The Mekong River is more than 4900 km long and is the third longest river in Asia. Known in local Vietnamese as Nine Dragon River ; it flows through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam .
The Mekong Delta is the region in South West Vietnam where the Mekong river empties into the sea through a network of tributaries.
The Mekong delta region lies close to Ho Chi Minh city or Saigon. Popularly known as the Rice bowl of Vietnam, this area has a number of inhabited islands. Four of the popular islands are named after animals that are considered special by the Vietnamese…Unicorn, Phoenix, Dragon and Tortoise. The inhabitants are predominantly Vietnamese with a significant population of Cambodians too.
This region is highly productive in agriculture and aquaculture. Rice is the predominant agricultural produce while fish and fish products are also a great contributor. Palm sugar, coconut products, exotic fruit preserves and other fruit products and beekeeping and honey production contribute in a large way to the economy of the region.This region is dubbed a biological treasure trove with its variety of plants, fish, reptiles and mammals. The low lying coastal geography makes this region vulnerable to coastal erosion and salt water intrusion.
Life in this region revolves round the river and most villages are accessible by rivers and canals rather than roads. Floating markets where sack loads of exotic fruits like pomelos, durian and pineapples are traded is a common sight here.
Sewage treatment is very rudimentary in these areas and widespread contamination of the river and the canals is very obvious as one takes the boat ride on the canals. Dams built at various points on the river affects the dynamics of water flow and has brought drought to many parts of the delta damaging the eco system.
Our Trip
As is obvious, the Mekong River and it’s delta are too huge to cover in a short tour. But a tour of few of the islands in the delta gives one an overall picture of the region and its people. That’s what we did on this day long trip from Ho Chi Minh city.
Leaving the morning peak hour chaotic traffic of Ho Chi Minh city behind us; we drove to the Mekong Delta. It took us almost two hours to reach the Mekong Delta with traffic in the city and some other issues on the highway.
The chaotic traffic at Ho Chi Minh city
Soon we reached the jetty and started the cruise on the Mekong river.
Cruising the Mekong is an exhilarating experience. The sheer width of the river and the force of the water flow gives it an aura of invincibility!
Cruising the Mekong River
The Mighty Mekong and boats anchored along the banks
Fruit Farm
Our first halt was at the Unicorn island where we visited a local fruit farm and were treated to some local fruits with salt and chilli as a dip for the fruits. The Pomelos were awesome with the dip!
The Fruit Farm and the platter of exotic fruits that was offered to us
Some pictures of the exotic fruit varieties seen here…
Mangosteen and Pomelo
Rambutan and durian
Bee Farm
The Villagers also engage in Bee keeping and extract honey and sell it. Some pictures from the Bee farm..
Bee keeping and an artificial hive with bees
There were locally prepared snacks and honey that was available for sale.
Honey fried bananas and ginger candy with pure Vietnamese honey
In addition to all this, we were treated to a traditional Vietnamese music performance by the local girls.
A traditional music performance
Click on the video to see and hear the music performance
An auto took us on a trip around the Unicorn island. We had some free time to walk around and explore the island and do some shopping too. We were also treated to some local ice apples ( our palmyra fruit) which was very refreshing in the humid weather.
After that, we boarded the boat again and headed for the Phoenix island. There the boat halted close to a restaurant and we proceeded for lunch.
The restaurant on Phoenix island
Traditional Vietnamese fare for lunch
Canal Boat Ride
A boat ride along the palm fringed canals is a great way to enjoy the ambience.
After lunch, we took small wooden boats and were taken around the canals here. The boat could take four passengers and was rowed by two ladies, one in front and one behind.
Similar to the boat rides in the backwaters of Kerala, but the canals were very narrow and the water was murky and often had a foul smell too. Along the canals were seen a particular type of palm which was so typical of this area.
The palm fringed canals
The traditional wooden boats and a ride on one such boat
Have a feel of the ride by clicking on the video
The boat landed us at a small jetty. From there we visited a coconut candy unit. Here candies were being made from coconut and we were all given some to taste. Some of us did purchase the candies.
Mechanised coconut candy making
Lot of local handicraft were up for sale…
Attractive local handicrafts
By now it was evening and we had to bid goodbye to the Mekong and its people. We boarded our boat and started our trip back to the city.
A theme park and a posh resort on the banks of the Mekong
As we headed back, my thoughts were with the locals and how they utilised their resources to their best. The islands and the Mekong river may not have gorgeous scenery and the murky waters and commercial boats can be a put off at times.
The essence of this trip was accepting the realities and short comings of a place in an attempt to explore the culture of the people . The people themselves had a lesson to teach us…one of living up to the challenges and making the most of what we have.
There was one glaring lesson in marketing that was obvious to me. However small or insignificant an article may seem, best marketing practices can get it global acceptance.
Take the humble coconut as an example; the way it is marketed, presented and delivered to the tourists, is commendable indeed!! A picture as an illustration of what I said…
The humble tender coconut marketed and delivered in five star style!!!( at breakfast )
With lots of memories and experiences we ended the day with dinner at a local restaurant. Our tour next day was to the Cu Chi tunnels; a remnant of the Vietnam war.
See you next week at the Cu Chi tunnels. Till then, keep your comments and feedback flowing in like the Mekong….
Travel-along.in 