Ha Tien

Travel guide

Quicklinks	» Book a room now!
» Accommodation » Food & Drink	» Sights & attractions » Getting there & away » Buy a PDF travel guide!

Squeezed onto the Cambodian border in a distant corner of Vietnam, Ha Tien is decidedly remote. The approach to town certainly helps to amplify its exotic atmosphere -- the agricultural bustle of the Mekong Delta seems to melt away to a lush landscape of rice paddies and buffalo wallows, the flatness punctuated by sudden limestone karsts.

The Khmer-style wat located just out of town only helps to emphasise the feeling that you're not really in Vietnam anymore -- a feeling that carries through to Ha Tien's dusty streets and languid riverfront. In some ways, it feels like other cities located further up the Mekong like Savannakhet in Laos, or Kratie in Cambodia.

Ha Tien was in fact part of Cambodia until 1708. It was founded with the permission of the Khmers by a Chinese immigrant named Mac Cuu in 1674, only to be absorbed into Vietnam 30 years later. As of 2008, the border with Cambodia is open, offering visas for US$25, and from the moment your bus pulls in to town it will be stormed by motodops wanting to take you across. Most will find it completely incomprehensible if you don't want to go to Cambodia, bartering with you as you try to explain to them you're staying in town. Even if you insist repeatedly, you might still find one or two drivers waiting outside of your hotel, ready to take you at a moment's notice should you change your mind. If you do want to go to Cambodia, the border provides convenient access to the beach towns of Kep and Sihaounkville.

Perhaps it's in response to the open border, and the tourist traffic that they're expecting, but the town seems to be experiencing a subtle shift. A few hotels have been closed for major refurbishments, and several new hotels have sprung up. Though it doesn't have a lot in the way of sights, and it currently lacks much tourist infrastructure, Ha Tien could definitely be an attractive stop for travellers on their way between Cambodia and Vietnam -- in the meantime, the motodops will keep waiting.

Orientation
Ha Tien sits on a corner of land, bordered on two sides by water. To the south is the To Chau River, to the east is the expansive Dong Ho (East Lake), which is actually an inlet of the sea. Approaching from Rach Gia, you'll cross the To Chau Bridge, and arrive on Vo Van Road, which serves as the town's western border. Most of the town's life occurs between Vo Van and Dong Ho, much of it along the riverfront.

Life in Ha Tien was formerly centred on a picturesque pontoon bridge that draped across the entrance to Dong Ho. The market sat on one bank, the bus terminal on the other. In 2008, the bridge was dismantled, the pontoons set afloat, and plans were put in place for a concrete bridge -- though that has yet to materialise. For the time being, the bus station has been inconveniently moved almost a kilometre north-west of town, while the market has migrated west, near the To Chau Bridge.

Ha Tien lacks most major services, though there is one bank and several ATMs. The Vietcom Bank is situated at #4 Phuong Thanh, and offers exchange services and an ATM. Another ATM is located nearby, on the corner with Chi Lang. Internet is scarce, though it is available at the post office on To Chau, and in the lobby of the Dong Tam Hotel. Should you have a minor ailment, there is a pharmacy at #48 Tran Hau -- for anything more serious, head to Rach Gia.

Text and/or map last updated on 21st August, 2009.

Considering a tour to Vietnam?

Add to scrapbook

Book online

Hai Van Hotel
Ha Tien Town
From: US$18.00 with WHL

Du Hung Hotel
Ha Tien Town
From: US$20.00 with WHL

Hai Yen Hotel
Ha Tien Town
From: US$20.00 with WHL

Search for accommodation

Search for guesthouses & hotels
where in Vietnam?

Sort results by:
Travelfish ranking (best first)
Price (cheapest first)
Name (A-Z)
Show only properties bookable online

Fresh off our Asia travel forum

Here are some discussions off the Travelfish forum, perhaps related to Ha Tien. You can find the full forum here.

Topic	Replies	Views
Kampot -> Ha Tien + Phu Quoc ferry schedule In Vietnam: by Mikko	0	37
Phu Quoc Ha Tien Boat In Vietnam: by apertyx, last reply by sea2010	12	1931
Ha Tien to Rach Gia In Vietnam: by marike, last reply by foxglove2012	2	360
Ha Tien to Kampot? In Vietnam: by emmryss, last reply by KenJP	5	1674
Warning: ferry fire from Phu Quoc to Ha Tien In Vietnam: by mulaohu, last reply by rmikiewi	3	408
Kep to Ha Tien (and Phu Quoc) In Vietnam: by danandhan	0	555
Ha Tien Border Crossing??? In Vietnam: by nadjan, last reply by travellingtina	3	1575
Ha Tien-PhuQuoc fast boat - does it exist? In Vietnam: by KateRus, last reply by somtam2000	1	715
Express bus HA TIEN to RACH GIA In Vietnam: by ron67, last reply by niceangela	4	2364
Hotel in Ha Tien? In Vietnam: by emmryss, last reply by CatBa	1	972
The new boarder cross from Veitnam and Cambodia @ Ha Tien In Cambodia additions: by Brookie81, last reply by somtam2000	1	2195
Are there Taxi's in Ha Tien, ? In Vietnam: by ron67, last reply by ron67	3	871
Ha Tien - Hotels/Guest Houses? In Vietnam: by colbycoombs	0	1122
New Cambodia and Vietnam border crossing at Ha Tien open In Visas and border crossings: by somtam2000	0	3083
Ha Tien Border Crossing??? In Vietnam: by nadjan, last reply by somtam2000	1	1064

Ha Tien reviews

Backchat from the Travelfish community

Not a soul has had a thing to say about this place -- why don't you get the ball rolling?

Have your say

Review title

Snappiness encouraged ;-)

When did you visit here?

This gives your review a bit of context - especially if you were last in Ha Tien in 1932.

Your review

(Remotely sensible, non-ranting comments are much appreciated. If you don't like somewhere, please explain why -- it's all far more helpful for others that way.) Serial ranters, loons and spammers will be banished!
And please, no self-promotional URLs -- that's what your signature field is for.

So how does it rate?
On a scale of one to ten (with 10 being outstanding and 1 being bloody awful) how would you rate Ha Tien for the following criteria?

Note: Ratings are OUT OF TEN -- not five!

Sights & activities:
History & culture:
Scenery & environment:
Eat & drink:

Traveller scene:
Romance:
Value for money:
I'll be back (or not):

Please note comments are edited for clarity, typos and style before they appear. Ranting tirades, spam and anything else that really belongs somewhere else won't make the cut. If you want to rant, go to Thorntree.

Please login and refresh this screen before writing your review -- thanks!