Welcome to day 22 of our trip, where we’ll explore the Mekong Delta, also known as the “rice bowl” of Vietnam. The Mekong Delta is a vast network of rivers, canals, and islands, which is home to over 17 million people and produces a large portion of Vietnam’s agricultural exports. Today, we’ll take a boat cruise through the villages, islands, and markets of the Mekong Delta and visit traditional candy factories.
In the morning, we’ll travel by bus to the Mekong Delta and board a boat for a cruise along the river. The boat will take we through the lush vegetation of the delta, past floating markets, fishing villages, and stilt houses. We’ll have the chance to see the locals going about their daily activities, such as harvesting rice or fishing, and learn about their way of life.
One of the highlights of the boat cruise is a visit to the traditional candy factories on the delta. The factories produce a variety of candy and other sweets, using local ingredients such as coconut, peanut, and sesame. We’ll have the chance to see the candy being made by hand and try some of the delicious treats. We can also buy some of the candy as a souvenir or gift for our loved ones back home.
After our visit to the candy factories, we’ll have lunch on the boat. We’ll be served a delicious meal featuring local specialties, such as seafood or rice dishes. We can enjoy our meal while taking in the beautiful scenery of the river and the surrounding islands.
In the afternoon, we’ll have some free time to explore the Mekong Delta on our own. We can take a walk around the villages and observe the daily life of the locals, or rent a bicycle and explore the surrounding countryside. We can also visit some of the local markets and buy some souvenirs, or simply relax and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of the delta.
If we’re interested in learning more about the culture and history of the Mekong Delta, we recommend some optional activities that we can add to our itinerary. We can visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda, a Buddhist temple built in the 19th century, which features a mix of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Khmer architectural styles. Or, we can visit some of the fruit orchards or rice paddy fields, and see firsthand how the locals cultivate their crops.
