Introducing Mekong Delta
Vietnam’s ‘rice basket’, the Mekong Delta is a watery landscape of green fields and sleepy villages, everywhere crisscrossed by the brown canals and rivulets fed by the mighty Mekong River. Its inhabitants – stereotyped as friendly and easygoing – have long toiled on the life-sustaining river, with their labours marked by the same cycles governing the waterways.
Mekong Delta Floating Market
The delta, which yields enough rice to feed the country with a sizable surplus, was formed by sediment deposited by the Mekong. The process continues today, with silt deposits extending the shoreline by as much as 80m per year. The river is so large that it has two daily tides. Lush with rice paddies and fish farms, this delta plain also nourishes the cultivation of sugarcane, fruit, coconut and shrimp. Although the area is primarily rural, it is one of the most densely populated regions in Vietnam and nearly every hectare is intensively farmed.
The uniquely southern charm with its welcoming introduction to life along the river is the real draw, and visitors can explore quaint riverside towns, sample fruits bartered in the colourful floating markets or dine on home-cooked delicacies before overnighting as a homestay guest. Other highlights include visits to local orchards, flower markets and fish farms. There are also bird sanctuaries, rustic beach getaways like Hon Chong and impressive Khmer pagodas in the regions around Soc Trang and Tra Vinh.
Destination Hon Chong
Those seeking an idyllic retreat will find it in Phu Quoc, a forested island dotted with pretty beaches, freshwater springs and empty dirt roads (ideal for motorbike adventures). Good diving and white-sand beauty have led to its growing popularity, with a mix of cheap bungalows and five-star resorts along an uncrowded coastline.
Source: Internet
Hanoi is a city of lakes and parks with a French influence from its colonial days. With less traffic and congestion than many other Asian cites, it is an attractive town to start your Vietnam adventure. Your day of sightseeing includes the Temple of Literature, founded in 1070 AD, and the oldest school in the country. Then on to Hoan Kiem Lake, with its Tortoise Tower, the Opera House, built between 1901 and 1911, and the One Pillar Pagoda, an engineering wonder. You will also enjoy a water puppet show. (B L)
From Danang, head south to Hoi An, a picturesque riverside town that was a major port from the 17th to the 19th centuries. In-depth private sightseeing will include many of the temples and pagodas, the Tran Family Chapel built more than 200 years ago, Quan Thang House, one of the town’s oldest homes, Phung Hung House, where one family has resided for more than eight generations and much more. You will also cruise the Thun Bon River to the village of Kim Bing, home to many woodworkers and shipbuilders. (B)
