Summary

Welcome to Mekong Delta

The Mekong River is one of the world's 10th rivers in its river length and has great influences upon nature and societies of the Indo-china Peninsula. The name "MEKONG" originate in Thai language, Mae Nam Khong1). The source of the Mekong River is in Tibet mountains and is called Dza Chu River (River of Rock). After running through very narrow valley paralling Yangz Jiang and Salween River, the Mekong reach to Yung-Nan Province of China and is called Lancang Jiang (Turbulent River). Via Golden Triangle, the crossing of China, Myanmer and Laos boarder, the Mekong flow into Vientiane Plain. The term, Lower Mekong means downstream segment from the point. There are some notorious rapids for French navigation plan in colonial period before the Mekong get to Cambodia, and the last segment is the Mekong Delta in Viet Nam, which distributes grate influeces to agriculture, especially paddy fields there. According to a sketch on the right, we can see this long river with some segments hereinafter

Mekong River Fact sheet

The Mekong River is the heart and soul of mainland Southeast Asia. The 12th longest river in the world, the Mekong runs 4,800 kilometers from its headwaters on the Tibetan Plateau through Yunnan Province of China, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam.

Over 60 million people depend on the Mekong and its tributaries for food, water, transport and many other aspects of their daily lives. Its annual flood drought cycles are essential for the sustainable production of rice and vegetables on the floodplains and along the riverbanks during the dry season. Known as the Mother of waters, the river supports one of the world's most diverse fisheries, second only to the Amazon.

This vital ecosystem and lifeblood of the region is currently under threat. Over the past ten years, more than 100 large dams have been proposed for the Mekong basin by institutions like the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Mekong River Commission. Some of these projects have already been built.

One of the greatest threats is China s plans to construct eight dams on the Upper Mekong / Lancang. Two of these dams have already been completed, and construction on the third project, Xiaowan, began in January 2002. These dams will have widespread impacts on the livelihoods of Mekong communities and on the natural ecology of the river system.

The Mekong river is the dominant geo-hydrologic structure in mainland SE Asia. Recent rapid agricultural and economic development has led to increasing competition among water-using sectors and countries for these water resources. The main issue to be addressed is how to achieve sustainable agricultural, fisheries and economic development, while alleviating poverty and preserving the unique environment and biodiversity of the basin. This includes determining the prospects for increased agricultural, fisheries and livestock intensification, optimization of fisheries, farming and forest systems, measures for preserving unique ecosystems, such as wetlands and upland catchment areas, and identifying efficient, equitable and sustainable water allocation mechanisms for agriculture, fisheries, electricity generation, and urban and industrial use, acceptable to all basin stakeholders.

An Giang Province is on the western extreme of the Mekong Delta bordered by Dong Thap on the northwest; Can Tho on the southeast; Kien Giang on the southwest and 95 kilometre long border with Cambodia on the northwest. An GiangProvince is defined by the Tien Giang and Hau Giang Rivers adjacent to the Cuu Long River. Geographically it has a few low mountains and lowland areas.

Bac Lieu Province is located on the southeast of the Mekong River Delta. It is bordered on the north by Kien Giang and Can Tho; on the northeast by Soc Trang; on the southeast by the South China Sea coastline; on the southwest by Ca Mau.
Straddling the National Route 1, Bac Lieu has good land and water transportation, which augers well for developing agriculture, aqua-culture, food and foodstuff processing, garments and ship building industries.

Ben Tre Province geography is a plain of 1.25 metres above sea level combined with a 65 kilometres coastline and riddled with tributaries of the Mekong Delta. This makes it susceptible to flooding. It is bordered on the north by Tien Giang; on the southwest by Tra Vinh and Vinh Long; and the southeast by the South China Sea.
Four rivers dissect the province: Ba Lai, Co Chien, Ham Luong and Tien Giang.

Ca Mau Province is the southernmost tip of Vietnam. Canals and rivers play important parts in the economy for both food and transportation.
Ca Mau is bordered on the north by Kien Giang and Bac Lieu; on the south, east and west by the South China Sea with a coastline of 254 kilometres .

Can Tho The central Mekong Delta is Vietnam's richest, most prolific agricultural region. Covering some 41,632 square miles, it is one of the country's most densely populated areas. Can Tho, in the heart of the Delta, is a bustling market community. Lectures discuss Mekong River commerce, rice production in the Delta, and Khmer influences on Buddhism in Vietnam. We take a field trip to a local fish farming community and enjoy a boating excursion to the floating markets.

