5

Mekong delta - Mekong cruise

Mekong delta, Mekong delta tour , Mekong cruise, Mekong Cruise on Mekong river Vietnam. The southern most part of Vietnam is the region known as the Mekong Delta, where the mighty Mekong River empties into the ocean. This is an area of fertile farming land, lush tropical orchards and numerous canals and waterways. The major delta towns are My Tho- Ben Tre Caibe - Vinh Long, Can Tho and Chau Doc. Places worth visiting in the delta region include numerous floating markets, riverside cottage industries, tropical fruit orchards and bird gardens where thousands of white egrets congregate in the late afternoon to roost in the tree tops.
  • Tra Su Cajuput Forest Mekong delta
  • Tra Su cajuput - Chau Doc
  • rowing boat in my tho
  • mekong delta people
  • mekong delta people 2
  • biking mekong saigon cai be ben tre vinh long
  • Cai Rang floating market Can Tho
  • Rowing boat - My Tho Ben Tre day trip
  • Rowing boat - My Tho Ben Tre tour
  • Photo of Mekong delta
  • Floating market Mekong delta tour
  • Mekong Delta biking tour
  • mekong delta local people (1)
  • tra su chau doc
  • mekong delta boat
  • mekong river
  • cai rang floating market

Mekong delta Vietnam - Mekong cruise

Thousands of waterways form a labyrinth of major currents and secluded canals lined with lush vegetation, mangrove swamps and verdant rice fields. More than 13 million people live by the timeless rhythm of the river in small fishing villages and boats in the Mekong Delta. To witness the tastes and sounds of a floating market in the Mekong Delta at dawn can be the experience of a lifetime.

Being a very rich, beautiful and lush area, Mekong Delta is the southern most region of Vietnam end of the Mekong River. It splits in Cambodia into two main rivers, the Bassac (Hau Giang) and the Upper River (Tien Giang), then in Vietnam into a more complex system, creating a maze of small canals, rivers and arroyos interspersed with villages and floating markets. Life in the Mekong Delta revolves much around the river and boats are still the main means of transport to access villages.

The benign climate, an abundance of tropical fruits, sugarcane, coconuts and beautiful flowers and the casual, welcoming and generous mentality of the people make the Mekong Delta an exotic paradise for visitors from all parts of the world.

The southern most part of Vietnam is the region known as the Mekong Delta, where the mighty Mekong River empties into the ocean. This is an area of fertile farming land, lush tropical orchards and numerous canals and waterways. The major delta towns are My Tho, Vinh Long, Can Tho and Chau Doc. Places worth visiting in the delta region include numerous floating markets, riverside cottage industries, tropical fruit orchards and bird gardens where thousands of white egrets congregate in the late afternoon to roost in the tree tops. An eccentric mix of Cham and Khmer cultures, with side by side floating farmhouses, Islamic Cham minority settlement and a mystic Buddhist mountain. The rarely visited island of Phu Quoc lies off the eastern coast of the delta in the Gulf of Thailand. Phu Quoc is blessed with some beautiful beaches and clear seas and is famous throughout Vietnam for the production of black pepper and fish sauce.

The people of south Vietnam are often very proud of the richness and vastness of this land. When referring to the rice fields in this area, they often say, "co bay thang canh", meaning the land is so large that the cranes can stretch their wings as they fly. Today, the region is one of Vietnam's highest producer of rice crops, vegetables and fruits.

Mekong delta highlight

Highlights of journeys to Mekong Delta are boat trips through canals, floating markets, exploring the local daily life by staying overnight on islands and visiting family run factories; not less interesting, tasting local specialities. The most renowned places in the Mekong Delta are My Tho - Ben Tre , Cai Be -Vinh Long, Can Tho and Chau Doc. This is also a natural passageway from southern Vietnam to Cambodia either by road or by river.

Tra Su Cajuput Forest

Characteristics: Belonging to the national specialized forest system in the western region in Southern Vietnam, it is an ideal destination for ecological and scientific research tours in the Mekong Delta, thanks to its wonderful diverse wildlife.

