Sunday in the Mekong

Up early again today (and on a Sunday as well!), and picked up from the hotel at 8am for a trip into the Mekong Delta.

Once again we were on the umpa lumpa bus (the bus was built for people with no legs!), so at the half way rest stop we both shared war wounds as we were sat in 2 diferent places on the bus - the downside of being picked up last.

Then onto a town called My Tho, deep in Delta country to board our boat to head out into the Mekong.  It was quite an impressive sight - the width of it was uncomprehensible until we realised we were heading towards islands in the centre, and not the outer banks.  We passed several islands, with quite unusual names; Dragon, Pheonix and finally stopped at Unicorn island to visit a village that keeps honey bee hives. 

After a cup of honey tea we headed off on foot across the island to our next stop, a tourist restaurant that let us sample some local tropical fruit - yum (for Nicola, not for Ben!).  Whilst here we listened to some traditional music that a band was playing.

We then boarded a rowing boat manned by two ladies and were given traditional Vietnamese hats to wear - sadly Ben was not caught on camera sporting this attractive head piece - there is still time though ;-)!  The journey took us through the small canals that were surrounded by banana trees.

Off the small rowing boat and back on our larger boat we travelled to Ben Tre (another island) and visited a small coconut candy workshop, which sold an array of wierd and wonderful things including 'Cobratox - cream with snake venom'.  Then we took a traditional horse and cart ride to our lunchtime stop were we had a small feast of pork and rice.

After lunch we boarded our boat again and headed back to My Tho, and then back on the bus for the journey back to Saigon.

Tonight we plan to visit a local market to eat some street stall food before packing up for tomorrows train journey to Nha Trang - and the BEACH!!