Home » Vietnam » Cruising Down and Up the Mekong

Our last destination in Vietnam before heading into Cambodia was the Mekong Delta. Much to my dismay, I had to accept that the easiest and cheapest way to see the Mekong is on a package tour. At $34 for 3 days/2 nights including breakfast, hotel, and taking us into Cambodia, you really couldn't beat the price. I will say though, you get what you pay for. In Saigon Pham Ngu Lao Road was lined with tour offices all offering the same tour for the same price. How to choose? Honestly it doesn't matter which tour company one chooses, because they all get funneled down to the same bus. A couple on our bus went to two different agencies and talked to the same girl! We went with the one across from the Bia Hoi 33- location is everything right? The next three days were spent experiencing Mekong life, floating markets, cheesy yet fun touristy stops, our guide Bang singing in English, boats, good food, and the best part- incredible company. Definitely another incredible part of our already incredible trip.

Cruising Down and Up the Mekong

Casey Lary
2007-04-21 23:25:42

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everyday life went on. Houses on stilts rose out of the marshland. People commuted by boat to their next location. The Mekong was indeed a working and thriving area, absolutely amazing and beautiful. So many times I just wanted to get off the bus, hire a boat, and meander down the waterways. I feel like I am being to negative - the tour wasn't that bad, and we were making some great friends. As the first day ended the 1-day tour
people left. Bang always sang a farewell tune. His English was horrible. After he spoke we would all sit around trying to figure out what he had said. Surprisingly his English singing was better than his speaking! That night I would say Jeff and I first bonded with our new friends: Lisa and Andrew from Australia, and Oscar and Linda from New Zealand. Both couples quite a few years older than us, yet age was proving not to matter. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship that would extend past the Mekong Tour. Wandering the streets of Cantho we found a local joint offering up some good grub, then headed to bed.

Day 2
The second day we were up early bound for the floating market. This was definitely the highlight of the trip. Jeff and I missed the floating markets in Thailand, so were amped to see this one. Although a tad touristy and I would have liked to have gotten there 2 hours earlier to beat the crowds, it was incredible. It was not just for tourists, which is often a complaint of the markets in Thailand. There were true transactions going on. Boats floated by carrying all sorts of products that others were buying. It was not limited to fruits, they also had sandwiches, clothes, and other everyday products. My favorites were the kombini boats selling coffee and juice. Straw hats and little old Vietnamese ladies abounded. I never ceased to get tired of seeing them or ever considered them normal. They manually paddled along with baskets of goods in the bows of their boats. They acted as if we were not there. ...