The Mekong Delta, in the south, is not only amazingly beautiful but is also
the rice basket of the country with its rich agricultural soil. The area is
peppered with paddies and orchards with all kinds of fruit including mangos,
bananas, coconuts, pineapples, and even oranges.
The Mekong River, often referred to as 'a dragon with nine tails", this is
because it has 9 branches. It's called "Cuu Long" by the Vietnamese, which
literally means the river of Nine Dragons, it is seen as a protector and
isolator at the same time. The Mekong originates in Tibet and flows down through
China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and, of course, Southern Vietnam before
reaching the South China Sea. This region is originally Khmer country, it saw
the first Europeans arriving in the 16th century. There are a great amount of
religions here, including Catholicism and Moslim as well as the Cao Dai sect and
the Hoa Hao sect. The region is still populated by the Khmer people but there
are also Chinese and Cham people nowadays, not to mention Vietnamese. April is a
good month to visit in order to try the many fruits that are being harvested at
that time.
The Mekong Delta, is a never-ending story of confrontation, especially regarding
flooding and storms and is a major force in the lives of the people in this area.
The Mekong area is a fascinating place to visit and we have tours to the Mekong
Delta all year round even during the monsoon season (from April to November).
Temperatures can reach up to 38 degrees in the summer and in the winter season
the average temperature is about 23 degrees Celsius which is a perfect
temperature for most people.
Tho during the months of September and October, the muddy waters of the Mekong
threaten,though you wouldn't think the threat was imminent when you see the
inhabitants of this wonderful area as they go about their day-to-day lives.
Water, water everywhere! It's the first thing that hits you. Water is the most
dominant theme in this region. Fish farms abound, which breed the very tasty
elephant-ear fish, originating in Indonesia, they are a great favourite with
locals and tourists alike. My Tho is surrounded by rice fields and orchards
offering wonderful panoramic views. It also has a rich cultural past with many
pagodas such as the Vinh Trang Pagoda which dates back to the 19th century. You
can taste the Kmer influence here in almost evry walk of life This town got
hammered during the war. Row upon row of deserted wooden buildings now overlook
the waterfront. The many different forms of river transport are a pleasure to
watch as they make their way along the Mekong.
My Tho is just a mere 75 km from Ho Chi Minh City, This place is great for a day
trip or part of a three-day trip into the depths of the Mekong. Taking a boat to
My Tho can be a wonderful experience, it is fairly easy to reach. It is also the
capital of the Tien Giang Province and is a favourite with our Australian
tourists.
Some of the sights worth seeing are; The pagoda and the highly interesting snake
farm. Some of the islands here are also worth a visit for their abundance of
fruit especially Phung Island.