After 4 nights we were back on the sleeper bus from Mui Ne to Ho Chi Minh, which henceforth I will call Saigon as everyone here seems to. Pick up was 1.30 am, and we got a few hours sleep before arriving in Saigon at 6.00 am. After a some brekky near the bus station we found our hotel we've booked for the 21st and left a few bags there (we seem to have collected an extra one with a big kite in it!) before getting the local bus, then the tourist bus for the 3 hour ride to Can Tho in the Mekong Delta.
It's very reminiscent of the Kerala backwaters here, but without the houseboats (for now) and a bit more industry.
We're staying for two nights at a nice little hotel (Nam Mon) just outside town, and they arranged for two students (Ang and Nguan) to show us around town in the evening on the back of their motorbikes.
Cars are too expensive here, so other than taxis everyone uses motorbikes.
We sampled a few more local delicacies like this rice pancake.
Ho Chi Minh is pretty big around here...
The next morning we were again up before the larks for a private river tour with our guide Hieu, visiting some of the local floating markets on the river (5 am start!).
That's our lady boat driver, by the way, not Hieu.
The floating markets are really a bit like a bring and buy sale in the middle of the river. Local farmers load up their boats, putting the goods on offer on display on a pike above the boat, and will sell or trade goods between themselves or other locals.
I don't know where they all get the fancy pants from!
We also had an interesting visit to a place that makes rice paper and noodles.
The only trouble with taking a trip in Vietnam is that half an hour after you've finished you fancy another one...
Location:Can Tho
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