Chau Doc In this village on the Cambodian border, we learn about the ancient Cham civilization and its migration in Vietnam. We take a boating field trip across the Mekong and its canals to observe the floating market and view local industries such as rice paper production and brick making, and cruise along the Bassac River to observe Chau Doc's floating fish farms. We explore the Mien Pagoda, a Khmer Hinayana Buddhist temple, and a Khmer temple.

Dong Thap Province is located in the extreme south of VietNam bordered by Long An and Tien Giang on the northeast; Vinh Long on the southeast; Can Tho and An Giang on the southwest; a 52 kilometre border with Cambodia on the northwest.

Kien Giang Province is located southwest extremity of Vietnam. It is bordered on the northeast by Dong Thap; by Can Tho and Bac Lieu on the southeast; by Ca Mau on the south; by 200 kilometres of Gulf of Thailand coastline on the west; by 54 kilometres border with Cambodia on the northwest. It also lays claim to 105 islands.
Phu Quoc Island, where Travellers enjoy year round beach facilities, is the largest island in VietNam that lies in the GulfThailand, 45 kilometres from Ha Tien and 15 kilometres south of the coast of Cambodia.
of Phu Quoc Island, part of Kien Giang province, is also part of an archipelago consisting of 22 islands of all sizes. The island covers an area of 585 square kilometres and is 50 kilometres long. It is also called the Emerald Island because of its natural treasures and infinite tourism potential.

Long An Province is in the Mekong Delta. It is bordered on northeast by Tay Ninh and Ho Chi Minh City/SaiGon; on the southwest by Dong Thap and Tien Giang.

Soc Trang Province, located in the Mekong River Plains, is bordered on the northeast by Tra Vinh; on the southwest by Bac Lieu; on the southeast by the South China Sea; on the northwest by Can Tho.

Tien Giang is located north of the Mekong Delta, adjacent to the Tien River. It is bordered on the north by Long An; on the south by Vinh Long and Ben Tre; on the east by Ho Chi Minh; on the west by Dong Thap.
More than 70% of villages are on the electric grid.

Tra Vinh Province is situated in the southern plain region of the Mekong Delta, with the soil a mixture of sand and mud silt deposits. Tra Vinh has many sandy caves and has three water regions: salty, sweetish and fresh water, making cultivation and aqua culture the main economic lifeblood of the province. It is bordered on the north by Vinh Long; on the southwest by Soc Trang; on the southeast by the South China Sea; on the northwest by Vinh Long.

Detailed Itinerary

Itinerary in brief
DAY 1: SAIGON – MY THO – BEN TRE (L, D)
DAY 2 : BEN TRE – MY THO – SAIGON (B)

Take a boat trip around four Islets: Dragon, Unicorn, Tortoise and Phoenix on Tien River. Through Xep cannel to visit Mekong traditional houses at Quoi An village (make all from coconut tree). Taste honey with tea or wine; have a look at coconut collection set and see how the locals make handicrafts from coconut trunk and shell. Take the horse-cart on village path to Ben Truc orchard, enjoy seasonal fruits and listen to traditional music.

Detail Itinerary

DAY 1: SAIGON – MY THO – BEN TRE (L, D)

Morning pick up guests at the lobby of hotel in Saigon then transfer to My Tho City. After that we will take a boat trip around four Islets: Dragon, Unicorn, Tortoise and Phoenix on Tien River. Through Xep cannel to visit Mekong traditional houses at Quoi An village (make all from coconut tree). Taste honey with tea or wine; have a look at coconut collection set and see how the locals make handicrafts from coconut trunk and shell. Take the horse-cart on village path to Ben Truc orchard, enjoy seasonal fruits and listen to traditional music. See bees-breeding in wooden boxes at local farms. Take rowing-boat on water coconut creek. Lunch at islets (if any). Then, visit a local coconut candy workshop, taste candy (Special product of Bentre province). Go to Phu Tuc village for homestay where the guests can take a bath on the river, go fishing or join to cook together with the locals.

DAY 2 : BEN TRE – MY THO – SAIGON (B)

Have breakfast at local people’s house. Visit the local market by bicycle. Back to My Tho city. Transfer back to Ho Chi Minh city.  End tour

Departure & Price

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Before you go

Green Trail Tours Travel portals - Traveller Tips for Vietnam

GEOGRAPHY: Vietnam stretches over 1600 km.along the eastern coast of the Indochina Peninsula. The S-shaped country is broad in the north and south and very narrow in the central. Almost 80% of Vietnam consists of mountains and hills. The TruongSonMountains extend almost the length of Vietnam along the borders with Laos and Cambodia.

VISAS: All visitors are required to have a valid visa to enter Vietnam. A one-month tourist visa is usually sufficient for most visitors though it is possible to arrange 3-month and 6-month multiple entry visas for regular visitors. All visitors must obtain visa approval from the Vietnamese Immigration Department before a visa is issued.

