Blogs from Can Tho, Mekong River Delta, Vietnam, Asia

9 May 2023 - I travelled on a day trip to Can Tho City to visit Vinh (13 years old) and his brother Bao (5 years old). I have been sponsoring them and teaching Vinh English since October 2021 after their father died of Covid-19. My friends donated them some money at that time and before this trip my cousin in Hanoi called her friends for donations. We received some cash, English books, toys and clothes which were second hand but still of good quality. I flew to Can Tho City on Vietjet Air in the morning and took the latest flight before midnight on Bamboo Airways to go back to Hanoi, so I had a half day with their family. When my plane was going to land, I saw an amazing view of the Mekong ... read more

Efter en flyvetur Da Nang - Can Tho, er vi kommet til Mekongdeltaet i Sydvietnam. Efter landing var vi straks afsted på en byvandring for at indtage stemningen i Can Tho. Målet var at besøge et fransk-vietnamesisk hus fra kolonitiden. Det er et af de bedst bevarede huse fra den tid. Det spændende ved huset var at den forreste del var bygget i fransk kolonistil mens den bagerste del var bygget i vietnamesisk stil. Inden vi kom til vores hotel nåede vi også at køre forbi et aktivet buddistisk tempel hvor omkring 50 elever både munke og eksterne elever bor og modtager undervisning i den buddhistiske lære. Can Tho er meget kendt for sit vandmarked som er i fuld gang allerede ved solopgang. Så næste morgen var vi, tidligt oppe for at opleve den spænende aktivitet ... read more

Today we saw the floating river markets- what an absolute treat! We were very lucky as we had arrived later than the locals typically "go to market" and yet, we had some boats clip on to ours and offer up their goods. We were also lucky to have Vietnamese women on board who were all about the shopping - I loved it! I was right in the middle, somehow, and caught it all. I got to try passion fruit, jack fruit and that beautiful fruit - durian. It was fantastic. We then went over to see how rice noodles are made and did a little shopping. The food was not that good in Can Tho and if I understood the guide correctly it is because their history of colonization has confused the culinary experience (again, not ... read more

Le trajet de Phu Quoc à Can Tho a été un des pires - il m'a un peu rappelé le trajet entre Chiang Mai et Pai en Thaïlande où tout le monde était malade dans le minibus. Ça commençait déjà mal dans le bateau qui nous a amené jusqu'au continent: j'ai été super malade, alors que je ne suis habituellement pas malade en mer. Un bus nous a ensuite déposé à la gare routière où on a attendu un minibus pour Can Tho. Une dame nous a dit d'attendre puis elle nous a crié de monter dans un minibus alors qu'il partait. On a dû lui courir après. Le minibus s'est avéré être un minibus local que nous avons donc partagé avec 14 vietnamiens, deux caisses de poissons, et plein d'autre bazar. L'odeur dans le minibus ... read more

Nous revoilà! Il est difficile de mettre le blog à jour vu que nous sommes soit partis en vadrouille soit nous dormons! Donc nous avons décidé de quitter OCM sa pollution, son bruit et des scooters pour le Delta du Mékong! Nous avons réservé un tour via notre hôtel pour 2 jours et une nuit. Enfin, heureusement que Christophe a vérifié car notre hôtesse à l'hôtel est charmante mais son anglais est limité comme la plupart des gens ici, ce qui limite les discussions et les échanges. Et elle nous avait réservé la mauvaise excursion. Nous avons donc pris le bus pour le Delta du Mékong : nous avons un bateau pour toutes les personnes de notre groupe et avons visite deux des principales îles du delta : l île de la licorne et l ile ... read more

It was pitch black and starry when we walked to the jetty on the river at the front of the homestay. A boat was to carry us to the floating markets on the Mekong River, and as always, markets start super early in the day, so I'd been up since 4am. Quite a few locals causally passed us in their boats, carrying wares such as melons, vegetables and fish. One boat was full of live geese which appeared to be loose and enjoying the ride, but I'm sure the reality of it is rather different. Fishermen/women were also abundant. Daylight eventually decided to put in an appearance as we arrived at a small floating market called Phong Diem. The men and women were busy working and mostly ignored us, passing goods from one boat to the ... read more

Cycling in the dark with only reflectors is never clever. Doing it in Vietnam amongst mopeds, motorbikes, vans, all going in random directions is insanity. Add to that following a young guide who, it turns out 'doesn't know the law' and tries to make you turn into the fast moving heavy traffic, that was my nightmare and I'm grateful to still be alive. But what an experience!!! I'd set the alarm for 7am forgetting that it was still set for 5.30 too. Oops! After a solid sleep I was fully awake and the local cockerels were determined to be heard again and again and again. So Glyn and I both got up and took advantage of having the place to almost to ourselves - although there were a few people about sweeping up. I was filming ... read more