Rach Gia, capital city of Kien Giang province, is a harbor city on the Gulf of Thailand. The population includes significant numbers of ethnic Chinese and Khmers.
Ha Tien, 8km from the Cambodian border, is on the Gulf of Thailand. It's famous for its nearby beaches and fishing village. The landscape of sparkling limestone islets and the labyrinth of dark mysterious cave make Ha Tien a great place to explore.
SIGHTSEEING SPOTS: Nguyen Trung Truc Temple is dedicated to Nguyen Trung Truc, a leader of the Vietnamese resistance campaign of the 1860s against the newly arrived French. The first temple structure was a simple building with a thatched roof; over the years it has been enlarged and rebuilt several times. The last reconstruction took place between 1964 and 1970. In the center of the main hall on an altar is a portrait of Nguyen Trung Truc.
Mac Cuu Family Tombs are on a low ridge not far from town. Several dozen relatives of Mac Cuu are buried here in traditional Chinese tombs decorated with figures of dragons, phoenixes, lions and guardians. The largest tomb is that of Mac Cuu himself; it was constructed in 1809 on the orders of Emperor Gia Long and is decorated with finely carved figures of Green Dragon and White Tiger. The tomb of Mac Cuu's first wife is flanked by dragons and phoenixes. At the bottom of the ridge is the shrine dedicated to the Mac family.
Tam Bao Pagoda was founded by Mac Cuu in 1730. It is now home to several Buddhist nuns. Near Tam Bao Pagoda, also known as Sac Tu Tam Bao Tu, is a section of the city wall dating from the early 18th century.
Phu Dung Pagoda , also called Phu Cu Am Tu, was founded in the mid-18th century by Mac Thien Tich's concubine, Nguyen Thi Xuan. It is now home to one monk.
Thach Dong Cave Pagoda also known as Thanh Van Pagoda, is a Buddhist temple 4km from town. To the left of the entrance is the Stele of Hatred commemorating the massacre of 130 people killed by the Khmer Rouge on 14 March 1978. Several of the chambers contain funerary tablets and altars to Ngoc Hoang, Quan The Am Bo Tat and the two Buddhist monks who founded the temples of Thach Dong Cave Pagoda.
Khmer pagodas and Chinese temples.