In the rainy season, Go Thap looks like a dazzling white lake with green trees and grass mounds as islets.
100 meters north of Go Thap is Linh Co Tu Pagoda which was built during the Thieu Tri period (1841-1842). After being heavily damaged by war, the pagoda was renovated in modern style but is still filled with characters of Vietnamese traditions via patterns and decorations. The tomb and temple of Princess Nguyen Phuc Hang Nga (a younger sister of King Gia Long) is also found here.
Visiting on the fifteenth day of the third lunar month or in the eleventh lunar month, tourists will have a chance to discover ethnic artistic performances and folk games.
