Another very full and fascinating day on the 4th. We left the Hong Sen in HCM City about 8:00, on our bus heading for the MeKong Delta. Our one stop along the way was at a Cao Dai temple. Cao Dai is the third largest religion in Vietnam and was created in 1926. The symbol of the faith is the left eye of God, believed to witness all.
Before lunch we were all on a boat heading down the Mekong. We had an additional local guide for the day, a very petite young woman in traditional dress. She took us first to a see the floating market, where the locals shop. It is busiest very early in the morning so we missed the height of the action. The river supports so much life: people sell their merchandise on it, transport goods on it, live on it, farm fish on it, collect sand from the bottom. It's endless.
We then went into the town of Cai Be and were taken to several small factories, one producing rice paper, another fish sauce (smelly!) and also one making a range of products from coconuts. People here are so ingenious, they use locally available products so wisely. Certainly saves on waste!
Back in the boats, our next stop was a restaurant along the shores of the MeKong where we ate lunch in a delightful garden like setting. The ride continued after lunch and we were transferred to sampans, so that we could be taken for a shorter paddle (by women) into much narrower canals. We returned to the larger boats and were taken to a nursery on the shores of the river where local farmers can purchase a range of plants and fruit trees.
Cao Dai temple
Boat we spent the day on
Life on the Mekong Delta
Making rice paper (they each do
3000 day)
Fish sauce products
Our local guide, with coconuts
Orders anyone? (Look closely)
The sampans
Our local guide took us for a walk through the village. There is even a school for grades 1 and 2; after that the children are sent to school in a larger village.
Those interested were given the opportunity to help in the preparation of part of supper, the spring rolls. Excellent idea! Although I left the opportunity to others! Supper was eaten out on the patio. A lovely setting.
Slept very little that night so no problem getting up early the next day. After breakfast on the patio, we were taken back to the boats for a short ride to the nearest town, where our bus was waiting for us. Things have worked liked clockwork! I don't think we have ever had to wait for anything.
The rest of the day was spent getting us to Chau Doc, close to the Cambodian border. Ready for our entry into Cambodia tomorrow morning. The hotel here in Chau Doc (Chau Pho) is basic but quite comfortable. We've just finished our final supper (in the hotel restaurant, just because it is convenient) with Tur, our leader throughout Vietnam. We've all come to appreciate him so much. He's been a wealth of information and has been very honest about his view of life in Vietnam.
Dining area at the homestay
Courtyard in our homestay
Market at Chau Doc
Beside the river at Chau Doc
