Mekong Delta. Vietnam
On the first day of our stay in Vietnam, friends gave us all a tour of the Mekong Delta. I don’t know how they managed, but the price was shocking - $ 7! In fact, there are a lot of varieties of excursions along the delta. It all depends on where else they will be delivered, how many people and how long. Our tour was the simplest, but we still enjoyed it. Or maybe it was the price. . .
The Mekong is one of the largest rivers in Asia, and its delta is one of the widest in the world. Different nationalities traditionally settled along the delta, equipped their dwellings right on the shore, grew fruits, fished, and as a result... became a tourist attraction. They began to bring tourists here in order to show how the “simple” population lives, which every year becomes more and more tourist-oriented.
So. . . a bus filled with international tourists took us from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho city, which is 70 km away. The weather was not pleasing, then it was dripping light rain, then it was pouring downpour. At the first stop for a “smoke break”, while those who forgot their raincoats were buying local miracle oilcloth cocoons, we enjoyed a typical “coffeepop” by the roadside: many hammocks, small tables, an incredible number of mopeds by the road, smiling Vietnamese residents, and fragrant coffee…
In My Tho, we boarded a motor boat and went to the nearest islands for new experiences. Our guide looked like a sparrow. Constantly chirping in English, telling obscenely vulgar jokes, laughing at himself and running funny bouncing.
The water in the river is very muddy. This is not surprising, since it originates far to the north and all sewage on its way to the sea gets into it.
The first point on the shore was a small workshop (if you can call it that) for the production of sweets from coconut. A goldmine, indeed. Zero waste production! Coconut juice and pulp are used to make sweets, and the peel replaces firewood, or funny souvenirs are made from it.
Local beauties at the speed of light wrap candies in paper with their fingers and giggle under the gaze of tourists
A pack of these sweets cost $1. There are not only coconut ones, but also with mango, coffee and something else. I personally liked candies with a pure coconut flavor.
After eating delicious sweets, we followed our funny guide along the path along the island, and ended up at a small rice cake factory. I have never eaten such delicious rice chips, I tell you!! ! But immediately produced banana chips - did not like it.
Then we had lunch at a restaurant. We were shown the traditional serving of fish, fed with delicious spring rolls and rice.
Well, after dinner, of course, you need what?... That's right! Drink! Rather ask. And tea is the best! They took us to the evidence, showed us what non-biting bees are in Vietnam, and gave us tropical honey tea! You could also try banana moonshine here. Rare bullshit!
After all the trials, we were notably tired, and we wanted to quickly see what they go to the delta for - to go boating in the jungle. I was already prepared and knew that this attraction takes about 20 minutes, but I still wanted to see with my own eyes a picture from the Internet, where the boat floats out from behind huge palm branches.
We were loaded into boats by 4 people and we swam...
Here it is…. This is what I wanted to see! It was also pleasing that during the peak season there is a huge traffic here, and we got there at a time when there were very few boats. The whole trip was overshadowed only by the fact that from each passing boat we heard the same phrase from the "boaters": "TIPS! " Tips! Just the boat mafia. At first we thought that everyone sympathized with our rowers and advised them to tip them, but it turned out that the same offers were received on all subsequent boats.
As for the jungle, we did not see them. And don't count! The entire delta (where we were) is dotted with huts of the local population, everywhere cows, dogs, chickens. The palm leaves themselves are cut down and used to cover the roofs. I'm afraid that soon the delta will cease to be so attractive.
We sailed on the boat for just 20 minutes, and when we got out on the shore, we ended up at a huge shed, where the locals offered handicrafts. And then....again a table and again new samples! We were seated at tables with fruit, poured herbal tea and we listened to songs performed by a Vietnamese girl band with accordion accompaniment!
To be honest, at the end of the tour we did not feel comfortable! Well, it was not worth it all 7 dollars. It cost more! The road, gasoline, lunches, constant test drives of local food - yes, we ate more! But in general, we all liked it! And even a photo session with a python...
