Day 3 Sunday 1st. January 2006.
This morning we cycled from Tan An on country roads and dirt tracks, through small towns and tiny isolated villages to My Tho, where we took our first cruise on the Mekong. We had actually cast off and away before a headcount discovered that Ruth was missing. Poor Ruth had cycled an extra 8 km before discovering that she was alone. Fortunately she was exotically recognisable from a Vietnamese point of view and there had been loads of sightings. Laura “found” her and we were all very relieved to see her. I wonder what she was thinking as we floated across this part of the delta to Turtle Island.
Once we reached the South/West bank we were transferred to small narrow boats and punted in small groups wearing “Nons” through equally narrow canals to see a coconut-sweet making cottage industry at work. Katie and myself each had our pictures taken with a huge python around our shoulders. In the afternoon we cycled towards the homestay, The Phu Tuc commune at Ben Tre. We enjoyed a pleasant meal ( the veggies were together at all the pre-paid meals) after which we were entertained by local musicians playing and singing local songs and instruments. Here we slept undercover but in the open air with mosquito nets. I probably snored but no-one complained.
Paddy field workers
In a Non, paddling upstream
Day 4. Monday 2nd January 2006.
After breakfast in Phu Tuc we cycled 12km. to a ferry at Ham Luong. Ferries are part of life here so crossing the delta gave me a tiny feeling of belonging in a strange way. We were just a few among the throng of local people and other tourists going about their business. Once across we cycled again through very fertile land with fruit orchards,market gardens and rice fields as far as the eye could see.
In the villages,happy, friendly children were delighted to see this motley crew of westerners speeding by their homes. They shouted “Zin Chao”.
We took an hour’s ride on the bus from Mo Cay to Vinh Long where we had another set lunch. Jane, Ruth and myself got to know each other quite well being the only vegetarians.
Vinh Long province grows fruit and grains for HCMC. Seventy percent of the population is involved with rice growing. Viet Nam grows 35million tonnes of rice each year of which they consume 30millions. Even so they are the worlds 3rd. largest exporters of rice at 5million tonnes each year.
After lunch, we cycled another 22km. to Can Tho where we stayed in the Phuong Dong Hotel. Laura took us to a vietamese riverside restaurant where we enjoyed local food and plenty of chat. Somebody always had a story to tell,especially Noel. Noel can turn anything into a good yarn. He is an excellent source of cheap entertainment.
An Internet Cafe!
