Rach Gia
The prosperous capital of Kien Giang province, Rach Gia is a booming port city on the Gulf of Thailand. The population includes significant numbers of both ethnic Chinese and ethnic Khmers. Most travellers give the chaotic centre short shrift, heading straight to the port for boats to Phu Quoc Island. Those who linger, however, might be charmed by the quaint waterfront and sleepy nearby streets, which provide great opportunities for both pleasant strolls and some decent seafood.

With its easy access to the sea and the proximity of Cambodia and Thailand, fishing, agriculture and smuggling are profitable trades in this province. The area was once famous for supplying the large feathers used to make ceremonial fans for the Imperial Court.

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Getting there & away
Contents

Land
Bus
Buses from HCMC to Rach Gia leave from the Mien Tay bus station; the express bus takes six to seven hours (around 90, 000d). Night buses leave Rach Gia for HCMC between 7pm and 11pm.

The Central bus station (Ð Nguyen Binh Khiem) is in town, near the Rach Gia New Trade Center, and has daily express services to Can Tho (40, 000d, three hours, every two hours), Ha Tien (22, 000d, three hours, hourly), Long Xuyen, Sa Dec and HCMC. You can catch buses to Hon Chong (25, 000d, 2½ hours, three daily).

There’s also a bigger Rach Gia bus station (Ben Xe Rach Soi; 78 Ð Nguyen Trung Truc), 7km south of the city (towards Long Xuyen and Can Tho). Buses link Rach Gia with Can Tho, Dong Thap, Ha Tien, Long Xuyen and HCMC.

Car & motorbike
Rach Gia is 92km from Ha Tien, 125km from Can Tho and 248km from HCMC.

Boat
At the western end of Ð Nguyen Cong Tru is Rach Gia Park, where you catch the ferries across to Phu Quoc Island.

Mui Voi ferry terminal (mui means nose and voi means elephant – so named because of the shape of the island) is at the northeastern end of Ð Nguyen Thoai Hau.

Approximately three boats daily leave for Ca Mau (80, 000d, three to five hours) from the Rach Meo ferry terminal (811 306; 747 Ð Ngo Quyen), about 2km south of town.

Air
Vietnam Airlines flies between HCMC and Rach Gia twice weekly. The same flight carries on to Phu Quoc Island.

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