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📍 lake · cultural · nature · tra vinh

Ba Om Lake

Ba Om Lake in Trà Vinh is a sacred Khmer reservoir over 1,300 years old, surrounded by ancient trees and the Âng Pagoda - the most important Khmer Buddhist temple in a province with one of the largest Khmer Krom communities in the Mekong Delta.

🌊 Ancient Khmer Lake🛕 Âng Pagoda🌳 400-Year-Old Trees📸 Photography
🧭 Get Directions

Overview

Best Time to Visit
📅 Nov – Apr (dry season; best for temple visits and cycling the lake circuit)
Entry Fee
🎟️ Free
Opening Hours
🕐 Open daily
Address
📌 Đa Lộc, Châu Thành, Trà Vinh

Things to Know

👥Crowds
Becomes busy during holidays and Khmer holidays; peaceful at other times
🌤️Seasonal
Ok Om Bok festival occurs in November
ABOUT THIS PLACE

What Makes Ba Om Lake Special

Ba Om Lake (Ao Vuông) is a rectangular man-made reservoir in Châu Thành district of Trà Vinh province, constructed by the Khmer over 1,300 years ago as a water source and sacred site for the surrounding community. The lake is approximately 300m x 500m, flanked by ancient trees - some estimated at 300-400 years old - and anchored by the Âng Pagoda (Chùa Âng) on its northern shore, one of the most significant Khmer Buddhist temples in the Mekong Delta. Trà Vinh has one of the largest Khmer Krom populations in Vietnam, and the cultural landscape around Ba Om Lake reflects this - the architecture, the monks, the ceremonies, and the community that uses the lake and temple are distinctly Khmer rather than the Vietnamese Buddhist tradition that dominates the rest of the delta. The site is a National Special Relic.

How to Get There

🚗 Getting There

Ba Om Lake is approximately 7km from Trà Vinh city center in Châu Thành district. From Trà Vinh city, the route is straightforward by motorbike or bicycle - about 20 minutes. Trà Vinh city is approximately 130km from Ho Chi Minh City via the Mekong Delta expressway and Highway 53, taking about 2.5 - 3 hours. From Cần Thơ, the distance is about 100km - roughly 2 hours. There are buses from HCMC to Trà Vinh; the bus station is in the city center from where motorbike taxi reaches the lake. The road from Trà Vinh city to Ba Om Lake passes through Khmer villages and is itself scenic.

What to Expect

👀 On the Ground

The lake perimeter path passes under a continuous canopy of ancient trees - the scale and age of the trees give the lakeside an atmosphere found in very few places in the flat delta landscape. The Âng Pagoda on the north shore is a working temple with monks in residence, ornate Khmer architectural decoration, and statues that differ distinctly from the Vietnamese Buddhist temples that fill the rest of the region. The lake surface is still and shaded for most of the day. Local families and students use the lake perimeter as a leisure space. There are a few food vendors and small restaurants near the entrance. The full circuit on foot takes about 30 minutes at a relaxed pace.

Travel Tips

🧳 Tips

Ba Om Lake and Trà Vinh province represent one of the most accessible and least-visited pockets of Khmer Krom culture in Vietnam. The combination of the ancient lake, the old-growth tree canopy, and the active Khmer Buddhist temple creates a place that feels genuinely different from the rest of the Mekong Delta - and the province as a whole has more Khmer temples per square kilometer than any other outside Sóc Trăng. If mày is doing a thorough Mekong Delta itinerary that goes beyond the standard Cần Thơ floating market, Trà Vinh with Ba Om Lake and the city's temple cluster is the right next stop.

Insider Tips

Based on real traveler experiences and commonly mentioned advice from multiple visitors.

Visit on non-holiday weekdays for maximum tranquility and peaceful atmosphere
Spend 1-2 hours walking around the lake and resting under trees
Try local Tra Vinh dishes like Bún Nước Lèo at nearby food vendors
The Âng Pagoda (Chùa Âng) on the lake shore is an active Khmer Buddhist temple and one of the most significant in the Mekong Delta - dress conservatively and remove shoes before entering the main hall
The lake is surrounded by ancient trees estimated at 300-400 years old that form a cathedral-like canopy over the water's edge - the combination of old-growth trees, still water, and temple architecture is the main visual experience
Trà Vinh province has the highest concentration of Khmer Krom people in Vietnam after Sóc Trăng - the culture, food, temples, and community around Ba Om Lake are distinctly Khmer rather than Vietnamese
The lake circuit on foot or bicycle takes about 30-45 minutes and passes through the temple grounds, under the old-growth tree canopy, and around the full perimeter
Combine with the Khmer temples and Trà Vinh city market for a full day of Khmer Krom cultural immersion - Trà Vinh is one of the least-visited provincial capitals in the delta and rewards an overnight stop

FAQ

Common questions from travelers who've visited this place.

Is Ao Ba Om crowded?›
It's peaceful on regular days but becomes busy during holidays and Khmer holidays. Visit on weekdays for a more tranquil experience.
What is the Ok Om Bok festival?›
It's a Khmer festival held at Ao Ba Om every November celebrating local culture and traditions.
How long should I spend at Ao Ba Om?›
Plan 1-2 hours to walk around the lake, rest under trees, and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.
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