Vietnam is known for its stunning rivers and mysterious caves, and during my trip I had the chance to explore the Mekong Delta. We cruised along the Ben Tre River, one of the Mekong’s many branches, passing the iconic Rach Mieu Bridge on the way. The boat ride was wonderfully relaxing as we drifted through a beautiful creek lined with lush water palms. It felt incredibly serene, with only the soft ripple of the water and the gentle sound of paddles breaking the silence.
We made several stops along the river on what was clearly a well-planned tourist route. One stop was at a cosmetics place where royal jelly products were being heavily promoted. I am afraid I fell for the sales pitch and bought several jars of cream that allegedly would make my skin wonderfully soft.
Another surprise was something called “snake wine”. At first, I was curious to try it, until I discovered what it was made from. That was enough to put me off completely.
At one of the stops, we were encouraged to take photos with a beekeeper. I even tried holding part of the hive for a photograph. I was absolutely terrified and had to summon up a lot of courage to overcome my fear, but I did it nevertheless.
The ride along the delta itself was peaceful and enjoyable. The waters were calm, and we were rowed slowly and gently by a local woman who clearly knew that stretch of the river extremely well. It was quite a busy waterway, with many small canoes carrying tourists like me. At one point she performed a perfect three-point turn on the river with such skill and precision that I was genuinely impressed.
The highlight for me, though, was the lunch. I love seafood, and the meal featured plenty of fresh local produce. I was especially fascinated by the way the cooked fish was served, upright in a stand rather than laid flat on its side. I was told this is the traditional way of presenting it. I enjoyed the meal very much, although it was not really to my fellow travellers’ taste, so I practically ate the whole fish myself.
I also could not resist buying the traditional cone-shaped sun hat, such an unmistakable cultural symbol of Vietnam. Of course, I wore it proudly on my Mekong Delta exploration.
One thing I was curious about was the colour of the water, which looked very murky. I was told this is because the Mekong begins its long journey on the Tibetan Plateau and flows through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia before finally reaching Vietnam.
Overall, exploring the Mekong Delta by boat was a memorable experience. It combined peaceful scenery, unusual encounters, local culture and delicious food, all at a wonderfully gentle pace.
One of the highlights of my trip to Vietnam was cruising through the spectacular limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay.
→ Read my full Ha Long Bay cruise experience
