Exploring the Mekong River Delta

Tara and I embarked on a boat trip down the Makong River Delta, which is quite distinct from the rest of the Makong River. There are narrow canals that weave through small towns, offering a glimpse into the village life of the Delta's inhabitants. The fisherman have faces on the front of their boats with big eyes to scare off the river monsters. The area is marked by significant poverty and numerous small villages, giving it a distinctly third-world atmosphere. Most tourists never venture near it, and it certainly has a rougher edge, but stepping out of Saigon and onto the Delta provides a true sense of everyday life in these smaller villages. We stopped at a friend of our guides home where he took us on a small, paddle boat, ride up some of the smaller canals. They were so friendly and charming to invite us into their home.

On the day of our trip, it was extremely hot, and we were supposed to ride bikes along the canals. However, instead, we were taken on a couple of vespas into town to visit the Cao Dai Temple, a local Buddhist pagoda. Although it was small, it was beautiful and served as the village's focal point. We felt very honored to walk through it, especially since they were about to hold a funeral, but they allowed us to spend some time there. We also visited a local market in another village. It was definitely a place for locals only, but everyone was friendly and welcoming to the Americans experiencing the bustling scene.

Next stop Cambodia!