Tan Chau to Sa Dec

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Today we took a small local boat through narrow channels to several scenic locations, including a small village known as “Evergreen Island," where we walked around the island and met many of the island's inhabitants, who were very happy to show us around. One woman let us into her home to see how they live so simply, MY kids would die. They would move to the city and never come back. That is for sure! Tan Chau known for it's ancient silk factory. Since most of the silk production has moved north into China for many reasons, this is one of the few working factories left in Vietnam. Saturday, the workers were off today, but we walked through the factory and learned that each person (mostly women) runs several machines at once, only needing to touch the automated machines when the bobbins ran out of threads. The attached store was a frenzy of activity when our tour group stopped in, items being purchased by everyone in the group, cash exchanging hands furtively. I regret not buying more there, because by the time we got to Ho Chi Minh City, the prices doubled. I bought 6 silk scarves as gifts in vibrant colors for $4 US each. We rode by tri shaw to the other end of the island to a grass mat factory, where a lot of skill goes into making the traditional sleeping mats of the Vietnamese.

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Photos

Welcome Wagon
Children Welcome us everywhere we docked!

Facilities
Outhouse for people who don't have a house.

Propaganda Speakers
Vietnamese government speakers blare at 5:00am and 5:00pm, news as they want you to hear it, weather, local info. You must stop to listen.

Chauffer
Vietnamese chauffer, hardest working guys on the trip. Switched tee shirts for each cruise line.

Street Vendor
Moving markets along every street. Bringing fruits and vegetables to you.

Grass mats
Every Vietnamese family sleeps on a grass mat on the floor or stretched on a frame.

Mat Vendor
Replace your mat every year or so to keep bugs away.

Silk Loom
Intricate silk patterns from ancient silk looms, just as they have been used for centuries.