Mekong Delta – to market, to market

Second day in the Mekong Delta – time to head to the markets. We started off with a quick trip by river ferry over to catch our ride. We were joined by many morning commuters, including one sharply-dressed gentleman who was carrying a load of longan fruit to take to market. Our guide bought us a few – they were delicious – very similar to lychee.

The little blue motor/rowboat (on the left in the first picture below) was our ride for the morning as we wove in and out of local villagers selling their wares at the Cai Rang floating market, one of the largest in Vietnam. A sample tied to a tall pole let you know what was available on each boat.

The sights and sounds were endlessly interesting – we wished we could see and hear in every direction at once.

 

This was definitely one of the most unique breakfasts we’ve ever had – pho and coffee served boatside. The gentleman in the boat on our left has been serving pho on the river for years – he took over the business from his father. And the woman in the boat on our left offered a full-serve coffee and juice bar. We ate tied up alongside the boats, bobbing along and trying not to end up with a lapful of soup or coffee!

We hopped off of the boat to experience the land market – an astonishing array of goods for sale. Huy said that sometimes families will go to the market twice a day while preparing meals – everything fresh, and easy to grab with a quick ride through on a motorbike.

Huy guided us expertly through the market, pointing out things we never would have noticed, including many stalls offering a wide range of items to purchase (stacks of ‘money’, paper outfits, cardboard iPhones, etc.) to burn to send to relatives who have passed away. And during a sudden rainstorm we ducked into a little stall for a quick Vietnamese coffee.

 

Then it was back on the boat for another special treat. Our girl had been in search of pineapple, and Huy delivered. We climbed up onto the top of another boat for some ‘Rooftop Pineapple’ – carved the local way (and served with a smile!), which preserves as much of the fruit as possible.

 

To break up the long ride back to Ho Chi Minh City, we made a few stops along the way. First, to Binh Thuy (ancient house) – the oldest house in the Mekong Delta. The eight generation in the family is living there now – beautiful grounds, and a large orchid garden in the back. Huy also introduced us to the mangosteen – ‘the queen of fruit’ (the smelly durian is apparently ‘the king of fruit’) – this little beauty might be my new favorite tropical fruit.

A quick lunch at a roadside stop – every cafe and restaurant offers hammocks for folks who might need a little rest and relaxation.

Our last stop of the day, Kimmy’s Chocolate Factory, started by a local man who had moved to another country, and when he returned to Vietnam, wanted to give something back to the local economy. He started the chocolate factory to give domestic growers an option to sell their product inside the country rather than exporting it. We learned the entire process of making chocolate, from growing the cacao pods to fermenting, drying, roasting and grinding the seeds. And best of all, we got to sample the goods at the end – and discover our new favorite sweet treat – Cashewla!