5 MUST-DO ACTIVITIES IN MEKONG DELTA

It's my 3rd time in Mekong Delta and it was a 3-day long trip. Everytime I get here, I always have different feelings to the area. I still remember about my 1st time visit when I was  in my university. We spent about one week to go through the Mekong Delta from top to toe. My teacher told me all the tales and jokes involved in the land and its people. All were very interesting to me, however, those information didn't last long in my mind. 3 years later, I took a short course about guiding and I had one more trip to Mekong Delta. Therefore, I had the second chance to know more about the area.
Read my trip here:

Discovering Mekong Delta in One Day

For this time, I don't want to write about my detailed schedule, I will make it a little bit different so I will list some activities you can enjoy while visiting Mekong Delta. Hope you guys like it ^^

• Visit a Local Temple and Study its Religion

On this land, beside the religions that have been brought in from abroad or brought by migrant groups such as Buddhism, Catholicism, Islam, Protestantism, there are also many religions that born here with local nuances. For example: Bửu Sơn Kỳ Hương, Tứ Ân Hiếu Nghĩa, Cao Đài, Hòa Hảo. These religions are often integrated by doctrines derived from other religions which makes here become a diverse religion land. Therefore, temples, pagodas architectures here are the combination of many styles from all over the world. Mekong Delta is a young land just over 300 years old; however, it is home to many religions. 

Cao Đài Temple

Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda

• Enjoy Fresh Fruits and Vegetables 

Although the area of agriculture is just less than 30% of the whole country, Mekong Delta contributes more than 50% rice productivity. Rice is grown mostly in An Giang, Long An, Đồng Tháp and Tiền Giang provinces. As a result, the Mekong Delta is the main rice export area. In addition, Mekong Delta is also famous for its fruits. You can easy find grapefruit, rambutan, longan, pineapple, oranges, durian, dragonfruit, mango, milkyfruit, watermelon, coconut, tangerine, etc in any local house garden.

You should try as much fresh fruits as possible. Picking fruits from trees is also a very nice experience for Mekong Delta's visitors.

I do love durian and mangosteen from here. What are your fav fruits? Mekong Delta sure is a kingdom for fruits-lovers.

Mekong Delta's fruits

Mekong Delta's vegetables and flowers

• Take a Cruise and Behold the Floating Market

Mekong Delta is the land of rivers. Therefore, the most popular transport here is neither cars nor scooters, that is boats, a ton of boats, from little to big or super big ones.
Hopping on an arrow-boat and cruise to the unique and stunning floating markets (Phong Điền, Cái Răng) is a must-try for travellers. Sitting back on boat and drinking  morning coffee served by a coffee boat. Watching the view of green and beautiful channels of the Mekong River stretching along rural villages. Observing floating traders who have been happily living their floating life. You will feel like a local. 

Tips: You should wake up around 5AM to behold sunrise on the river and reach the floating markets at the most crowded time (6AM- 7.30AM). If you go there too late, there will not much to see.

Mekong River

• Visit a Traditional Local Factory

Studying about local livelihood is a good idea to know more about people lifestyles and their culture. Some traditional livelihoods you can visit in Mekong Delta are weaving mats, making bricks and tiles, producing coconut candies, etc. This visit to Mekong Delta , I had some time to see a brick factory and its interesting production process. Coconut-candy-procedure is cool to see as well.

Local Brick Factory

• Riding/ Driving in the Nature 

Another activity you shouldn't miss out is riding in the nature. Imagine that you go through all the amazing scenes where full of  bananas, coconut trees, or paddy fields. Breathe the fresh air. Rest in the gardens. Take a nap on a hammock. Listen all the nature sounds. What can you expect more to chill out?

Tips: You can use bike or scooters to get around in the area but roads might be slippery after rain.

Banana Jungle

If you want to visit  Mekong Delta someday, my information can be helpful for you. Hope you guys like it. 

8 August, 2017.

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DISCOVERING MEKONG DELTA IN ONE DAY

It was a very tough day for us yesterday. We (16 students ) were on a field trip with our teacher to discover Mekong Delta's beauty in a very short time. The trip was a little bit tiring but a lot of fun.

And here is how we start the day:

We booked a coach from Ho Chi Minh city. The route was HCMc- Mỹ Tho- Cồn Thới Sơn- Bến Tre:

After 1 and a half hour driving, we stopped at Chương Dương Restaurant to have breakfast. We ordered " Hủ tiếu Mỹ Tho " - one of the specialities of the city.

Hủ tiếu Mỹ Tho

Right after that, we continued the journey to visit one of the most beautiful pagodas in South of Vietnam. It's called " Vinh Trang Pagoda ". Its uniqueness is the combination between Asia and Western architecture styles.

Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda

Then we moved quickly to the boat station heading to Cồn Thới Sơn.

bustling station with many boats  

On Cồn Thới Sơn, at the first stop, we had a short introduction about honey bee and some involved products like honey, queen bee's milk, pollen, etc. Beekeeping is one of the main livelihoods of the locals. Honey here is from longan's flowers and tastes not too sweet. Then, we had a chance to try tea with honey. Finally, we could take photo with a python (that's pretty cool, I didn't scare at all, even it's my first time tho :D, you should try).

Tea served  with honey and kumquat

She's 15 kgs and total harmfulless ( when she's full )
P/s I looked at another camera that time lol

Walking for 10 minutes, we got in a place where performing " Đờn Ca Tài Tử" - UNESCO intangible world heritage, enjoyed the melody and beautiful songs from indigenous talented artists.

Talented performers

After that, we took a small boat to travel around the area. We visited a coconut candy factory, bought souvenirs, sat in a horse carriage to a restaurant, had lunch, and relaxed on hammock in a green garden. We couldn't be more local than that.

Saying goodbye with " Cồn Thới Sơn", we came to " Cồn Phụng"- the place was the cradle of " Đạo Dừa" , a very famous religion in Mekong Delta area in the 1960s. The founder of the religion built "Cồn Phụng" into a place where he could work, live, and teach his followers. With special architechture design, "Cồn Phụng" has become a must-see for travel-lovers. Besides, you can take part in crocodile-fishing activity.

"Cồn Phụng"

Crocodile waiting to be fed 

Finishing with " Cồn Phụng", we were back to the river and head to Ho Chi Minh city. All of us couldn't believe the trip ended too fast and we still didn't get enough of it ( so that's the reason why we need to go back ^^ ). Mekong Delta includes 12 provinces and one city, to travel all of those, you need at least one week so one day is too short for everything. However, it is still a good option for you to recharge at the weekends. 

16 April, 2017.

P/s: I was on a field trip ( and my teacher was very tough) so I couldn't have enough time with nicer photos lol but the trip's still fun. Hope you guys enjoy my story.

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