Today we leave Saigon and head towards the Mekong Delta - known as the ‘Rice Basket’ of Vietnam The Mekong Delta is an important region both economically and culturally for the country as it is the world’s largest exporting region of rice. Home to 15 million Vietnamese,this is a world of waterways, backwaters and canals, always influenced by the whims of the river system. We travel by boat to explore the area in and around Vinh Long Province as the delta is an ideal place to
experience the life of local Vietnamese farmers We spent the night in one of the many home
stays, located amongst the small islands and canals of the Mekong River.

The home stay was....well.....very basic but the people were really friendly and we had a delicious meal. I was surprised to find so many people staying at the one place a I'd imagined that each farmer took in one group...how silly of me...of course they are more enterprising than that. mind you I did get a shock when I had to get up and use the bathroom in the middle of the night...I was confronted by this little Vietnamese man STARK naked!!! I'm not sure who got the greater shock!!
We slept under a tent lie structure and each bed had its own mosquito net. I very carefully ensured my bed was completely covered...no little creepy crawlies for me or for that matter no mosquito bites please!!

Life along the river is very diverse. we saw people doing all sorts of jobs including brick making, coconut leaf roof making, tile making, rice paper making and even coffins being made!! The sight of the rice barges was one to behold..I doubt they could have fitted one more grain onboard!!

Also visited Sau Giao where we saw the most beautiful Vietnamese bonsai.