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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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We indulged in some great Vietnamese coffee and fresh pineapple. After that we meandered down a side river to a fruit farm, seeing the various fruits, and of course, getting to try some ourselves. Next up we went to see how rice tortillas (think Vietnamese spring rolls) were made. We ventured back out into the main waterway to find that the market was completely done at the early time of 11:30. We enjoyed a delicious bowl of Pho before 2-day tourists said good bye, enjoying another farewell tune from Bang.

By now we had created our own little Mekong family. My fears of a boring group were complete and utterly wrong! Fortunately, the core group of people on our tour were taking the 3-day tour like Jeff and I. As mentioned before, there were the Aussies, Kiwis, a South African couple (Andrew and Landia), a Swiss couple (I can't remember their names!), a Canadian couple (Thyrre and Paige), and an Australian girl (Lois). Jeff and I rounded out the English-speaking countries, friends, not a couple. The Canadians got thrown into our van just after lunch and must have been completely overwhelmed. The rest of us were very comfortable with each other, and kept asking them questions, accepting them right into the group. We also had a crazy Vietnamese lady who lived in LA, but everyone group has to have someone like that (she left with the 2-day group)!

That afternoon we went to a very disturbing crocodile farm, making silly crocodile jokes in honor of our Aussie friends, and in remembrance of dear Steve Irwin. The worst part was that they had a bear in a cage smaller than mine and Jeff's love nest! For sunset the bus headed over to Mt Sam. As a group we climbed to the Buddhist monastery. I ran into a group of kids who were playing junkan/rocks-paper-scissors. It truly is the best and most universal game in the world. Kinda like how it seems everyone knows the words or tune to Hotel California. I stuck out my hand and counted "ma ha ...