Saigon Diaries – A Day Trip to The Mekong Delta

Saigon Diaries – A Day Trip to The Mekong Delta
Most flights to Vietnam land in its chaotic business hub – Ho Chi Minh City aka Saigon. Now we can definitely forgive you for staring at postcards with picture-perfect Vietnamese panoramas of rice paddies while you are surrounded by Saigon’s nightmarish traffic. These postcards seem to be selling a bucolic haven, enveloped by mist, that’s nowhere to be found. The only ‘mist’ you’ll see here is a result of the fumes arising from thousands of motorbikes on Saigon’s busy roads. If you have over a week or two, it’s possible to experience idyllic Vietnam in all its glory at Halong Bay, Phu Quoc, or Mui Ne/Phan Thiet. If not, then a Day Trip to the Mekong Delta is the perfect way to get a taste of the gorgeous Vietnamese countryside.

A 2-hour drive through suburban Saigon leads to My Tho, an important market town and the gateway to the bustling floating markets of the Mekong Delta. The Mekong River, known as The Mighty Dragon or The River of the Nine Dragons in Vietnam, is the life-line of six countries in Asia (Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and China). It passes through temple cities, lush tropical forests, swamps, rice plantations and boasts of some of the richest and most fertile landscapes in the world. Jasmine Cruise

So we decided to go for a sampan cruise on one of the tributaries of the Mekong.
We opted for a private tour and had the entire boat to ourselves

Our guide Nam, a young university student, gave us a short geographical lesson before we boarded a small boat that took us to Unicorn Island, named after a Chinese mythological figure. We sat on a wobbly bench under a thatched roof as we sampled Vietnamese honey tea. Regular tea is flavoured with the juice of kumquats (a small citrusy fruit, similar to limes) and sweetened with home-made honey. Southern Vietnam Discovery

Bee pollen might be the newest health fad to hit the western world, but here in the backwaters of Vietnam, it is generously spooned into every cup of tea. We sipped on the tea and munched on the accompanying candied ginger, banana chips, and peanut bars as we observed the ritual being repeated for dozens of tourists around us.

Saigon Diaries – A Day Trip to The Mekong Delta

Moments later, we were treated to a rather weary song and dance routine by local musicians before being ferried to a neighbouring island, known as the Kingdom of Coconut. Ben Tre Island boasts of over 45,000 hectares of coconut trees, so make sure you carry an insect repellent spray or wear a mosquito repellent band when you venture to this part of the country. Every day hundreds of tourists visit this island, so the thrill of stumbling on something new is almost non-existent. But that doesn’t mean it’s any less fun.

We visited a local coconut factory and tried our hand at making coconut candy. We failed miserably, so we drowned our sorrows in snake wine- yes that’s a thing! Don’t believe us? Take a look

But we didn’t stop there – our guide treated us to a calorie-laden lunch comprising fried fish, scrumptious Pho, and Vietnamese rice-paper spring rolls. Once we were suitably stuffed, we decided to go on a bike-ride through the Vietnamese country side (yes, that’s how smart we are). As you might have predicted we were panting for breath in no time :-)

Towards the end of the day, we decided to go for a Sampan cruise on one of the tributaries of the Mekong. We stepped into our boat tentatively but started enjoying the ride almost as soon as our boat started making its way past lush palm trees and stunning green foliage. Day trips such as this are bound to feel ‘touristy’, but one look at the brightly-coloured boats bobbing along the calm waters of the Mekong made us fall in love with the river. We’ll definitely be back for more….

FACT FILE
A Day Trip to the Mekong Delta is the perfect way of getting a taste of the Vietnamese countryside if you only 1 day to spare. If you have 2-3 days, make sure you visit the floating markets in Can Tho as well.
We booked our Day Trip to the Mekong Delta with Impress Travels – their staff arranged everything well and promptly responded to all our queries within hours over email. Highly recommended.
The tour costs anywhere between $35-65/person depending on group size. Private tours cost $75/person.
We opted for a private tour – this gave us the flexibility of customising the tour according to our taste. Moreover this ensured we did not feel rushed at any time.

Motorbiking in Vietnam, Tips for Vietnam Motorbike Trip

Renting a motorbike is an increasingly popular way to explore Vietnam. But the traffic conditions, roads and rules are extremely different from those in America or Europe. In the West, rules are strictly (in most cases) adhered to. Generally speaking, drivers stay on the correct side of the road, stop at red lights and don’t carry water buffalo on their scooters! Vietnam travel Packages

Here, things are a little different. Reading these tips will ensure you have a safe and enjoyable journey!

1. Protect your head
Vietnam law requires both motorbike drivers and passengers to wear a helmet. It’s also just plain common sense. If you can, make sure your helmet is made by a reliable manufacturer such as Protec.

2. Learn before you ride
Many travelers have never ridden a motorbike before they rent one in Vietnam. Before setting off, ask someone for a five-minute rundown on how to start/stop/accelerate etc. Paradise Cruise in Halong

3. Left are gears, right is brake
Self-explanatory, really.

4. Think right
In Vietnam, people drive on the right. Especially important to remember when you turn corners!

• MEKONG EYES CRUISE MEKONG

5. Expect the unexpected
Drivers don’t follow the rules. Be prepared to think on your feet.

Motorbiking in Vietnam, Tips for Vietnam Motorbike Trip

6. Park it
Most cities have parking areas to leave your motorbike. This usually costs around 2,000VND, so don’t listen to entrepreneurial parking attendants who try to charge you more than 10,000VND - they are likely trying to hustle you. Hold onto the ticket to get your bike back!