The forest includes a 845ha special-purpose forest surrounded by a 645ha buffer zone. It is the habitat for many colonies of water birds, bats and various others such as rare and endangered animals and reptile species. Scientists estimate that it is home to over 70 species of birds, including 2 very rare species of Giang sen (Mycteria leucocephala) and the Dieng Dieng (Anhinga Melanogaster); 11 species of animals belonging to 6 families and 4 orders; 20 species of reptiles; 5 species of amphibians; 23 species of fish, including Ca com (Chitala ornata) and Tre trang (Clarias batrachus) having the scientific value and being in danger of extinction. The flora is equally abundant and splendid with over 140 specified floral varieties which represent the second largest number of plant species in the Mekong Delta region, only after the Xeo Quit Cajuput Forest in Dong Thap Province. They include 22 varieties of trees, 25 varieties of shrubs, 10 varieties of vines, 70 varieties of grasses, 13 species of aquatic plants, 22 varieties of ornamental plants, 9 varieties of fruit trees and particularly many varieties of medicinal herbs of high value.

The forest is sub-divided into several sites to make getting around easier, that include a 3,000m2 fishing area, a 3,200m2 bird sanctuary and a 2,500m2 bat sanctuary, all of which cater to the specific individual demands of different types of tourists.

If visiting the key sites by foot, the tourists must spend pretty much the whole day in the forest. However, if they jump in a motor-boat, it will save a lot of time, and permit a leisurely five hour round trip of all the significant sites throughout the ecological forest. They can view the lovely landscape as the scenery drifts along both river banks, enjoy the fresh air as well as listen to the magical music as performed by the birds of the forest and other jungle insects and animals. Apart from the birds and animals, the tourists will see the wonderful countryside and farmers busily attending to their paddies, orchards and so on, but still happy to stop for a chat with guests.

In the midst of the forest there is a special ornithologist's watch tower, standing some 10m high that allows tourists to enjoy a fantastic panorama of the vast greenery below, dotted with birds in the silhouette of the Cam Mountain in the background. The colour of the waterways changed from one place to another, sometimes turquoise and at other times silver, purple or amber, due to the numerous species of water creatures.

During the high water season, the forest's canals and streams are dense with clusters of water ferns, a particularly vivid sight when the setting sun imparts a golden glow on the emerald-green duckweed that blankets the water's surface. Lotus flowers and water lilies, cultivated by local farmers to supplement their incomes during the rainy season, cover much of the water. However, as night settles and the sun sets, the view changes and becomes enlivened as the birds return home for the night, covering the night sky in a huge screeching mass of feathers.

The natural aspect of the landscape is given a wonderful dimension by the few small farm-houses that are irregularly placed here and there, perched high up on stilts above the flood plain with their rudimentary bamboo ceilings made out of cajuput trees, providing a charming and unique setting as the forest is slowly consumed by the dark skies of night amongst the ambient noise of jungle animals.

In the return trip, the tourists can have dinner at one of the local restaurants. Ca loc nuong trui (grilled snakehead fish and vegetables) and lau mam (hot pot with marinated fish, chili and vegetables) are two dishes not to be missed. Ga rung nuong muoi ot (farm chicken grilled with salt and chili) is also distinctive, quite unlike other regional specialties. Locals and tourists alike are also fond of nom hoa sung (salad of water lily), nom hoa dien dien (salad of sesban flowers) and ca ro kho to (caramelised anabas fish with fish sauce and chili in an earthen pot).

The best time to visit Tra Su is at the high water season, from September to November. At this time of the year, the entire forest floats on a vast area, so a motor-boat is the only way to travel around. Indeed, rowing along the green mysterious canals is a particularly good idea, since the tourists are able to stop as they chose to pick wild berries or fruits or go for a bit of fishing in quiet contemplation.

Apart from the significance of preservation and economic value, the area also boasts many unique cultural features as it is the home of the Kh'mer and Kinh people who practice several traditional handicrafts, such as brocade weaving, silk weaving, cooking Thot not (Borassus flabellifer) sugar, distilling cajuput essential oil, raising bees for honey, etc.

Endowed with peace and tranquility, Tra Su Cajuput Forest became a unique and attractive ecological destination for the tourists who love the beauty of the nature.

AGENT LOGIN

Registry

Refresh

Contact Our Travel Consultant
We're offline
Have Asian Destination Travel question? Leave us messages, we will get back within 24 hours max