Photo: Freepik

The Mekong Delta has a water system that is over 33,500 miles long. The residents have built their lives around it, from the famous floating markets to the vast agricultural industries; a variety of fruits, flowers, and livestock grow in the region. It’s a place to nap in a hammock or drift downstream in a sampan. If you are visiting the Mekong Delta, you must see some of the following:

Cai Rang Floating Market

Opening early in the morning, and at its liveliest at around 5 a.m., this is the biggest floating market in the Mekong Delta. Here, clusters of boats sell all sorts of locally grown fruits and vegetables. There’s a bridge that serves as a great vantage point for photography. This is a wholesale market, so look at what’s tied to the long pole above the boat to see what they’re selling. Take your time to observe what life is like for those that live here – how they conduct their business, how they eat, drink, sleep, and live life on boats. [...]

Vinh Trang Pagoda

This pagoda, located in My Tho, Tien Giang province, was built in 1849. The architecture is a melting pot of Chinese, Vietnamese, Khmer and European styles, and the site features various Buddha statues, a beautiful ornate gate built by craftsmen from Hue, mosaic decorations made out of broken pottery, and intricately detailed woodwork inside. Visit around 10 a.m. and you will hear the sound of monks chanting peaceful Buddhist prayer verses.

Phu Quoc Night Market

Phu Quoc is an island a bit out of the way and accessible by flight from Saigon. The most atmospheric and best-value place to dine on Phu Quoc island, Duong Dong’s busy night market has stalls of snacks, coconut ice cream and a parade of outdoor restaurants serving a delicious range of Vietnamese seafood, grills and vegetarian options. Quality can be mixed, so follow the discerning local crowd. A post-meal meander among the stalls of clothes, souvenirs and peppercorns is essential. [...]

Ba Chuc Tomb

Ba Chuc’s memorial, 25 miles south of Chau Doc, stands as a ghastly reminder of the horrors perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge. Between 18 April and 30 April 1978, the Khmer Rouge killed 3157 villagers here, leaving only two survivors. The memorial consists of two parts: the ossuary housing the skulls and bones of more than 1100 victims; and the memorial room next door, displaying harrowing post-massacre photos.

Tan Lap Village

Tan Lap Floating Village is an eco-tourism site located in Long An province. Here, you can walk on elevated paths through a gorgeous cajuput forest or take a boat along the Rung Canal. You can also enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the forests from the observation tower, relish local dishes, participate in campfires, barbecues, picnics and other outdoor activities. November is the best time to visit — when the lotuses bloom, adding contrasting colors to all that greenery. [...]

Xeo Quyt Forest

During the American War, the VC had a base in this forest, where top-brass VC lived in underground bunkers. The Americans never realized that the VC generals were living less than two miles from a US military base. Nowadays, a marvelous 20-minute canoe tour takes you past old bunkers and former minefields along a narrow canal loop choked with water hyacinths (luc binh) beneath the forest canopy. It’s an exquisite experience. A walking trail parallels the canal and allows you to duck into the Z- and L-shaped VC bunkers and admire the expertly hidden, tiny trap doors through which the VC disappeared underground. [...]

Huynh Thuy Le Old House

This wonderfully atmospheric 1895 house on the riverfront in Sa Dec was once the residence of Huynh Thuy Le, the son of a rich Chinese family who had an affair with Marguerite Duras in 1929, when she was only 15. She immortalized the romance in The Lover, eventually made into a film. Today those who plan to travel to Vietnam, often watch it to get “in the mood” and as a result, seek opportunities to visit the Delta.

The house is a Sino-French design and a treasure trove of nostalgia, with intricate interior woodwork, mother-of-pearl inlaid doors, heavy wooden furniture, stained glass windows, and original cement floor tiles made and hand-painted in France. In the entrance hall there are photos of the Le family as well as Marguerite Duras, and stills from the film itself. The story of Duras’ family and her complicated relationship have put Sa Dec forever on the literary map. But beyond the house on Nguyen Hue St., Sa Dec has countless mansions and ornate temples on its tidy riverfront streets. Stroll the streets along the river to appreciate the town’s architectural gems. [...]

Source: Rainforest Cruises