Can Tho and the Floating Markets

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The adventure to Can Tho began with a mini-bus trip from Chau Doc. Mini-buses seat 16 people, but children don't count so our's had 21 people on it. We had long since gotten used to the clown car style of travel, but Vietnam had a surprise up its sleeve. Apparently most people living in Chau Doc pretty much never get in a vehicle. About 30 seconds after the bus started moving, the 'sickness' bags were passed around and nearly everyone joined the fun. At first we were really grossed out, but soon it just became ridiculous and it was hard not to laugh! The bus driver completely pissed off, we arrived in Can Tho.

So Can Tho is famous for two things: a giant tin statue of Ho Chi Minh and floating markets. After finding that the tin man was gone for repair, my hopes for Can Tho were severely dashed. We had planned on spending two nights there, but decided to move on to Saigon after visiting the floating markets. We booked a private boat tour and headed out to dinner at Mekong, a popular place near the missing statue.

As we chowed down on curried goat and fresh spring rolls, we accomplished one of our goals for the trip: meeting someone who had actually been to Fargo (or could find ND on a map). We started chatting to a one-handed Aussie man who had come to Vietnam for 4 weeks and ended up staying for 5 years. Ralph had been quite the wanderer and we shared stories about my time in the Outback. Then we mentioned Fargo and he started rattling off streets and businesses here. Small world! After a few beers with our new friend, we headed back to rest up for our 630 am boat tour.

Unfortunately, I woke up with a serious headache (DON'T drink red wine in SE Asia!!!), but was a trooper and packed my stuff so we could check out before our tour. Our guide arrived, and we began our 6 hour floating market tour. We visited two floating markets during the morning. At each one, there are a ton of boats in the river selling fresh produce, meat, breakfast, coffee, soup, second hand clothing, you name it. Most boats have a giant pole to which they tie one of each item they are selling. That way you can look around and decide which boat you need to crash in to. We enjoyed some Vietnamese coffee (tar with sweetened condensed milk) and bought the best watermelon ever and a mystery fruit we really loved (no idea what it is called in English). Our boat driver enjoyed making us stuff out of palm fronds and we arrived just in time to board the bus to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Far less vomiting this time 😊

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Photos

Pat afraid of ferry boat
The bus has just boarded a boat to get us across the river from Can Tho to HCMC

Comments

[Tom Eilers]

stylin.....
that boat pilot in the Market Tour pic shows just where all the real stylin fashions have gone......they left the west and found a home in SE Asia.........plaids with stripes.........if they were bell bottoms it would be the total collection worn by one human being.........I'm headed for the Goodwill store tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!

[ashley bateman]

Your mystery fruit
I am sure that you have found the name of your mystery fruit by now, but it is rautan. Known as chum-chum locally, our favorite too!