MONEY: The currency issued by the Vietnam State Bank is the dong (abbreviated "d" or VND) which is used informally throughout the country. Bank notes in denominations of 200d to 100,000d are presently in circulation. The exchange rate is approximately 18,000d = US$1. Australia Dollars are accepted in many hotels, restaurants. Banks are open Monday to Friday and some are open Saturday morning. Traveller's cheques can be exchanged at banks, some international hotel and some exchange bureaux but can be difficult to change outside of the major cities. Visa Card and MasterCard are now accepted in many hotels, restaurants and shops.

ELECTRICITY: Electric current in Vietnam is 220 volts and will operate all Australian appliances. Always carry a torch with fresh batteries. Recharge photographic batteries regularly.

CLOTHING: Comfortable lightweight clothing in natural fabrics such as cotton is most suitable for travelling in Vietnam. The dress code is fairly casual as in most parts of the tropics but it is advisable to cover arms and legs in the evenings against biting insects. A lightweight raincoat is a good idea in the rainy season. During the winter months warm clothing is needed for visiting the north of Vietnam. Visitors to Buddhist countries should not wear shorts, short skirts or other skimpy clothing when visiting religious buildings and shoes should be removed before entering a private home

CLIMATE / WEATHER: Vietnam’s weather conditions are pleasant for visitors throughout the year. The WINTER monsoon comes from the northeast between October and March with wet chilly conditions in the north, but dry warm temperatures to the south. From April to October the southwest monsoons bring warm, humid weather to the whole country.

LANGUAGE: Because Vietnamese has six different tones, it is a difficult language for most foreigners to speak despite the fact that the Roman alphabet is used in modern Vietnamese. The same word can have six different meanings depending on the tone used to pronounce it. In the cities and larger towns English is becoming popular and is now spoken by many younger people while some of the older generation still speak fluent French. Russian and Chinese are also spoken by some people

ACCOMMODATION: All group tour hotels have been especially selected. All have private western bathroom facilities. Laundry service can launder clothing within 24 hours. It is not customary for all hotels to have refrigerator and tea/coffee facilities.

FOOD / DRINK: The cuisine of Vietnam comes as a pleasant surprise to many visitors and is definitely a part of the Vietnam experience not to be missed. One of the characteristics of Vietnamese food is that it is always fresh being bought the same morning straight from the market. Food is usually prepared with a minimum of oil and served with the ubiquitous fish sauce called nuoc mam. Typical Vietnamese dishes you can expect to try include pho, a type of rice noodle soup eaten for breakfast, cha gio, deep-fried spring rolls and goi ngo sen, a delicious salad made with lotus stems, shrimps and peanuts. Due to the strong Buddhist influence in Vietnam, vegetarian food is widely available.

SHOPPING: Souvenirs to look out for in Vietnam include lacquerware, silk, conical hats, woodcarvings, hill tribe fabrics and handicrafts, embroidery, marble, ceramics, silver jewellery, antique watches and paintings. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have the best choice when it comes to shopping but Hoi An in the centre of Vietnam is also a very good place to hunt for bargains.

TOILETS: Public toilets can sometimes be difficult to find. Take every opportunity you can to use clean toilets in hotels and restaurants. Make this a habit on your stay.

HEALTH: Consult your medico or visit the Traveller Medical and Vaccination Centre for professional medical advice well in advance of your departure, Wash hands before and after eating. Carry ‘wet-ones’,anti bacterial handwash, insect repellant, band aids and emergency medicines eg. Diarrhoea. Drink plenty of water and have adequate rest. Seek medical care, if needed. Don’t take risks with health and personal hygiene.

SAFETY / SECURITY: Always maintain a high level of personal security. Cash or wallets in pockets, obvious jewellery and open bags attract unwanted attention. Beware of pickpockets in crowded places. Lock your case, Carry a hotel card so that taxis know where to take you.

LUGGAGE: All passengers are limited to TWO items of luggage each. One case with maximum weight weight of 20 kg. and maximum size of 70 litres. It is essential to lock this case. One piece of hand luggage with maximum weight of 5 kg. It is advisable that hand luggage consist of a ‘daypack’ to carry camera, water, toilet paper, umbrella, hat etc.

TIPPING: Tipping for good service is not expected but is always appreciated in these developing nations. It is customary, though not compulsory, to tip tour guides and drivers at the end of a tour. Hotel and station porters should also be tipped.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: All group tour passengers must have comprehensive travel insurance. You can complete this with Asian Trail Tours if you wish. Check your Travel Insurance Policy for an Emergency number and details of services to be provided, Carry these details with you.

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