7. Fuel up
When you rent a motorbike, check the tank (don’t trust the fuel gauge) and find out where you can fill up if needed.

8. Biggest wins
The biggest vehicle has the right of way. So avoid buses, cars and trucks!

9. Think about what kind of bike you need
100 cc-or-more semi-automatic motorbikes are best for roads in Northern Vietnam’s mountainous areas. Look for a strong engine, gasoline-saving potential and flexible packing space.

10. Be well-prepared
When traveling to remote areas, bring a motorcycle repair tool kit. It might also be advisable to bring a spark-plug and extra key. Remember to ensure the motorbike is in working order before setting off. Change the oil and check the tyres, brakes, mirrors, horn and light. Fill up your motorbike with gasoline and make sure you know where you can make your next filling stop!

11. Check the weather
Plan the season of your trip carefully. The best time for exploring mountain areas is from late September to the beginning of December or after Tet Nguyen Dan (Vietnamese New Year, in January or February), when there is almost no rain and the temperature is cool. Spring rain and summer heat are hazardous not only for your own health but for the road.

12. Statistics don’t lie
Thousands of people die on the roads every year. Drive safely so you can make the most of your Vietnam road trip!

Everything about traveling Can Tho

As the centre city of Mekong Delta region, Can Tho is one of the most attractive and interesting destinations in the region as it gathers the most featuring beauties of a water land along Mekong River tours Vietnam
Everything about traveling Can Tho
Time to travel
With favorable weather condition, you can come to visit Can Tho any time in year. However, visiting in summer is the best chance to enjoy delicious fruits. South Vietnam tours
How to travel
There are 2 means of transports which can travel to Can Tho
Airline: there are 2 airlines opening the flight Hanoi- Can Tho
Vietnam Airlines: the price of return tickets are from $114 USD to $214 USD. Besides, there are other flights from Can Tho to Phu Quoc and Con Dao Islands.
Vietjet Air: the price of return tickets are from $85 USD to $130 USD for the flight Hanoi- Can Tho. Moreover, the Da Nang-Can Tho flights are also available from July 2014.
Bus: From Ho Chi Minh City or other province on the South, you can take a bus/coach and get to Can Tho in few hours. The price ticket is very reasonable.
Accommodation
Can Tho is a big city of Vietnam. Thereafore, you should not worry about where to stay because there are plenty of hotels in the city. Besides, you can choose to homestay at the orchards which is a very interesting experience. Indochina Sails cruise

What to eat
Fish paste hot pot: it is the most featuring food in Can Tho. The hot pot is the mixture of many kinds of seafood such as fish, shrimp, squid and other local herbs. Especially, the broth of the hot pot contains fish sauce and coconut milk, which makes it different from other hot pot.
Xeo Cake: one of the famous street foods in Vietnam. And in Can Tho, the special things in this cake are its stuffs inside (including chicken, river shrimp, duck meat, sesbania sesban, etc. It is also served with various species of vegetable and herbs.
Everything about traveling Can Tho
Ca loc nuong trui (grilled snakehead fish): one of the most idyllic and delicious food of the Mekong Delta region. The way to make it is very easy but also requiring a skillful hand. The grilled fishes are put on banana leaves, removed the black burning layer outside to expose the interesting part inside. The food is eaten with various fresh herbals and vegetables as well as tamarind fish sauce.
Grilled snail with pepper: it is simple-made but really amazing street food.
What to see

Everything about traveling Can Tho

Cai Rang floating market
Everything about traveling Can Tho
Cai Rang floating market is one among three biggest ones in Can Tho. It opens all day but busiest from the sunrise to 9:00AM. In the river area of about 1km length, there are hundred boats and canoes gathering together, selling and buying diversified products, from local agricultural products such as fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood to other services such as foods, coffee, drinks,… Visiting this special market, you can get to know the amazing cultural aspects of southerners.
The best time to visit Cai Rang is from 6 AM to 8 AM every morning, except for Tet Holiday and Doan Ngo Festival (5th in the fifth months of Lunar Calendar). From city centre, you can take motorbike taxi or taxi to Cai Rang wharf, then take a boat to visit the floating market.
Bang Lang stork sanctuary
It is the gathering address of thousands storks in every afternoon. There are 11 different kinds of flork such as fly stork, egret, heron, pelican, woodpecker, etc. Watching thousands of storks flying around and gather in the garden is very exotic scenery. The Bang Lang stork sanctuary is located in Thoi Thuan Ward, Thot Not District.
Orchards: like other provinces in the Mekong Delta, Can Tho has a lot of orchards with many kinds of fruits, especially the ones in Phong Dien and Tan Loc district. Walking under incredible trees full of fruits and pick them by yourself and eat them right away are wonderful experience.
My Khanh ecotourism village
Built in 1996 in a nice position between Cai Rang and Phong Dien floating market, My Khanh is an ecological complex, containing various services and green space. You can enjoy the beauty of Southern countryside with water, green mangrove forests and peaceful surrounding. There are many interesting services in here that you can join such as fishing, rowing, exploring the life of ancient landlords and farmers or joining traditional games. You also have chance to enjoy special ancient foods of the South.
Binh Thuy ancient house
Everything about traveling Can Tho
Located in Long Tuyen ancient village, the ancient house are very unique in architecture, beautiful in narutal scenery (lying along Can Tho River) and valuable in history and culture. It was built in 19th century; with the architecture is the combination of Orient and Western style.