Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta covers an area of about 40000km2 (25000 square miles). One of the world's great rivers, the mighty Mekong empties waters from Tibet 4500km (2,800 miles) away into the South China Sea through the Mekong Delta. This great river crosses into Vietnam from Cambodia and divides into the many rivers that create the Delta (Cuu Long or Nine Dragons in Vietnamese), and nourish one of the worlds greatest rice growing regions, before ending its journey in the South China Sea.

A trip into the Mekong Delta provides an excellent opportunity to experience traditional Vietnamese rural life. Boating through the maze of canals and waterways gives the opportunity to view rural life in the countryside as it really happens: peasants hard at work in the paddy, docile but mightily strong water buffaloes, orchards groaning with delectible fruits, humble thatch-rooved dwellings, ancient Khmer temples, fishermen and everywhere, excited children!

Floating markets: The very essence of river culture

The floating markets are the lifeblood of the Mekong Delta and contribute greatly to its culture and atmosphere. A floating market will spring up anywhere that sellers and buyer happen to meet. Trading can take place for a few minutes or all day, but it is always most exciting in the morning as the buyer's boats are empty and the supplier's boats are laden with their produce.

And the range of produce can be bewildering: from food for special occasions to rambutan, oranges, pomeloes, mangosteen or durian the staple fresh-water fish, turtles, snakes, field crabs or shrimps. Apart from the ad-hoc buying and selling on the backwaters, there are well established floating markets worth seeing at Phung Hiep, Nga Bay, Phong Dien, Cai Rang and Cai Be. The produce offered at the floating markets is usually sold at wholesale for further processing or onward sale in the bigger towns and cities.

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