Today we went out to the Mekong Delta. South of the city people are living and working around the Mekong River, which is surrounded by floating fishing villages and inland is tropical with canals linking together back out into the river. We took a boat ride to the islands and then toured around seeing how coconut sweets were made, rice paper etc and sampled pure honey straight from the hive as well as various teas and fruits and local rice whiskey, which felt like it was burring the back of your throat off. Good stuff!
To get to the island we took a biggish boat across the river. We then took a canoe ride through the canals with a woman oaring the whole way. Our 'driver' was manic, and it was like being on a scooter on water. She zoomed past everyone in her way and just pushed those in the way aside. It was an absolutely awesome trip and really beautiful. She took us out of the canals and back to the river where we climbed back onto the main boat.
Main boat
On the Island
Barbecue
On the canals with superwoman up front
this evening am going to go to Ben Thank Market and then will look for a local restaurant in town. Tomorrow we leave Vietnam and fly to Cambodia, absolutely cannot wait.
Probably worth summarising my highlights of Vietnam now.
Hotels. Melia in Hanoi was lovely, it was central, has really nice rooms and facilities and nice food and a lobby for a quite night cap. The Imperial in Hue was stunning, great views, great facilities, right in town, sensational. Equatorial in Ho Chi Minh, not so nice. Facilities adequate but not as comfortable and people have had their bags snatched whilst inside. It is also based in china town and is a 20 min drive into the city. It's not nice enough to be worthy of being out of the city centre.
Food. It is not spicy enough for me! I have not had a bad meal anywhere though and have eaten in the hotel and local restaurants. The food is varied, and in the local restaurants, the choice is, well, interesting....ducks tongue, chicken claws, snails of various types, pigs stomach.... Sorry to say, I have tried new things but not any of those listed! I had a lovely meal in a local restaurant around the corner from the hotel here in Ho Chi Minh City of chilli chicken wings. I am not sure I actually got wings and there were questionable parts of the chicken presented, but I just ate it and because they had asked how spicy I would like, I did get something lovely and hot!
Highlights for me were the prison in Hanoi, the palaces in Hue and in Ho Chi Minh, the war remnants museum, even though distressing at the time, the Cu Chi tunnels and the canal trip down Mekong canals. We also had an excellent local guide in each city and especially in Ho Chi Minh who has taught us all a lot about the history and politics of this country and definitely something I would read more on when I return. A truly fascinating and inspiring country. I recommend everyone to come and see it for themselves, I cannot do it justice in words.
Till Cambodia......
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Sounds amazing so far, cant wait to follow you through Cambodia. Will definitely be on my 50 things to do before I die list.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely awe inspiring but, from my own point of view, I'm not so sure about the food and that snake!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments. I have some catching up to do and will blog later on Cambodia. It was on my list to do too, and it has been brilliant so should go for it.
ReplyDeleteSue and Neal, hey you eat what your served here and is always tasty. We have set a challenge to get a meal for under a dollar. Have succeeded and will report all shortly.