MEKONG DELTA – THE BEAUTY OF NATURE.

A. TOP DESTINATIONS:

1. Vinh Trang Pagoda

Vinh Trang Pagoda is in Tien Giang Province, the most significant pagoda in southwest Vietnam. It has a mixture of construction styles between sophisticated European and Asian architecture. In 1984, the pagoda was listed as a historical, cultural, and national monument. Vinh Trang is a famous place of worship.

2. Cai Rang Floating Market

Located 3.5 hours from Ho Chi Minh City by car, Cai Rang Floating Market is a special gathering place of trade in the morning for the Vietnamese. It is located on the Cai Rang River, Can Tho City, about 6 kilometers from the center of Can Tho, and takes about 30 minutes to travel from Ninh Kieu Harbor. You will have to get up early in the morning to see the market because the market often begins at 4:30 – 5 AM and lasts for only a few hours every day. To see this market thoroughly, we recommend you spend a night at Can Tho so that you can wake up early and charter a boat through the market and enjoy the sunrise on the river.

The floating market is made up of many small sampans of the locals selling goods, noodles, and morning coffee. Most of the products sold here are tropical fruits and specialties that are self-grown by the farmers. Occasionally, there are some traditional festivals celebrated on the water in the market such as boat racing competitions, special tropical fruits exhibitions, and other outdoor activities. Tay Do Night Market – Can Tho Market.

This market is about 1 kilometer from the center of Can Tho. Besides trading, there are other activities to try such as window shopping, eating street foods, playing video games, and watching live art performances. At night, it attracts not only locals to come and go shopping but also many tourists as well. Check out other interesting night markets in Vietnam.

3. Coconut Milk Candy Factory

Ben Tre, one of the provinces in the Mekong, is famous for its abundance of coconut trees, hence varied creations of coconut products, namely – the coconut milk candy. Chau Thanh village is one of the many communities that have earned their living for decades by making this fantastic treat.

Known as one of the tastiest Vietnamese specialties, the coconut milk candies have been exported to many markets around the world. Traveling to Ben Tre, you could see the traditional process of making the coconut candy with the original techniques. You will get to sample the pieces when visiting the factory of this conventional technique. Local Fruit Gardens The fertilized soil in the Mekong Delta is conducive to growing all sorts of tropical fruits all year round; such prosperous land that the area is dubbed “the country’s fruits bowl”. You would often come across a variety of tropical fruit trees in the local gardens, such as durian, jackfruit, mangosteen, watermelon, bananas, pear, and pomelo (learn more about Vietnamese fruits here).

Most of the fruits in Mekong Delta eventually will be consumed domestically, and some are even exported around the world. These local orchards are where you can experience a farmer’s life, picking fresh fruit, and bringing some home at an incredibly reasonable price, too. The price depends on seasonal demand for that kind of fruit. See here for some addresses of local fruit gardens to visit.

4. Brick Factory

An Hiep, a traditional brick-making factory, is located on Sa Dec Island (Dong Thap Province), on the bank of Tien Giang River. The most impressive thing about this attraction is the amazing structure of the kiln. The kiln is where the clay is burnt and made into firm bricks; it is also where they store the newly created bricks. The kiln is made of blocks tightly stacked on one another, forming a small dome.

These kilns which were used to produce the building material are not strange to the locals because they have been around since the 1970s. The brick factory has become a tourist attraction for foreign and local visitors on the Mekong Delta tours. Only about 10% of the kilns are still in use on domestic demand because of the air pollution concern.

B. WHAT TO EAT IN THE MEKONG DELTA

1. Hot Pot – Lau Mam

”Lau Mam” is a delicious rustic hot pot that is popular with many locals in Mekong Delta. “Mam” is fermented shrimp paste and it is used to flavor the broth along with ingredients such as garlic, lemongrass, beef, fish, shrimp, and greens. In Vietnamese cuisine, Lau Mam is claimed as the specialty of the south and has a very distinctive smell, complemented by the taste of natural ingredients. If you are a foodie and do not mind the fact that one of its ingredients is fermented shrimp paste, you can go to any local restaurants in the Mekong Delta and order the hot pot to enjoy like a local. It is kind of similar to “bun mam”, but a lot bigger so that you can share with many people.

2. Vietnamese Pancake – Banh Xeo

While the recipe for Banh Xeo differs from region to region, the Banh Xeo in the Mekong Delta is a must-try. All ingredients are made from local products, from rice flour, turmeric powder, and coconut milk in the batter, to the fresh shrimps in the fillings. Complemented with Vietnamese herbs and fish sauce, the Vietnamese Pancake provides an exquisite taste of the Mekong Delta’s cuisine.

3. Grilled Snakehead Fish – Ca Loc Nuong Trui

Snakehead is a fish that is commonly used in the daily meal of many Vietnamese, especially those from the Southwest. It can be used to make many dishes and can be found easily in the countryside. The grilled snakehead is traditionally cooked without a stove and other cooking tools. The locals usually use bamboo roasters to place the fish on the ground, then cover the fish with a lot of straw, and start roasting until all of the hay becomes ashes. It just takes about 7 minutes to cook the fish in this traditional way, and you can enjoy the fish right after it is grilled. Another way to enjoy it is to accompany it with fish sauce and wrap them in rice paper. Crispy Fried Elephant Fish – “Ca Tai Tuong Chien Xu” The crispy scales and tender meat makes this dish a delicacy One of the most famous delicacies of the Mekong Delta, is the Crispy Fried Elephant Fish is a delicious and healthy dish. The fish is deep-fried with the scales on to create a crispy texture on the outside, while the meat retains a tender and juicy taste of freshly-caught fish.

4. Rice Wine

Rice wine is also known by the local name “Ruou De”, which is usually made from glutinous rice. In the Mekong Delta, Go Cong, a place in Long An Province, is famous for its rice wine made from a particular recipe. Winemaking is a traditional culture and a way to make a living for the Vietnamese in the Southwest. If you have an opportunity to visit the Mekong Delta on your Vietnam tour, do not miss out to see the crafting process of making rice wine by the locals and take a sip of this specialty beverage once.