Boat life

The Mekong Delta was a highlight of Vietnam, we met some fun people, saw how life is lived here and even stayed with a family on An Binh island.

We started by visiting one of the islands of the Mekong called unicorn island, we tried all kinds of fresh fruit like dragon fruit, pineapple dipped in chilli salt, logan berries and rambutans, the last two are like much sweeter lychees. We also saw how they make sweets out of coconut milk and tried honey tea. It was all quite touristy but fun. We got on and off so many different styles of boat, we were rowed down a narrow stretch of the brown river and then jumped on a bigger boat to another island for lunch at an orchard area where they grew cocnuts and bananas. We jumped on bikes for an hour after lunch and discovered all the lanes around. Then lazed around in hammocks.

We were then taken to our homestay which was the very best experience, Ba Linh's house was quite large compared with some in the area, he invited us in and showed us where we would be sleeping, in a sweet room that was like a barn with six camp beds all set up with blue mosquito nets and pink satin curtains at the window. He spoke no English at all and must have been about 70, we found out later Ba means soldier so he had been in the war on the Viet Cong side. He was very friendly and we all felt at home, made dinner with the rest of the family and spoke to the children, one of which Mao spoke quite good English. Their house was very basic and the children slept in a separate room outside. The floor was made of compacted earth and there was an altar facing you as you arrived in the front room.

We left fairly early in the morning with Ba Linh showing us photos of all the tourists who had stayed with them. The rivers around were all very busy already at 8am as people were heading for the markets or school. We visited various different islands and Minority groups and another highlight was seeing the floating market in full flow early the next morning with the boats advertising on bamboo canes with pineapples or potatoes or whatever they sold hanging from them. The tour ended with a lovely relaxing 6 hour cruise down the Mekong nearly back to Saigon. Really excellent insight into Mekong life, a little like a tourist trail in places but the homestay was unforgettable.