Delta Mekong(Đồng bằng sông Cửu Long) —40,000 km221 million inhabitants. Vietnamese part of the Mekong River (12th river of the world in terms of length, 4900 km from Tibet by 6 countries). Vietnamese name:“The River of Nine Dragons”“ Mekong branches into 9 rivers before entering the South China Sea.
Economics and geography
Delta produces50% of Vietnam rice(World's second exports of rice in Thailand) and 60% tropical fruit. Vietnam exports 8 million tons of rice per year, 90% coming from the delta. Also: farm shrimp, coconuts, pineapples, mango, longan, rambutan, durian.
The region is WITNESSED: rising sea level (up to 2050 delta may disappear in 40%), salinity of land, Chinese dams in the upper gear reduce the supply of sediment.
Three major delta cities
(1.7 million inhabitants)
The largest city of delta, the “capital” of the region. Accommodation base for visiting floating fairs. Ninh Kiều Riverfront revives at night.
Ms Tho
Nearest Saigon (75 km, 2 hours) — for day trips. Islands with coconut farms.
Châu Đốc
At the border with Cambodia.Sam Mountain— Holy mountain for Buddhists, panorama over Cambodian plains. KnownBa Chua Xu Temple— millions of pilgrims a year.
Floating fairs
Cai Rang (Cần Thơ)
The largest floating delta market. TradeHURT— Farmers' boats sell fruit/vegetables to other boats (buyers resellers at Cần Thơ). Marketing: Every boat hasbamboo pole with suspended samples of fruit sold. Hours:5:30-8:30 in the morning- Then the fairs are distracted.
- Outflow from the Ninh Kiều Pier in Cần Thơ, 5:00. Private boat 300 000-600 000 VND (3 hours), group 100,000-150 000 VND
- You have to survive the early rise
Phong Điền
Smaller, more authentic (people really buy here, not just tourists). 20 km from Cần Thơ.
Cái Bè
Close Mỹ Tho — a good option if you make a one-day trip from Saigon.
Thematic tours
Fruit farms — Cần Thơ, Vinh Long
Gardens with tropical fruit (boats depart from Cần Thơ). You can eat directly from trees: longan (10 000 VND/kg), rambutan, mango, jack fruit, mangosteen. Cost during the season of maturity.
Craft workshops
Delta known for production:rice paper(to spring rolls),rice noodles(bún, hủ tiếu),coconuts(in Bến Tre),cane mats. Tours include demonstrations.
Bến Tre — “The island of coconuts”
It is called the “Cokos Republic”. 100 million coconut trees. Production: candy, oil, milk, charcoal from shell. Cruises through the villages, tasting fresh coconuts.
History — The Vietnam War
Delta was the main theatre of war (60% of the Vietcong guerrillas based there). The American soldiers were talking about her.‘Nam’— the area of tunnels, jungles, canals. Movies: “Apocalypse Now”, “Platoon”, “We Were Soldiers”.
Rừng U Minh— mangrove forests in the south, deep base of the Vietcong. Today: National Park.
Vietnamese Khmers
Delta was historicallyCambodia(The Khmer sentence: ‘Kampuchea Krom’ — Lower Cambodia). Vietnam annexed the region in the 17th–XVIII century. He still lives here.1.3 million Khmer, mostly the Buddhist religion of Theravada. Their templesKhmerThey look like Cambodia — colorful, high needles.
- Chùa Dïi("The Temple of Bats") in Sóc Trăng — a temple with giant bats living in banana trees
- Chùa Ang Korakin Trà Vinh — one of the most beautiful
Trà Sư Cajuput Forest
Namorzinowy park (845 ha) in An Giang Province. Green tunnel with cajuputs, kayak or boat. Birds (200 species), Varans. Introduction 60,000 VND + 60,000 VND per boat.
Kitchen deltas
1. Cá lóc nướng troi
Black head fish (Channa striata) grilled on rice straw. Served with rice crackers, herbs. Iconic. 250,000-400 000 VND.
2. Bánh xèo misan Tây
Delta version bánh xèo — GIGANTIC (diameter 30-40 cm), crispy. You wrap it in large leaves of lettuce with herbs. 60,000-120 000 VND.
3. Hủ tiếu Mỹ Tho
A version of H ủ tiếu with M ỹ Tho — sweeter, more pork. 45,000-700,000 VND.
4. Lẩu mắm
Acute hot sweat with fermented fish paste (mắm) — very aromatic. Vegetables, fish, shrimp. For experimenters. 500,000-900,000 VND group.
5. Currants (coirs)
Speciality Bến Tre. Carmelized coconuts with peanuts, sugar. Craft production. Buy fresh (less than a year). Box 20 pieces: 30,000-50 000 VND.
Accommodation — homestay in villages
Authentic option:homestay in delta villages. Bed + dinner + breakfast for 300,000-500 000 VND/person. Legendary:
- Nam Bo Boutique(Cần Thơ) — the luxury of tradition
- Mekong Home(Bến Tre) — contact with families
- Ba Danh Homestay(Cai Bè)
Practical information
- Directions from Saigon: RegioJet-style bus companies (Phuong Trang, Kumho Samco): Sajgon → Cần Th Mỹ Tho: 2 hours, 90 000 VND
- Season:November-April— dry, colder.May-October— rains daily (late afternoon), but lush green. December-January: fog in the morning above rivers — atmospheric
- Alt.: Mekong cruise from Vietnam to Cambodia— 3-8 days by ship: Saigon → Cần Thơ → Châu Đốc → Phnom Penh → Siem Reap. Companies:Pandaw,Aqua Mekong,Victoria Cruises. Price: 800-3000 USD
- 2-3 days is enough: Day 1 — Directions + Bến Tre; Day 2 — Cần Thơ + Cai Rang market; Day 3 — Return or Châu Đốc