Saigon to Can Tho via the backwaters

01 April:
Well it's been awhile since we last posted.

We left Saigon early on Thursday and headed south towards the Mekong Delta town of Cai Be.  We transferred to a small boat to visit a floating market, visited a small house that made puffed rice - cakes and candy.  I had a touch of traveller's stomach and didn't feel like trying anything.  It smelled good and sweet.

We then crossed the Mekong River to Binh Hoa Phuoc Island for a lunch of 'Elephant Ear Fish'.  We will have to post a picture of this ugly fish when we get home.  I didn't eat any of it, but the others said it was good.  We then floated down the river some more and ended up at a brick making company where they heat the bricks in old-fashioned, very large kilns.

We then met up with our van driver and drove to Can Tho where we stayed the night in a very beautiful resort.

Friday - 02 April
We arose early for a breakfast cruise on a traditional junk.  The 4 of us were the only ones on the ship.  It was a beautiful sunrise and good breakfast.

We cruised along the river for about 45 minutes when we were met by our guide as he came along side our ship with a little boat which we were transferred to for further sailing.

We cruised down little canals and stopped at a small farm where we walked around looking at the guava, mango and banana orchards.  We then had some tea and a taste of all the fresh fruit.

We cruised back to our hotel where we packed up and headed back to Saigon airport for our flight to Hong Kong.  It was a four hour trip with a stop in the middle for lunch at a nice rest stop.

We reached Hong Kong after midnight.

Deb & Karel