Mekong Delta Tour

The Mekong Delta Tour is one of the famous sightseeing tours in Vietnam. This particular tour is popular among foreigners since this is presents a very good opportunity to discover and experience the countryside of Vietnam.

We left HCMC at about 8:00AM and had a brief stopover at a roadside cafeteria where you can enjoy Vietnamese food and coffee. Hammocks are also available should you want to take a nap. We arrived at Can Tho City at about 10:00AM. You will know that you are already in the Mekong Delta once you see the huge Can Tho Bridge, which crosses over the Hau River, the biggest tributary of the Mekong River in Vietnam.

According to our guide,the construction of Can Tho Bridge was financed by the Australians. The bridge is famous for being one of biggest bridges in South East Asia. Also, it became controversial when a portion of the bridge collapsed during construction, killing at least 50 people and injuring many others.

Prior to the construction of the bridge, people would ride the ferry in order to cross to the Vinh Long Province on the other side of the river. There are also four (4) islands in the river, some of which are inhabited.

Floating Houses?

Hau River

On the other side of the bridge

VIETNAMESE MUSIC

From the highway more or less than a kilometer from the Can Tho Bridge, we were led to a Vietnamese Village where we were treated to traditional Vietnamese Music and Songs. I just imagine the songs of "Asin" would really blend in to the stringed instrument that one of the musicians were playing.

We all sat on a covered area where tables and chairs are located, while the singers and musicians positioned themselves at the center.

While we were listening to Vietnamese traditional music, we were each given fruits in a saucer. It included a slice of pineapple, banana, jackfruit, and dragon fruit. Also, free-flowing tea is available for everybody.

Souvenirs are also available in the main house. I also had the chance to take a picture of this fruit which looks like lanzones. I must admit, it looks interesting but I have no idea whether it is edible or not.

Mystery fruit?

We were then led by our guide deeper into the marshland, where a boats are waiting to ferry us to our next destination.

Each boat can accommodate 4 to 5 persons and we were made to wear what I call the Kung Fu Panda Hat. While our guide mentioned that the plants along the swamp are called coconuts too, these are what we call "Sasa" here in the Philippines.

Boating Time

Kung Fu Panda Hat

COCONUT CANDY

Our leisure boat ride lasted for about 10 minutes and ended when we reached our next destination, the Coconut Candy Factory. Actually, it was not really a factory after.

We were shown the step by step process of making coconut candy. First, the coconut meat is crushed into pieces, then it is pounded so that the coconut oil is separated. Then the coconut is cooked while the mixture is continuously being mixed by a machine. When it is already cooked, the coconut candy is put on the table to be cooled, sliced into small pieces and then wrapped using rice paper. The coconut candy is again wrapped in paper before being placed in a plastic. The coconut candy is available flavors such as durian and chocolate.

Sliced using a bolo

Rice Paper

Coconut meat

Honey was then mixed with hot water and lemon before they were served to us. A brief talk about the benefits of honey and beekeeping followed. Since honey is abundant here in the Philippines, we decided not to buy anymore.

Refreshing Drink

Pure Honey

Honey Bees

Gecko along the way

From there, we rode on a ferry and had a 20-minute boat cruise to the big river until reach our final destination, the restaurant in one of the islands in the river.

Though, there is nothing fancy abour the restaurant, I'd say that the food is great. We ordered pork and beef. But no one ordered the tilapia, which is supposed to be one of their specialties. Maybe because we saw dead tilapias floating on the ditch where they keep them supposedly to keep them alive.

It is one of a kind experience seeing how mighty the River was. Though it was more or less like a visit to the Philippine countryside, the Mekong River Delta Tour is really a must-do for visitors in Vietnam

Hotel / Resort in the Island?

Looks like a warehouse

Welcome to the restaurant

Vietnamese rice is really tasty

Scratch Pen

The Restaurant

The Home of the owners

Irrigation canals are available because of the orchard

Souvenir Shop

Longan

Can Tho Bridge

That is sand on the way to HCMC and other cities of the Vietnam

War Remnants Museum - HCMC

Our last stop for our HCMC improvised walking tour is the War Remnants Museum (Bao Tang Chung Tien Chien Tranh), previously known as the Saigon Exhibition House of American War Crimes.

Though already renamed, the War Remnants Museum, it still serves as a memorial in immortalizing the supposed War Crimes and injustice committed against the Vietnamese people by the Americans, the French, and the South Vietnamese. Some view this as part of the Communist propaganda against the Americans, but I'd say that it still is enlightening in its own way. It teaches man about the pains of war.

War artifacts such as planes, bombers, choppers, tanks, and anti-aircraft guns dot the Museum grounds. Of course, these war machines present countless photo opportunities for camwhores like me.

Located outside the building is a section depicting the prison system imposed during the French colonization and continued by the South Vietnam government. Pictures showing victims of torture and summary executions, as well as a detailed list of names including the supposed attrocities committed against them, line up the walls of the area.

According to this, the Guillotine was supposedly brought to Vietnam by the French

The Guillotine

There are also replicas of the so-called Tiger Cages in Con Dao Island will surely catch ones attention. I could barely imagine how can people fit in that very cramped space.

The Tiger Cages

Solitary Confinement

Jailguard

North Vietnamese supporters subjected to torture

How painful could this be?

Inside the Museum, the notable sections that I remember include the exhibit of photos taken during the Vietnam War. I admit, the pictures were amazing. They simply say it all in a single click of the shutter.

Another controversial section of the Museum is that showing the effects of the Agent Orange and other chemicals (herbicides and defoliants) used by the Americans during the war to defoliate rural/forested lands, thereby depriving the North Vietnamese cover and source of food. However, these chemicals caused birth defects and other problems. Your spine will surely tingle once you see the pictures of the victims of Agent Orange.

the My Lai massacre

Weapons used during the Vietnam War are also on display, including the dreaded orange bomb which our guide during the Cu Chi Tunnel tour told us about. Until now, there are still a lot of unexploded ordnance that cause peril to the Vietnamese.

Howitzer

Orange Bomb

"This is my rifle...my rifle is my best friend..."

Bazooka

The photo exhibit is one of the sections of the Museum popular to foreign visitors.

Choppers galore...I remembered the movie where Mel Gibson starred in (first to set foot, last to leave)

Pictures of the Vietnam War

Great Shot....perfect timing

Declaration of Independence....where's Benjamin Gates?

We really enjoyed our stay at the War Remnants Museum. A little advice though for those who will visit the place, just take into account that we are just visitors. So be prepared, especially the Americans, to learn the other side's part of the story.

Anyway, the War Remnants Museum is open from 7:30AM to 12:00 Noon, and reopens from 1:30PM to 5:00PM.

Explosives and rockets

American Tank

Chinook

Carry on