Back to Vietnam

 Mekong Delta

Cao Dai Temple

This temple was in Cai Be, very close to where we caught the boat into the Mekong Delta.

Sampan Ride in Canals

We rode a boat to one end of some canals where we boarded sampan boats which could carry up to four passengers. The boats are propelled by a single oar which took us to the other end of the canals, where we met our original boat. After the transfer, the sampan boats moved back to the starting location via motor.

Other

The boat we took throughout the delta.

Many shops and homes opened directly to the water. Normally there would be a market on rafts and boats, but it was off-season for that.

There was a lot of water hyacinth floating in the delta.

We stopped at a place where we saw a lot of jackfruit growing.

This performance also included dancing and singing.

After the performance, people were invited to try this instrument which has a single string that you pluck. You start with the edge of your palm against the string to change the tone, and the left hand pulls the lever back and forth to fine-tune the tone.

Making popped rice. The black is rice hulls that is reused, which is why it looks charred.

Coconut milk is reduced with sweetener and flavoring to make candy.

Coconut candy is cooled in long trays and then cut. They’re first wrapped in edible rice paper and then with an outer wrapper.

Different kinds of wine made with distilled rice. The two on the right have snakes.

You could buy small bottles of wine with pythons in them.

Small wood shop at the homestay we were at.

These doors were being delivered down the street. Even with a running start, the cart barely made it up the driveway to the road.