Vietnam’s floating village of Kenh Ga has been trading its rickety houseboats for solid concrete buildings in recent years. But there is still plenty of provincial charm in this quiet backwater village.
Life still revolves around the local waterways. People get around on boats, and every household farms at least a few fish. Merchants sell vegetables and household goods from boat to boat, and locals make their way to the water’s edge in the mornings and evenings to bathe.
Kenh Ga’s name means ‘Chicken Canal’ and points to the resident wild chickens that have long-since faded away. The city doesn’t attract many visitors, and most in search of rural life on the river skip Kenh Ga’s Hoang Long River in favor of the Mekong. The payoff is relative seclusion and an outstanding natural landscape those who do visit.
Getting There & Away
Kenh Ga is close to Ninh Binh, the provincial capital where most public transportation terminates. To close the final 13 miles between Ninh Binh and Kenh Ga you may have to charter a tourist service or rent a car or motorbike. The nearest major airport is in Hanoi and can be reached by car or bus in less than three hours.
Things to Do
Kenh Ga Attractions
- Boat rides
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Motorboat tours are offered from the pier and take around an hour to show you the major village highlights.
- Rocky countryside
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Kenh ga is dotted with unique karst rock formations, a great backdrop for outdoor activities like hiking and cycling.
- Country roads
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The back roads are so scenic, that many visitors hire a car and take a leisurely drive to neighboring towns like vinh binh and hoa lu.