Mekong Delta - Again

---

I visited the Mekong Delta again yesterday, but this time on a tour. I thought maybe it would be good to do a tour so I can actually see the Mekong River and all the islands that the formed from decades of silts being deposited at the mouth of the river. (My geography teacher is probably really disappointed with me right now for not knowing the actual name for those islands!).

The tour was worth the price of $55! It included a 4 hour boat ride that showed us the local floating maket, a candy workshop that made coconut candy (which is absolutly delicious), poprice, yes...I said poprice. What is poprice? Well, it is like popcorn but with rice! It is like rice crispy but much bigger kernals and healthier I think. They use hot sand to pop the rice! Using the same method, they can make popnoodles too. They reminded me of fried onion strings but again, much healthier because it is not fried! After they make the poprice and popnoodles, they mix it with caramel to turn it to something like a rice crispy squares. They make different flavors; garlic, spicy, coconut and so on.

The next stop was at a family house that served us a typical Vietnamese lunch for when guests arrive. Fried Elephant Ear Fish to mamake rice rolls with, local shrimp (they were extra large shrimp, more like a baby lobster!), spring rolls, vegetable soup and fresh local fruits.

After lunch, we meadered the many tributaries for the Mekong and then stopped at a landlords house. The landloards house was a mansion. Eleborate decoations, gold plating, the most expensive things you can buy in Vietnam. The land here in Vietnam is not owned by the government but owned my private individuals (landloards). This is why the landlord house is head over heels compared to the local farmer's houses. At the landlords house, we enjoyed some snacks, jasmine tea while listening to live music performed by (I think) housekeepers, farm workers and maids! The entertainment was really good.

Then it was back to the city for some more shopping. Somehow, the vendors convinced me that I needed a new tshirt, sunglasses, and a belt even though I was not in the market for those items. Somehow, they manage to lure you into buying things you don't really need.

I think I am starting to fall in love with Vietnam. I like her here. I wish I could speak the language and stay longer. It is a fun place to be. But maybe it is the fact that I am on vacation and not working. Maybe if I worked here, I would have a different story. I think I am getting back the travel bug in my, I like being on vacation, relaxing and not worrying about work! Work...nooo...the last few days, I have been thinking about work. Thinking about all the responsiblities and all the projects that awaits me when I get back. I know I should enjoy the last few days as much as possible and not to think about work but it somehow creeps back into my mind. My return flight in on the 24th but it is flexible for up to 2 more months. Should I call the airline and change my flight to a later date? I would like to but how to convince work to extend my vacation?! Haha.

Ok, time to shop. I am hoping to blog one more time before leaving but this blog might be my last. So if you don't hear from me one more time before the 24th, I will see you in person soon.

---

Comments

[RachelAPlease]

Enjoyed reading!
Sounds like you had a good trip. Mine was much cheaper but we didn't do nearly as much as you. Like you, wish I was staying longer. It's a great place to spend time, so much to see. bon voyage and good luck! Rachel