Good Morning Vietnam!

Trip Start Feb 26, 2006
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Trip End Sep 16, 2006


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Monday, May 22, 2006

The Vietnam/Cambodia water border on the Mekong River recently opened to foreigners and is becoming increasingly more popular, and sailing down the Mekong sounded a lot more interesting to Eva and I than taking the international bus.

We had read that independently booking transportation in the Mekong is quite difficult and expensive, and after three weeks of transportation hell in Cambodia, Eva and I were ready to compromise our standards just this once and book a 4 day package tour through the Mekong. We were ready for someone else to do some of the heavy lifting for a while.

Eva:
It wasn't worth the $10 a day fee we paid, but we do save a lot of trouble negotiating transportation prices with moto drivers, boat operators and hotels.

We take a horrible minivan get to the boat. Tt only takes two hours, however, with the terrible Cambodian road conditions and no suspension on the car, it's a hellish ride to the dock.

Cities visited in the Delta and summary of experiences:
Chau Doc: Chew baby duck! (see photos/video) Our the tour guide San is very nice, funny and friendly. We met up with two friendly Japanese female travelers who we hope to see again one day in Japan.

Can Tho: We meet "Ha," the hilarious boat operator. We regret having booked the tour as she would have been a great guide (through she was expensive at about $25 for an 8 hour tour). In the end our package tour was a much worse value, as we spent a total of 30 minutes visiting the Vietnamese floating markets and small inlets.

My Tho: Atmospheric canal rides on small boats through the jungle. Families in tiny houses in the jungle; you'd never see them if they were trying to hide. We think about what this experience would have been like were we soldiers here 30 years ago, when that same solitary atmosphere would have transferred to a feeling of terror.

