A day trip to the Mekong Delta- a real taste of Vietnamese countryside

The best way to explore the Mekong Delta, which is a region where houses, boats and markets float upon the innumerable rivers, is river cruise. River cruise and sampan rowing through small canals is included in most of the Mekong Delta tours.

From the boat, you can see impressive sights of stilts in quiet villages and lines of coconut trees, green or yellow rice paddies and lush orchards and coconut candy factory, brick factory along the river. You can also see locals go to market or children go to school on boats and sampans – the unique feature of the Mekong Delta. jayavarman cruise mekong

There are not only rivers but also cruises to small canals through villages and gardens. One of the most interesting that any tourist should not miss is rowing a sampan through zig zag canals under shadow of water coconut trees. You will go under small wood or bamboo bridges and get closer to local houses as well as lush orchards with various tropical fruits.

2. Visit floating market

One of the most special things in Mekong Delta where main transportation means are sampans and boats is floating market. At these markets, all sellers with their goods are on boats floating on the river and taking on a boat through each “floating stall” is the only way you can buy something. From fresh fruits to lively animals, there are numerous strange things of the Mekong Delta for you to see. Besides coffee, tea and orange juice, you can also have breakfast with local specialties such as Xoi (Steamed Sticky Rice), Banh Canh (Soup Cake), Bun Ca (Rice Noodle Soup with Fish), Hu Tieu (Vietnamese Clear Rice Noodle Soup) and many other delicious dishes. It is also your great chance to interact with ingenious and friendly local people. At floating market, all makes you feel like locals when immersing yourself into Mekong Delta’s life.

Cai Rang (in Can Tho) and Cai Be (in Tien Giang) are the most visited floating markets. If you do not like somewhere too crowded, let’s visit other interesting floating markets in Chau Doc, Long Xuyen, Phong Dien and Tra On.

3. Feed and catch fish at a local fish farm

The Mekong Delta – a good natural environment for many kinds of freshwater fishes is the place to go for those who would like to enjoy best fish in Vietnam. The Mekong Delta is the best place to grow fish so there are many fish farms here which are well worth your visit. There, with the farmer’s help, you can feed the fish. They eat artificial foods and natural foods such as banana trees and vegetables. You can catch fishes by your own and then use these fresh ingredients to cook delicious dishes. It is possible to use bucket to catch small fishes in the ponds but with big fish like elephant ear fish, snakehead fish, carp and catfish, you need a bamboo fishing rod. Braised Fish with Caramel and Sweet and Sour Soup with Fish and Vegetables are the most popular and flavorful home-cooked dishes in the Mekong Delta.

4. Listen to local folk song (Don Ca Tai Tu)

The Mekong Delta should be the best place where you can listen to folk song. Don Ca Tai Tu is a type of musical art featuring both folk and scholarly roots. Flourishing in Sothern Vietnam in the late 19^th century, it still remains as one of the most favorite kinds of traditional music in recent days. The reason is that Don Ca Tai Tu reflects the simple lifestyle of locals in the Mekong Delta and helps them to express feelings and encourages them in busy life. Folk song’s performance is usually included in a tour to Mekong Delta. Performing folk song are instrumental group and singers wearing traditional Ao Dai. You can see how instrumentalists play a Western guitar adapted to Vietnamese music (ghi ta phím lõm), a 2-string fiddle (đờn cò), a 16-string zither (đờn tranh) and moon-shaped lute (đờn kìm). And you will certainly have a chance to listen to beautiful traditional music, soft and sweet voice of local singers.

See more:

• AMALOTUS CRUISE
• SONG XANH CRUISE
• MV JAYAVARMAN

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