We were up crack of dawn for our 3 hour bus ride to the Mekong Delta/River. We were a group of thirteen of all nationalities all of whom spoke English so we had a good time getting to know one another on the bus.
On the way stopped at a Government sponsored workshop for handicapped people who were making all sorts on items using mother of pearl, eggshell and lacquer.
As soon as we arrived at the Mekong we boarded our little motor boat for the trip. Boats of all sizes everywhere some carrying goods and some were homes of families that live and work on the water. All along the banks are shops and homes and small businesses. The river and waterways are the lifeblood of this part of Vietnam. There is water everywhere.
We then crossed the main river to the other side and up one of the many tributaries .
Lush vegetation on both sides together with small houses and lots more boats
Eventually we stop and get into smaller dugout type boats and a lady standing at the rear with two oars rowed further up the river where we stopped for a light lunch and for some a cold beer.
Hard work going against the flow
After lunch and a stroll around the little village we boarded our boat for the return trip
Our lunch stop
We headed on back to meet up with our minibus at a different place than we were dropped off.
To reach the bus we left our boat right by a market that we needed to walk through. A market that was truly different than the many we have already experienced so far this trip. Live chickens with their legs tied up laid out on the floor. Sea/river snakes live in tanks for sale. Meat being chopped up on the floor. Horrible sight but who are we to criticise?
Live river fish being sold by the weight
A long and tiring day but fascinating to see the Vietnamese way of life along the river. They don’t have a lot so they need to scratch a living where they can but this is a pretty brutal place to have to do it.
This area of southern Vietnam is not a pretty place. It is noisy, scruffy, dirty and to begin with chaotic by our standards but there does seem to be self styled order about things that we are getting used to, even crossing the road which seemed impossible a couple of days ago. Now we just walk and everyone, the millions of motor bikes and cars just seem to know you are there and go round you. No other way of doing it.
