Day 14 - Mekong Delta


We left Saigon at 8 am for a 4 hour coach journey to the Meking Delta where we boarded our river cruise boat at Can Tho. This is a very nice boat and our cabin is lovely and spacious.  We set off in southerly direction along the Lower Mekong for a couple of hours before turning east along a smaller channel towards the Upper Mekong. We passed small villages along the way and saw many fish farms and local people making their living from the river.  There are many little ferries taking people across the river.


Temple on Mekong

Lower Mekong River 

Lower Mekong River

Channel between Lower and Upper 
Mekong Rivers

Ferry across the Mekong


After lunch we had our first excursion which was a walk around a small riverside village.  There were some lovely houses and each was involved in farming of some sort.  Most had fruit trees including coconut, mango, jackfruit, papaya and pomelo.   They also have livestock.  We visited a house for a fruit tasting and they kept chickens, goats and cows.


House on banks of the river

House on banks of Mekong

House on banks of Mekong



Fruit tasting

Goats at house where we did fruit tasting

Cows at house where we did fruit tasting

We got back to the boat in time to see the sunset over the Mekong Delta and then had dinner and an early night.

Sunset over the Mekong River

Sunset over the Mekong River



Lizard on window of boat

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 13 - Cu Chi Tunnels

Image
We were out early for the 2 hour drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels.  It was only about 40 miles away but the Saigon traffic makes it very slow going.   These are a network of underground tunnels created by the Viet Cong when fighting against the US forces during the Vietnam War.  We did a walking tour above ground and saw how the tunnel entrances were camoflaged, how the Viet Cong soldiers hid underground and were able to surprise the US soldiers by apparently appearing from nowhere, the booby traps that they laid to capture and kill US soldiers and how the underground bunkers were used to recycle the captured weapons, ammunition and militiary vehicles.  Some of their tactics were barbaric to say the least but very clever.  We were able to go through one short section of the tunnel but it involved almost crawling through.  I also had a go at hiding in an underground hole.  The tour finished with a film showing some actual scenes taken by the Viet Cong. ...
Read more

Day 23 - Luang Prabang to Vientiane

Image
We went out at 5.30 am to take part in the daily giving of alms where food is given by the local people to the monks.   As tourists we could buy pots of rice for £1.  We had to sit on small chairs and were given a scarf and plastic glove.   We were told to put a small amount of rice into the bowls that the monks carried as they passed by.  Some others were giving fruit, biscuits or money.  This is how they get their daily food. Anything left over is given to the poorest families.     Us giving alms to the Monks We then visited the nearby temple of Wat Sene before going back to the hotel for breakfast and checkout.   Wat Sene   Vintage Citroen owned by a hotel.  1 of 2 remaining Citroens in Laos  from the French Colonisation After breakfast we were taken back to the town centre to climb the 300 steps to the top of Mount Phusi where there is a stupa created in 1804. Legend says that the mountain was moved from Sri Lank...
Read more

Day 18 - Phnom Penh to Siem Reap

Image
This morning we learned about the Khmer Rouge regime of genocide from 1975 - 79.  We first visited the Genocide Museum which was the prison in Phnom Pehn where the overthrown government officials were sent at the start of the regime.  Later educated people and those from minority backgrounds were also sent here. Most would be killed here or sent to the Killing Fields for execution.   Entrance   Cells where men were kept   Cells where women were kept   Monument to those who died here  Later we visited the killing fields which is a peaceful area today but was the scene of some very macabre times in the 1970s.  It is the Asian version of Auschwitz. People were brought here, executed and buried in mass graves. Over time some bones have become visible after the rains and have been left on display. It was extremely gruesome and the atrocities were largely hidden from the rest of the world.   Remembrance building containing hundreds of skulls...
Read more