Mekong Delta
From World travel guide
The Mekong Delta is the extreme southern end of the Mekong River, located in Vietnam and taking its source in China.
Contents |
Understand
As all deltas, it receives the bounty of the siltation from the upper Mekong, and as such is a very rich and lush area, covered with rice fields. It produces about half of the total of Vietnam's agricultural output, and is the place for timeless sceneries of farmers planting or harvesting rice.
The Mekong splits in Cambodia into two main rivers, the Bassac (Hậu Giang) and the First river (Tiền Giang), then in Vietnam into a more complex system, creating a maze of small canals, rivers and arroyos interspersed with villages and floating markets.
Life in the Mekong Delta revolves much around the river, and all the villages are often accessible by river rather than by road.
The high times of life in the Mekong delta are the lunar new year (Tet, or Tết), and the mid-automn festival (Tết trung thu), where children will set hundreds of candles on their way on the river on as many tiny skiffs.
Cities and regions
The most renowned places in the Mekong delta are My Tho (Mỹ Tho) and Cai Be (Caí Bè) near Saigon, then, more to the heart of the region, Vinh Long (Vĩnh Long) and Can Tho (Cần Thơ), from where it is possible to reach the remotest confines of the delta, South towards the mangrove and the South China Sea, North towards Chau Doc (Châu Đốc) and Cambodia, or West towards the island of Phu Quoc (Phú Quốc).
If the most populated places are rather much visited, as soon as you get away from the crowds, you are getting in touch with the nice people of the delta and their always welcoming attitude. Consider a trip to sleepy Ben Tre just over the river from My Tho or Khmer-culture influenced Soc Trang in the very southwest to get that real life feeling.
If you know how to take your time, or are guided by an able guide, you will certainly enjoy your stay in the Mekong delta.
Get in
The Mekong delta is near to Ho Chi Minh City, and Can Tho (Cần Thơ) is merely 4 hours' drive away, so it is easy to access by road, although there is only one main road, and as such it is rather crowded.
There used to be hydrofoil connections from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho(Mỹ Tho) then to Can Tho(Cần Thơ) in about 4 hours, but the option does not exist any more. Alternatives are speed boat transfers, or for those who would enjoy unspoilt nature, cruises from Cai Be(Cái Bè) to Can Tho or back.
The Mekong delta is also a natural passageway from southern Vietnam to Cambodia, which can be entered on the river. Visas on entry to Cambodia are possible; please keep in mind that entry visas into Vietnam must have been obtained prior to getting to Vietnam on the river.
Various travel agencies in Saigon can arrange tours to the Mekong delta
Budget
to be found on Phạm Ngũ Lão street or in the surroundings
- Sinh Café
- Kim Café
- MekongTour
Higher quality services
- Phoenix Voyages
- Exotissimo
- Easia Travel
- Vidotour
- Asco International
Get around
See
Most of the interest of the place resides in its floating markets, and the life around the rivers criss-crossing the area.
It is possible to take tours on small boats around My Tho (Mỹ Tho) and the islands north of Ben Tre (Bến Tre); around Cai Be (Cái Bè) and the An Binh peninsula; and around Can Tho (Cần Thơ). Both Cai Be and Can Tho feature floating markets.
It is also possible to get away from the main road and into the more remote rivers on board larger river cruisers for discovery cruises of the area in comfort.
External links
- Terragalleria, some very beautiful pictures in this commercial photographer's site
- Vietscape, a presentation of various aspects of the Mekong delta.
- A satellite photo to explore with your mouse to show places of interest.
