Down the Mekong River towards Saigon

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We left Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, on Sunday by speedboat to set as on our way down the Mekong River towards Saigon, the capital of Vietnam. The Mekong is one of the largest rivers in the world and passes through 6 countries starting in Nepal. It is a busy and thriving river with various forms of water transport such as large cargo ships transporting goods such as rice down to small man made canoes containing a solitary fisherman going about his business. We were there for leisure but most of those on the river were there for their work or trade.

The speedboat took us to our first overnight stop at a city called Chau Doc, being on the Vietnam side of the border. We stayed at the Victoria Hotel overlooking the river and as we drew back our curtains the following morning there we saw a picture of early morning activity with the river people going about their business.

The second day we made our way to the another city on the river called Can Tho and stayed at yet another Victoria Hotel before setting off on our final leg on a large timber boat called a Bassac boat. We were in for an overnight cruise with 3 other couples down the Mekong with our final destination close to Saigon or officially known as Ho Chi Minh City. Our journey in the Bassac boat from Can Tho to Cai Be took as through towns and villages which seem so dependent on the river for most of their trade.

Hopefully some of the photographs will help provide a fuller picture.

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Photos

Sunset along the Mekong
After crossing the Cambodia and Vietnam border we sailed down the river into this wonderful sunset

Two Vietnamese ladies
Early morning activity at Chau Doc as two Vietnamese ladies make their way across the river

Typical house along the banks
In Vietnam it is the poor who live alongside the river's edge in their houses built on stilts

John and Lynne
Relaxing at the Victoria Hotel at Can Tho

Farmer digging up ginger roots
On our journey down we stopped off at a small riverside village and whilst wandering along we came across a farmer digging up ginger roots

Village children
Whilst we stopped for refreshment at the village we were being smartly observed by some of the village children

Our Bassac boat at sunset
We returned to the boat from the village at sunset and there it lay elegantly in the water

Church on the Mekong
As we approached the end of journey we entered Cai Be and at this part of the river the Catholic church dominates the scene

Pineapples for sale
At Cai Be there is a floating market with fruits and vegetables being sold off boats. This particular boat was selling pineapples

Lynne attempting to make rice paper
At Cai Be we wandered around some of the back streets and at one of the shops Lynne was faced with the challenge of trying to make rice paper

Comments

[viviansc89]

Beautiful pictures ! It looks like such a peaceful place to be !

[Chris and Nikki]

Beautiful picture!

[anonymous]

Hi campers , sounds like you are having a ball on this leg of your journey. Just back from a very boozy birthday lunch with some friends. thanks for your best wishes. Best Regards Bryce