Mekong Delta

We were able to spend a day and a half on the Mekong Delta near Saigon. We came directly from the airport, so Saigon will have to wait.

I was quite excited to see this region and understand how the local people used the waterway systems.

The delta is really two larger rivers converging and creating a series of canals across a vast island. It makes for a unique life on and around the water. Whole families live and work together in one boat. Children are rarely sent to school for any education. They learn how to manage the family business and get married with people from other floating villages.

We stayed on the main island overnight, but both days were highlighted by river tours. We saw typical markets, a brick making factories, a fruit plant nursery, and were treated to a lovely lunch. We traveled between each location by boat so we could also experience the change in tides and currents. It was quite distinct when you came out of one canal into the larger river, we would suddenly get pushed or pulled along depending on whether we were going with or against the flow.

We also got to do a short village walk were we were shown how people make fish sauce (very smelly), rice paper, and popped rice (the closest I have come to popped corn since I left Canada).

We finished up with a typical food market on the mainland. We were warned before entering that we were likely to see some disturbing items on offer. For the most part it wasn't too bad, but if you're squeamish at all (Manish), you will want to give it a miss. Ninety percent of the fish and animals were live, but with a quick nod to the shop keeper they became plucked, skinned, deboned and fileted. The butcher skills are quite remarkable. And nothing is left behind. You might request that your fish be fileted, but you get a separate bag with all the entrails and fins. That will make the base of your soup stock. When I was a child living in Hong Kong, Stanley Market was similar to this. If you can get pass the blood, it does give you a real appreciation for what 'fresh' really means. It is also a good lesson to everyone to see what food really looks like before it becomes just meat.

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