Spent the last 3 days in the Mekong Delta. Decided to go with a tour group since it would be a lot cheaper, but on reflection I think that was a mistake. I seem to have spent the last 3 days on a bus or on a boat and I didn’t really get much chance to see around the towns we visited. It felt very touristy - wouldn’t do it again. But, despite that, I did have a nice time.

The Mekong Delta's main industry is agriculture (due to all the silt deposits) so the majority of places were either farming things or markets. We went to Mytho (Mekong Delta Gateway town) and got a boat trip from there to various islands in the delta. I saw coconut candy production on Ben Tre and bought some - it's really nice - a bit like coconut toffee. Saw other islands too and how the people live in that delta region. Lots of typical Vietnamese conical hats!! (See photos) Saw lots of fruit farms/orchards and tried lots - that was nice.

Also went to a rice noodle factory – that was good. I hadn’t really understood where the actual rice grains come from. When they harvest rice, they leave a 3rd in the soil. The top 2 thirds are cut off and then beaten until the grains fall out from the grass stems. Then the rice is rolled to get the husks off and then rolled again to get something else off it. Then you can eat it. They burn the husks in the ovens when they’re making the noodles and use the ash to fertilize the paddy fields. The other stuff that comes off (can’t remember the name), they feed to the chickens and pigs. Useful stuff, rice! 

We finished the day at Cantho, a fairly big town. I shared a room with an American guy (John) on the tour - he was nice. Because it was high tide the entire town was flooded, so when we went out for dinner I was up to my knees in water at times, just walking down the street! Went to a Vietnamese supermarket to have a look!! That was so funny! John and I got stared at so much - we were the only westerners there!! People came to talk to us - we were a real spectacle! And also - my pathetic tan has completely faded now, no I am very white. Everywhere in Vietnam people come up to me and comment on how white I am - it's really funny - they all rub my arms! 

The next morning we got up early to get to the floating market for 7:30. I really enjoyed the floating markets - we went to quite a few - saw all the locals who live on their barges, selling the stock to small rowing boats. It wasn't quite as picturesque as I'd hoped, but it was really good to see it. That bit didn't feel touristy, which made it even better. Then I got the bus to Chau Doc (some of the others from the tour were only doing 2 days so they went back to Saigon).

Chau Doc is near the Cambodian border, and we climbed up Sam Mountain (big hill really - think calling it a mountain is a bit ambitious) from there, there was a great view of the surrounding rice fields and you could see to the hills where the Cambodian border is. Sadly, it rained - so the view was not as spectacular and the photos are a bit dark and gloomy. We didn't stay for the sunset because there wasn't any point. Then spent the night in Chau Doc at a nice hotel. The next day got up early again to see a fish farm (not that interesting - would have preferred a lie in!) and then we saw some minority people who live in huts on the delta. That was good to see - they move their houses (they're on stilts) up and down depending on how high the water comes! They also had really cool monkey walkways which were basically a big bamboo stick that they walk along between their houses (badly explained - see photo) 

Then got bus back to Cantho, had lunch – ate snake!! How sick is that!?! And it had its scales on and everything!! Was very tough – wouldn’t have it again. After that, got the bus back to Saigon. Saw an incense making factory and crocodile farm on the way - again, just for the tourists - pretty rubbish! 

In all it was interesting to see the delta and I'm glad I went, but if I did it again, I'd organise it myself and not go with a tour. When Claire arrives we were planning to spend 10 days doing the open bus tour from here to Hanoi (you can get on and off as you like) but I think I’ll try and persuade her that we'll organise it ourselves. It'll be more expensive, but we might actually see something Vietnamese and not be made to eat and stay at specific restaurants and hotels!! Not a fan of organised tours! 

Oh – interesting fact – there are 9 million people in Ho Chi Minh City and 3.5 million motorbikes!! And that’s just the registered ones!! It doesn’t include visiting or illegal ones. No wonder the streets are so crazy!