Mekong Delta Tour - Half Day

When I'm off on vacation, I always like to wake up early because of few things:

1. Have a long hours at breakfast buffet
2. Time is very short to waste it on long hours sleep
3. Activities that was planned.

 Well, today we are going off for an excursion. This excursion is to visit the world known "Delta Mekong River".



From Ho Chi Minh City, we have to drive in for one and a half hour about 120 km away from HCMC. The tour guide pick us up from the hotel at 8 am.

Sampan experience

We visited 3 islands. First we visited Unicorn Island. Here they took us to have Honey tea at a bee farm. Then we were brought to another stall about 50 meter away to try on some tropical fruits while been entertained by some traditional songstress. After a couple of traditional song we walk up abour 100 meters for the sampan(kayak) experience.

Coconut Candy.. just like Dodol

Second island is called Ang Hua(Sorry if spelled it incorrectly). When we arrived at the island we were taken for a tuk-tuk ride for about 5km. For those who does not know, tuk-tuk is a mean of transportation like a cart which carried by a horse or a motorbike. It was an unpleasent bumpy ride and you need to watch your head as some areas you migh need to duck for the branches. At the end of the journey, we arrived at Phoong Phu Coconut Candy Shop.  The way they make the coconut candy is similar to Dodol(Malaysian candy) but Coconut candy is harden at the end of making stage.

The third island called Turtle island, but I did not see any turtle. At this final island, we was served with luch(which normally include in the excursion, but you have to pay for the drinks you consume).
Their speciality is Deep Fried Black Telapia, which the meat is taken off from the fish then rapped with green veggie with glass noddle and then dipped with tamarin sauce. Maybe it was not out luck, the fish has "too fishy" smell. The other guest also did not have a second, I believe they too can't stand the fishy stench. Other than that, they served, omellet with bean sprouts with a bit of meat and shrimp.. Steamed prawns, veggie spring rolls, Cantonise Fried Rice and Clear soup. Me and my better half could not consumed others as we were a bit sceptical on Halalness of the food. The other parties in our group which are from England, Belgium, America and Australia could not finish the dishes. Maybe they have the same taste bud as we are.

Two Deep Fried Telapia fish.

After lunch, we headed back to the port for the van to take us back to HCMC.

Verdict:
If you come from South East Asia, there are nothing much to see. Just to see the Mekong river as the others you can get the same experience back in your own country. But for a westerners, it is something you must experience.
Food. I am sorry to say, it NOT to our taste bud. But if you are as adventure as Andrew Zimmer... go ahead and you might love it.

Tips:
Please prepare small change  at the range of 1000VND to 10000VND(depends on your generousity) to give tips to all the excursion services.