An Phu

An Phu is a rural district in the far north of An Giang province, jutting into Cambodia along the western edge of Vietnam. The district capital, An Phu town, lies on the Hau River and serves as a border trading post. An Phu is one of the most remote districts in Vietnam, with a landscape of rice paddies, rivers, and channels. The population includes a significant Cham community, with about 12,000 Cham people living in five villages, alongside ethnic Vietnamese and Khmer communities. The district is famous for its monsoonal flood season, when the Mekong's rising waters inundate the fields but bring abundant fish.

The climate is tropical monsoon. The rainy season (May to October) brings annual flooding that is an integral part of local agriculture and culture, celebrated with the Flood Season Festival.

By Plane

The nearest airport is Can Tho International Airport (VCA), about 120 km south (3 hours by road).

By Car / Road

An Phu is accessible by road from Chau Doc (30 km south, 45 minutes) and Long Xuyen. Buses run from Chau Doc's bus station to An Phu town. The district also has a border crossing linking to Cambodia's Phnom Penh via a recently upgraded road.

The town centre is walkable, but most of the district's attractions are spread across the rural communes. Motorbikes are the primary mode of transport for locals and visitors alike. During the flood season (August–November), boats become the dominant form of transport as roads and fields are inundated.

• Cham Villages — Five Cham communities in the communes of Da Phuoc, Vinh Truong, Nhon Hoi, Khanh Binh, and Quoc Thai. These villages feature beautiful mosques and traditional weaving workshops.
• Long Binh Border Market — A bustling market on the Cambodia–Vietnam border where traders from both countries gather.
• An Phu Town Central Park — A pleasant green space in the centre of the district town.
• Hau River waterfront — Scenic views of the Mekong and the Cambodian border on the opposite bank.
• Da Phuoc Pagoda — A historic pagoda on the Chau Doc River in the Cham area.

Visit during the Flood Season Festival (seventh lunar month, roughly August) when the district celebrates the bounty of the floodwaters. Take a boat trip through the inundated landscape to see floating villages and fish farms. Explore the Cham villages to observe traditional weaving and learn about Cham culture.

An Phu's cuisine revolves around freshwater fish, especially during the flood season when catches are plentiful. Local specialities include fish cooked in clay pots, rice-field crabs, and dishes made from the bounty of the inundated paddies. Cham-influenced halal dishes can be found in the Cham villages.

Roadside cafés in An Phu town and Long Binh serve Vietnamese coffee (ca phe phin) for around 10,000–15,000 dong. Fresh coconut water and sugarcane juice are sold by street vendors near the market and border crossing. An Phu has no bar or nightlife scene.

• Budget: Small guesthouses in An Phu town cater mainly to local travellers and traders, from 100,000–200,000 dong per night.
• Mid-range: Limited options; most visitors stay in Chau Doc and make day trips to the area.

The Long Binh border market offers goods from both Vietnam and Cambodia, including textiles, electronics, and agricultural products. An Phu is known for its yellow corn and freshwater fish.

• Chau Doc (30 km south) — border city with Sam Mountain, boat connections to Cambodia.
• Phnom Penh, Cambodia (accessible via the border crossing, about 100 km).
• Tan Chau (20 km southeast) — border town known for silk weaving.
• Phu Tan (south) — island district surrounded by rivers and canals.