Ba Om Pond
A square pond ringed by ancient trees with their roots exposed above ground, beside a Khmer monastery.
Updated 30 August 2026
Ao Ba Om is a rectangular pond of about three hundred by five hundred metres outside Tra Vinh, ringed by an embankment on which very old dipterocarps and other trees grow with their root systems standing metres out of the eroded soil - the effect is the site's signature. The Khmer legend attached explains the pond as the result of a contest between men and women over who should propose marriage, won by the women through a trick, and it is named for the woman who led them. Beside it stands Ang pagoda, a Khmer Theravada monastery, and a museum of Khmer culture. Tra Vinh has one of the largest Khmer populations in Vietnam.
Highlights
- A rectangular pond - about three hundred by five hundred metres.
- Trees with roots above ground - standing metres out of eroded soil.
- A Khmer legend of a contest - between men and women, over proposing.
- Ang pagoda and a Khmer museum - beside the pond.
When to go
November to April; the Khmer festivals are the busiest times. Half a day.
Things to know
The pond itself is unremarkable - the trees and the pagoda are the reason to come. Tra Vinh is off the tourist routes. Facilities are minimal. Heat is constant.
Nearby
Tra Vinh city is north-east; the coast and the Mekong mouths are south.
What to pack for Ba Om Pond
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Modest clothing - Shoulders and knees covered - the single most common requirement. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A scarf or shawl - To cover the head or shoulders on entry; women especially at mosques. Find on Amazon
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