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The Ok Om Bok festival in Sóc Trăng by car from Ho Chi Minh City is a trip of about 220–230 km, usually 4–4.5 hours on the expressway. In 2026, Cần Thơ city's Ok Om Bok – Ngo Boat Race festival (former Sóc Trăng is now part of Cần Thơ) is scheduled to open on the evening of 22 November, with boat races on 23–24 November at the stand on the Maspéro river in Sóc Trăng ward. This guide helps you pick a day, a departure time, where to stay, and how to handle drop-offs when the centre is packed.
Plans can change, so check the latest announcements before you go.
From Ho Chi Minh City, take the expressway via Trung Lương and Mỹ Thuận to Cần Thơ, then the Cần Thơ – Cà Mau expressway or Highway 1 to Sóc Trăng. To watch morning races, arrive the evening before; leaving the city at 4 a.m. can work but is exhausting. The way back is busy with festival traffic; the driver times the exit from the centre for when crowds thin.
Hotels around central Sóc Trăng usually fill up for the festival days. If you cannot get a room, stay in central Cần Thơ, about 60 km away, and drive down to watch the races and back the same day. Book your room before the car to lock the plan.
Both river banks near the stand fill up from the morning, and nearby streets may be diverted. Agree a precise pick-up point a few hundred metres from the crowds, and keep your phone on. Bring a hat, water and sunscreen; only early arrivals get a spot by the railing.
Ok Om Bok is the moon-worship festival of the Khmer community in southern Vietnam, held on the full moon of the 10th lunar month as the rice harvest approaches. Families thank the Moon for good rains: on full-moon night they lay out flattened young rice, sweet potato, banana and coconut in the yard, and elders feed flattened rice to children as a blessing for the year. There are floating lanterns (Lôi Protip) and sky lanterns on the river, and Cà Hâu boats decked with lights.
The Ngo boat race is the highlight. A Ngo boat is about 30 m long, carved from a large trunk, its bow and stern curved like the Naga serpent, carrying dozens of rowers and a pacer. In 2026, over 60 men's and women's teams are expected. Both banks of the Maspéro river through central Sóc Trăng ward are the usual viewing spots.
With a day or two to spare, combine the races with distinctive Khmer and Vietnamese pagodas, most within 15 km of the centre.
73B Lê Hồng Phong, former Ward 3, about 2 km from the centre. Built around the 16th century in Khmer style and listed as a national monument in 1999. Its grove of tall trees shelters a large colony of fruit bats that fly out at dusk. The pagoda also keeps scriptures written on palm leaves.
163A Lương Đình Của. Built in 1906 by Ngô Kim Tây in Vietnamese style, it holds nearly 2,000 clay statues, a thousand-petal lotus throne and giant candles lit decades ago. It is dim and narrow inside, so go in small groups.
In Đại Tâm commune (former Mỹ Xuyên) on Highway 1, about 12 km from the centre towards Bạc Liêu. Built in 1815, its walls are covered in pieces of porcelain bowls and plates. An easy stop if you continue to Bạc Liêu or Cà Mau.
The museum at 53 Tôn Đức Thắng, opposite Khleang pagoda, displays objects from Khmer daily life and festivals. Visit before the festival to understand the boats, lanterns and flattened rice.
| Sight | Address | Time | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bat Pagoda | 73B Lê Hồng Phong | 45–60 min | Dusk for the bats |
| Clay Pagoda | 163A Lương Đình Của | 30–45 min | Dark and cramped inside |
| Bowl Pagoda | Highway 1, Đại Tâm | 30 min | On the way to Bạc Liêu |
| Khmer Museum | 53 Tôn Đức Thắng | 45 min | Opposite Khleang pagoda |
In pagodas, cover shoulders and knees, leave shoes at the main hall steps, do not point your feet at Buddha images, and ask before photographing monks.
On festival days, eateries near the course are packed. Eat early before heading to the river and carry water.
Sóc Trăng has no airport and no railway. Visitors from Hà Nội or Đà Nẵng usually choose one of two ways:
More flights, but a longer road of about 4–4.5 hours to Sóc Trăng. Good for groups who want to stop in Cần Thơ or Mỹ Tho on the way.
The Reunification Express ends at Saigon station; the Mekong Delta has no railway yet. If you come by sleeper from central Vietnam, a car can meet you at Saigon station and drive straight to Sóc Trăng; morning arrivals work best.
| Vehicle | Luggage | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 4–5 seat | about 3 suitcases | 2–3 people |
| 7-seater | about 4 suitcases | Families, photographers with tripods |
| 16-seat van, 9-seat limousine | about 6–8 suitcases | Photo clubs, larger groups |
| Day | Morning | Afternoon – evening |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Nov (Sun) | Leave HCMC at 6 a.m., lunch in Cần Thơ | Opening programme in Phú Lợi ward, overnight |
| 23 Nov (Mon) | Early to the Maspéro banks for the races | Bat Pagoda at dusk, floating lanterns on full-moon night |
| 24 Nov (Tue) | Final races and closing | Bowl or Clay Pagoda, back to HCMC |
Being early in the week, the return is lighter than a weekend, but still avoid the city gateways after 5 p.m.
On race days, streets along the Maspéro are usually closed or restricted to cars. The driver drops you on a parallel street and parks further away. Save the car's location on your phone, pick an easy landmark such as a pagoda gate or a big junction, and agree a time. Mobile networks can jam in big crowds, so fix a time rather than waiting for a call.
Rooms in Sóc Trăng ward fill early for the nights of 22 and 23 November. If only places outside the centre are left, choose one with car parking. Staying in Cần Thơ and driving down for the day is also sensible; leave Cần Thơ before 6 a.m.
Families: a 7-seater; bigger groups: a 16-seat van. See car rental in Soc Trang and the Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho route.
Travelling with young children? Ask in advance and we will fit child seats. Year-end prices run higher; Tết bookings take a deposit of about 10%. Need a price today? Send us your trip details.
Scheduled for 23–24 November 2026, with the opening on the evening of 22 November.
About 4–4.5 hours for 220–230 km.
Book early in Sóc Trăng; if full, stay in Cần Thơ about 60 km away.
Light clothes, a hat and flat shoes; cover shoulders and knees in pagodas.
The closest is Cần Thơ, about 60–70 km away.
Bún nước lèo, bánh pía, flattened rice and local sausage.
Yes, if they stay on the inside holding an adult's hand, with water and an umbrella; the midday riverbank is hot and crowded.
Before 6 a.m., so you find a viewing spot before the main heats.
Real cars at the Car Rental Vietnam depot
Travel guides for this trip
For an event or festival trip to Soc Trang, confirm the venue and programme with the organiser before finalising the car schedule. The area name alone is not enough to identify a group drop-off. Agree on a recognisable return pickup and contact arrangements if passengers split up. If traffic controls affect access, confirm a suitable nearby meeting point. Include passenger numbers, luggage and whether you need a day return or an overnight stay when requesting a quote so service hours can be planned correctly.
View the destination reference point on the map. This marker identifies the destination area; confirm the exact pickup address or meeting point when booking.
Private cars with driver from 4 to 45 seats, including Limousine vans and 29- and 45-seater coaches. Tolls, trip insurance and the driver's pay are included:
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