Kenh Ga (Chicken Canal) is named after the wild chickens that used to live here. Today, a riverine way of life and stunning limestone formations are the main draw.
Set on the banks of the Hoang Long River, Kenh Ga Floating Village is a remarkable place, not only because it is surrounded by the same massive rocks that dominate Hoa Lu, but also for the fact that all year round the entire community lives on the water itself.
Local life in Kenh Ga floating village
It’s a lovely area, and one of the best places in northern Vietnam to see river life. People here seem to spend most of their lives floating on water: at their floating fish-breeding pens, harvesting river grass to feed the fish, trawling in the muddy shallows for shellfish or selling veggies boat-to-boat. Even the children commute to school by boat. This was largely a floating village, but more landbased houses have now been built
Amazing Ninh Binh tour with Kenh Ga floating village
Although the floating village of Kenh Ga receives relatively few visitors compared to nearby Hoa Lu, and the peoples’ aquatic way of life has slightly changed over the centuries, it is still known as one of the most typical rural areas in the Red River Delta. It offers a combination of unrigged countryside landscapes, traditional rural lifestyle and friendly local folks.
The traditional lifestyle of the river folk in this area is unique, and the trip will present you with countless sights of the old Viet Nam. The principal reason for its lack of visitors joining tours in Vietnam coming here is that the village is accessible only by boat. Gliding along the river and canals, weaving one’s way through the boathouses and fishing vessels of Kenh Ga is a unique experience for there is no other place in Vietnam that combines the stunning backdrop of the limestone cliffs with an authentic floating village.
The boat trips are organized through the local government tourism agency and, thankfully, they’ve managed to keep the operation relatively low-key and hassle-free. How much longer can it last?
When visiting Kenh Ga or Chicken Canal Floating Village, tourists in Vietnam travel are all warmly welcomed here because the locals are very friendly and hospitable. The children gleefully shout “tay oi” (Westerner) at every tourist they see, even Vietnamese tourists!
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