The second day of our Ho Chih Minh trip was spent in Mekong River. We got to learn about the contemporary Vietnamese way of life from our tour guide, who fondly refers to us as "My family" which is cute.
According to our tour guide, motorcycles before are non-existent but now it is the popular mode of transportation in Vietnam. The influx of motorcycles started with importation from Japan and later on from the cheaper ones from China and Korea.
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| First stopover where souvenirs can be bought |
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| Candies factory cum market |
With regards to the Mekong River (also known as Nine Dragon River), our guide explained that flooding is a common occurrence in the area, that people are well-adapted to it already as it is seasonal. Doing a bit of research on the effects of flooding on the lives of the Vietnamese people, I found out that it is important for the locals' livelihood. The rising waters bring abundant aquatic animals that may be caught and sold. The rich alluvial soil carried by the floods is also beneficial to agriculture.
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| boats in the murky waters of the Mekong River. |
While the Mekong River tour does not offer crystal clear waters and instead shows the murky waters of the Mekong River, the experience is worthwhile for those who are interested in the relationship between culture and environment. The tour opened my eyes to how humans can turn a seemingly negative phenomenon into something that can be beneficial and important. I think this is one of the many things the Filipinos must learn from their Southeastern neighbors since we also are a country often beset by floods.
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| I like these guys, they're so funny and they contributed a little fun to the tour |
After the tour, we were treated to traditional songs while enjoying local fruits like my favorite dragon fruit. As usual, being a poor traveller with little money, I ate a lot to save money for food later.
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| song presentation while we had afternoon snacks of local fruits and tea |
And it is thanks to this tour that I got to meet fellow Filipino tourists. I am awed at one who is an OFW in Cambodia. She traveled backpacking style all alone. WOW! And then there's this Thai university researcher who speaks French who is interested in history. We chatted up a lot since our disciplines are closely related. And we conversed in French. That's what I like best about travelling, I get to practice the languages I acquired. :)
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