The Mekong Delta river bustling with trading ports and canals which date back as early as in the first century C.E. Life in the Mekong Delta revolves much around the river, and many of the villages are often accessible by smaller rivers and canals rather than by road.
We took a bus from Siagon and then transferred onto a boat where we zig-zagged through ocean sized vessels that bring everything from fruit to steel into the area so that it then can be traded locally via smaller boats. Where possible trades are done via boat to boat resulting in workers and their family spending many days on-board their vessel.
The region is famous as a large rice growing area. It produces about half of the total of Vietnam's rice output. Vietnam is the second largest exporter of rice globally after Thailand.
As we worked through the network of canals and river ways we them transferred to a smaller rowing boat so we could gain access to one of the riverside villages. Transferring from boat to boat was a little interesting as if you didn't plant your first step in the centre of the small boat there would be a fair chance you'd be going for a swim and given the colour of the water noone really fancied it. Venice it wasn't!
At the village we got to see and experience different styles of living either via cooking or general trade practices. As it was the weekend there were plenty of locals around to banter with. Lunch was a cook-up at a local homestay. Basically small restaurants that are attached to residential small holdings. Within the main entrance there was a huge, and I mean huge snake. If you so desired, or if you're mad enough, the owners would drape it around you whilst you had you photo taken. Thankful all were too keen to eat and the snake was duly kept in it's unlocked cage! After lunch we took some bikes out and cycled up and down the village before we had to head back to the boat and home to Siagon.
We took a bus from Siagon and then transferred onto a boat where we zig-zagged through ocean sized vessels that bring everything from fruit to steel into the area so that it then can be traded locally via smaller boats. Where possible trades are done via boat to boat resulting in workers and their family spending many days on-board their vessel.
As we worked through the network of canals and river ways we them transferred to a smaller rowing boat so we could gain access to one of the riverside villages. Transferring from boat to boat was a little interesting as if you didn't plant your first step in the centre of the small boat there would be a fair chance you'd be going for a swim and given the colour of the water noone really fancied it. Venice it wasn't!
At the village we got to see and experience different styles of living either via cooking or general trade practices. As it was the weekend there were plenty of locals around to banter with. Lunch was a cook-up at a local homestay. Basically small restaurants that are attached to residential small holdings. Within the main entrance there was a huge, and I mean huge snake. If you so desired, or if you're mad enough, the owners would drape it around you whilst you had you photo taken. Thankful all were too keen to eat and the snake was duly kept in it's unlocked cage! After lunch we took some bikes out and cycled up and down the village before we had to head back to the boat and home to Siagon.
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