Mekong River Tours- Not To Be Missed For The Sheer Novelty Of The Floating Markets!

By Author: Tuan Linh
Total Articles: 6
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Vietnam is a truly wonderful vacation spot with plenty of beautiful scenic beauty and a rich cultural history. Although there is no shortage of things to do in Vietnam right from adventure holidays to relaxing on its lovely beaches, there is, however, a very different kind of experience to be had with the Mekong river tours. This tour gives you an insight into a totally different way of living and culture.


The Mekong river delta is located in the South of Vietnam and is only a four-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City, a vibrant place and the finance capital of the country. The delta’s large 39,000 sqkm area comprises of beautiful paddy fields with rivers and canals criss-crossing it. The land is extremely fertile and its rice production beats the combined production of Korea and Japan. Life here totally revolves around the river and the river is the ‘highway’ of the area. Boats navigate the canals and rivers to go from one village to another and you will get to experience buying fresh produce from river markets. You will also get to see how the locals farm near and on the river. Another novel sight will ...
... be that instead of breeding domestic farm animals, these river people breed fish like Tra catfish, shrimp and basa which are mostly for export.
A ride on the traditional long-tail boat of Vietnam will take you to many interesting areas like honey bee farms, coconut farms which are all interconnected by canals in the centre of the river! The very many fruit orchards along the banks of the river will give you an opportunity to taste exotic, delicious fruits.


Perhaps the most memorable sight on your Mekong river cruise will be that of the floating markets. The floating markets are boats which have all kinds of fruits and vegetables stalls and shopping begins in earnest from 4 A.M. especially at the port of Can Tho which is a lively city on the Mekong River. The PhungHiep market which is the largest floating market being at the intersection of seven major canals is bustling from 5 A.M. till noon. The locals know that the freshest and best produce are to be had in the earliest hours and if you want a true glimpse of local life, follow the locals early in the morning.


The floating markets also carry other different goods, samples of which are hoisted on bamboo poles tall enough for you to see them from a distance. It is a very interesting experience to be gliding through thick river traffic to reach the floating market of your choice. If you are unable to reach the selected boat you can imitate the locals and ask for the goods of your choice to fly between the river traffic!
For sheer novelty and an intriguing experience there is no doubt that the river tour on the Mekong delta is an experience not to be missed and it should definitely be a part of your Vietnam itinerary.


If you are interested to know more about Mekong river cruise please feel free to visit us : wwww.tuanlinhtravel.com