Setting off from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), we got a bus to the Mekong Deltas and the town of Can Tho at 7.30 in the morning, in our usual style we managed to be late, forgetting that we needed passport size photos for our Cambodian Visa. After a lot of running around in the 30 degree heat (at 7am with no breakfast!) we managed to get them sorted and got to our bus just in time! Our lovely hotel owner made us egg butties for the trip, which helped us out with the hunger, and luckily the bus had air con. Out here this is a big thing, as so far we haven't seen the temperature go lower than 30 degrees and have seen it rise as high as 38. Even in the evenings it rarely seems to go below 28 degrees!
The trip to Can Tho from Saigon was about 2 hours long and so half way there we stopped off at a Vietnamese road side cafe and had some very refreshing coconuts! These seem to be the way to keep your energy up in the heat as well as keeping hydrated.
In Can Tho we transferred to the boat that would take us most of the way to the border with Cambodia as well as taking by a few of the many sights that the Mekong has to offer. The Mekong is one of the longest rivers in the world and comes all the way from China, through 6 countries and ending at the Delta in Vietnam. On our trip we got to see a good amount of the Mekong River but needed a lot more than the three days we took to see everything.
We set of in our boat and it was kitted out with picnic chairs and life jackets, I'm guessing so we felt safe from the crocodiles if we fell in.....
The boats first took us down the river towards the South China Sea and the breeze of the moving boat, as well as the shade, provided a lot of relief from the immense heat.
As we floated down the Mekong we got to see a lot of houses, some big but most small. Around here everyone wants to live by the river. Its the main road for getting around as well as the main source of water. The water here may look dirty but it comes all the way from china and brings a lot of silt with it which is why Vietnam is now one of the worlds biggest exporters of rice.
On the way towards the Ocean side of the delta we stopped of at a village on the island of Phu Thanh where we got see the locals making rice wine, which is stronger than most spirits! That's the still you can see above. Apparently they produce 50 gallons a day with this simple kit.
They then gave us a quick demo on making popping rice, pretty much the same as popcorn but made with rice.
As well as all the amazing food they make from rice they also produce lots from coconuts, including these candies. I got to taste them all and I can definitely say that coconut candies are one of the the sweetest things I have ever tasted. The great thing about the way all of these foods are produced is the fact that they waste nothing. Husks are used for fires and there is practically no waste from any of the production methods!
We then went for a sort walk around the island. I have to admit to finding bits this visit a little uncomfortable as you were expected to buy from them, but the selling was pretty soft and we did get to see some actual locals doing their thing.
After this we got back on the boats and turned around, heading back up the Mekong on the way to Cambodia.
We puled some faces.
Saw some kids having a swim.
Stopped for food.
And floated some more..... and eventually stopped at Tan Chau, switching to a bus for the short trip to our hotel in Chau Doc where we spent the night.
Floating up the river is one of the best ways of seeing things out here but even better is the food markets. In Chau Doc there was some kind of festival going on with lots of advertising and food stalls. This was quite lucky as we were too late for the fish market that the local usually eat at but this place was amazing. I tried lots of things that I have no idea what they were but they tasted great. I even got thought how to use chopsticks by an old man who thought I was the funniest thing he had ever met. We couldn't understand each others words but we had a great time laughing at each other!
We met a Dutch couple, an American and a couple of English people here so we all decided to hang together as we going on the same slow boat to Cambodia the next day.
We set of on our boat at 6.30 the next morning and got see a beautiful sunrise over the river. Today we were going to see a fish farm and also a crocodile farm. Not mine or Jo's idea of fun but we did get to see some more weird and wonderful stuff.
Firstly though, we had to make another soft sell stop off at one of the villages by the river. This was even more strange than the day before, as all the wares were the same old stuff you can buy in any Asian tourist shop, even in most South American tourist shops, so we bought some water and waited for our boat to return.
Once we boarded the boat we continued up the river all the way to the Cambodian border, catching some of the river sights along the way.
A small fishing village.
Some fishermen.
And just before the border we got to see some of the building work that is going on over here to keep the river back in the rainy season. It can rise almost 2metres, sometimes more.
We finally arrived in Phnom Penh and after a quick shower, and a beer in the pool, we went out on the town for a big vegetarian curry and a few beers with our new friends.
Walking around we came across this sign to remind you how to wear you helmet properly. In Vietnam there are over 39 million scooters causing about 75% of all traffic accidents. I love this fact as in England we only have about 15,000 scooters on the road and they account for almost the same percentage of road accidents!
A view of our hotel....and pool!
We spent a day or so in Pnomh Penh taking in the Killing Fields and the Temple and eating some more great food before heading to Siam Reap and starting our exploration of The temples of Ankhor.
Thanks for sharing :)
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