Post your own travel photos for friends and family Pictures & Videos

01 on the road - bus inside 01 on the road - bus inside 01 on the road - overloading 01 on the road - overloading 01 on the road - overloading close up! 01 on the road - overloading close up! 01 on the road - road traffic 01 on the road - road traffic
02 transport to boat - 01 deck 02 transport to boat - 01 deck 02 transport to boat - 02 inside 02 transport to boat - 02 inside 02 transport to boat - 03 our first tour guide 02 transport to boat - 03 our first tour guide 03 Cambodia custom 03 Cambodia custom
04 get back to the boat 04 get back to the boat 05 Vietnamese Custom 05 Vietnamese Custom 06 border town - giant rat 01 06 border town - giant rat 01 06 border town - giant rat 02 06 border town - giant rat 02
06 border town - kids 01 06 border town - kids 01 06 border town - kids 02 06 border town - kids 02 06 border town - people 06 border town - people 07 transport to Vietnamese boat 07 transport to Vietnamese boat
08 along the way - fishing houses 08 along the way - fishing houses 08 along the way - gas station 08 along the way - gas station 08 along the way - gas up! 08 along the way - gas up! 08 along the way - houses 08 along the way - houses
09 arrival - local transportation 01 09 arrival - local transportation 01 09 arrival - local transportation 02 09 arrival - local transportation 02 10 backpacker parade 01 10 backpacker parade 01 11 here we are - Adam with fruit shake 11 here we are - Adam with fruit shake
11 here we are - Vietnam 11 here we are - Vietnam 12 evening - baby duck 01 12 evening - baby duck 01 12 evening - baby duck 02 12 evening - baby duck 02 12 evening - baby duck 03 12 evening - baby duck 03
12 evening - baby duck 04 12 evening - baby duck 04 12 evening - Japanese friend 12 evening - Japanese friend 13 the second day - 01 fish farm 01 13 the second day - 01 fish farm 01 13 the second day - 01 fish farm 02 13 the second day - 01 fish farm 02
13 the second day - 01 fish farm 03 13 the second day - 01 fish farm 03 13 the second day - 02 Cham village 01 13 the second day - 02 Cham village 01 13 the second day - 02 Cham village 02 13 the second day - 02 Cham village 02 13 the second day - 02 Cham village 03 13 the second day - 02 Cham village 03
13 the second day - 03 Incense factory 01 13 the second day - 03 Incense factory 01 13 the second day - 03 Incense factory 02 13 the second day - 03 Incense factory 02 13 the second day - 04 deep fried spring rolls 13 the second day - 04 deep fried spring rolls 13 the second day - 04 lunch 13 the second day - 04 lunch
13 the second day - 04 lunch fish cake raw meat 13 the second day - 04 lunch fish cake raw meat 13 the second day - 04 lunch spring rolls 13 the second day - 04 lunch spring rolls 13 the second day - 05 fish in the clay pot 13 the second day - 05 fish in the clay pot 13 the second day - 06 road side stand 13 the second day - 06 road side stand
13 the second day - 07 Vietnamese Mama 13 the second day - 07 Vietnamese Mama 13 the second day - 08 Ha 13 the second day - 08 Ha 13 the second day - 09 our English friend 13 the second day - 09 our English friend 13 the second day - 10 Adam 13 the second day - 10 Adam
13 the second day - 11 start to rain! 13 the second day - 11 start to rain! 13 the second day - 12 after the rain 13 the second day - 12 after the rain 13 the second day - 12 after the rain 02 13 the second day - 12 after the rain 02 13 the second day - 13 dinner 13 the second day - 13 dinner
14 The third day - 01 Start 14 The third day - 01 Start 14 The third day - 02 along the way 14 The third day - 02 along the way 14 The third day - 02 arrival - noodle shop 14 The third day - 02 arrival - noodle shop 14 The third day - 02 arrival - vegetable vendor 14 The third day - 02 arrival - vegetable vendor
14 The third day - 03 ship dealer 14 The third day - 03 ship dealer 14 The third day - 03 shopping 14 The third day - 03 shopping 14 The third day - 03 shopping 02 14 The third day - 03 shopping 02 14 The third day - 04 boat 01 14 The third day - 04 boat 01
14 The third day - 04 boat 02 14 The third day - 04 boat 02 14 The third day - 04 Not all the boats can float 14 The third day - 04 Not all the boats can float 14 The third day - 05 get back to the boat 14 The third day - 05 get back to the boat 14 The third day - 05 rice wraper factory 01 14 The third day - 05 rice wraper factory 01
14 The third day - 05 rice wraper factory 02 14 The third day - 05 rice wraper factory 02 14 The third day - 05 rice wraper factory 03 14 The third day - 05 rice wraper factory 03 14 The third day - 05 rice wraper factory 04 14 The third day - 05 rice wraper factory 04 14 The third day - 07 market 14 The third day - 07 market
14 The third day - 08 bus to My Tho - river cross 14 The third day - 08 bus to My Tho - river cross 14 The third day - 08 My Tho city 14 The third day - 08 My Tho city 14 The third day - 09 My tho - fish cart 14 The third day - 09 My tho - fish cart 14 The third day - 09 My tho - fish cart video 14 The third day - 09 My tho - fish cart video
14 The third day - 09 My tho - nice old guys 14 The third day - 09 My tho - nice old guys 14 The third day - 09 My tho - nice old guys video 14 The third day - 09 My tho - nice old guys video 14 The third day - 09 My tho - pancake 14 The third day - 09 My tho - pancake 14 The third day - 09 My tho - street 14 The third day - 09 My tho - street
14 The third day - 09 My tho - street sign 14 The third day - 09 My tho - street sign 15 fourth day - 01 big boat 15 fourth day - 01 big boat 15 fourth day - 02 encouner 15 fourth day - 02 encouner 15 fourth day - 03 big boat crash 15 fourth day - 03 big boat crash
15 fourth day - 04 house hiding away 15 fourth day - 04 house hiding away 15 fourth day - 05 kids swimming 15 fourth day - 05 kids swimming 15 fourth day - 06 our fifth tour guide 15 fourth day - 06 our fifth tour guide 15 fourth day - 07 15 fourth day - 07
15 fourth day - 08 coconut factory 01 15 fourth day - 08 coconut factory 01 15 fourth day - 08 coconut factory 02 15 fourth day - 08 coconut factory 02 15 fourth day - 08 coconut factory 03 15 fourth day - 08 coconut factory 03 15 fourth day - 08 coconut factory 04 15 fourth day - 08 coconut factory 04
15 fourth day - 08 coconut factory 05 15 fourth day - 08 coconut factory 05 15 fourth day - 08 coconut factory 06 15 fourth day - 08 coconut factory 06 15 fourth day - 09 lunch 15 fourth day - 09 lunch 15 fourth day - 09 small boat 01 15 fourth day - 09 small boat 01
15 fourth day - 09 small boat 02 15 fourth day - 09 small boat 02 15 fourth day - 09 small boat 03 15 fourth day - 09 small boat 03 15 fourth day - 09 small boat 04 15 fourth day - 09 small boat 04 15 fourth day - 09 small boat 04 Video 15 fourth day - 09 small boat 04 Video
15 fourth day - 09 small boat 05 15 fourth day - 09 small boat 05 15 fourth day - 09 small boat 05 Video 15 fourth day - 09 small boat 05 Video 15 fourth day - 10 afternoon tea 15 fourth day - 10 afternoon tea 15 last day - dessert 01 15 last day - dessert 01
15 last day - dessert 02 15 last day - dessert 02 15 last day - dessert 03 15 last day - dessert 03 15 last day - dessert 04 15 last day - dessert 04 15 last day - dessert 04 video 15 last day - dessert 04 video
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