Introduction
Mekong delta is the largest delta in
Vietnam, and besides Red river delta, it is one of country's two main rice
bowls (it provides 60% of nation’s rice). In Vietnam, people don’t call this land
“Mekong delta”, but they call “Nine dragons delta” because when Mekong river
flows into Vietnam’s territory, it divides into 2 small branches, then 2
branches divide into 9 mouths going to the East Sea. Looking at the map, people
can easily realize that the river now looks like 9 dragons. Around it, we
mostly find low lying rice paddies, dense mangroves, rivers and canals
Geography
Mekong delta is
the region in the southwestern of Vietnam where Mekong river flows over. It
includes one central city (Can Tho) and 12 provinces ( Long An, Tien Giang, Ben
Tre, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Dong Thap, An Giang, Kien
Giang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau). It bordes with Cambodia to the north, the Gulf of
Thailand to the southwest and the southeast is the South China Sea. According
to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam in 2011, the total area of the
provinces in the Mekong Delta is 40,548.2 km².
Population
Mekong’s
residents are mainly Viet group. In the past, it was a part of Khmer Empire so
it concentrates many Khmer people except in Cambodia. The Khmer live primarily
in Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, the Cham who go to the Islam living in Tan Chau, An
Giang. Besides, a large amount of Hoa group is in Kien Giang and Tra Vinh.
Mekong delta’s population estimates at 17.33 million people in 2011.
Sightseeing
Ninh Kieu pier which is also known as
Ninh Kieu park, is a wharf and a tourist, cultural destination of Can Tho
province. It was formed in the 19th century, located on the right
bank of Hau River, borders with Hai Ba Trung street, Tan An ward, Ninh Kieu
district. This place attracts tourists due to charming river landscape and
suitable position overlooking Hau river. Thus, it is always in bustle even day
or night. In the morning, you can walk and enjoy fresh atmosphere or do morning
exercise or play sports. In the evening, there are many food with Vietnamese
taste. Especially, Ninh Kieu pier is very shine with brilliant lights. The
pier, therefore, has become a heaven of backpackers.
Vinh Trang pagoda is located on Nguyen
Trung Truc street, My Tho city, Tien Giang province, was built by Mr.Bui Van
Dat in the early 19th century. First, the Most Venerable Abbot Thich
Hue Dang named it was Vinh Truong, but the residents got used to calling it
Vinh Trang. The religious site was
seriously damaged by French colonists in 1861 and a severe storm in 1904.
However, it was restored the pagoda like its original splendor. Specially, Vinh
Trang Pagoda is the greatest pagoda of Tien Giang Province, with an area of 2,000m2 and many beautiful
trees. It is in the shape of “Nation” letter according to Chinese characters.
The unique feature is in a mixture of Chinese, Vietnamese, and Angkor
(Cambodian) architectural styles. The pagoda contains 5 buildings, 2 ornamental
yards, and 178 pillars. Inside the pagoda, there are many statues of Buddhas
including Amitabha Buddha, Gautama Buddha, various of arahants and
bodhisattvas. In addition, the statues of 18 arahants are carved from wood.
Each statue is approximately 80 centimeters tall and 58 centimeters in width.
Moreover, this pagoda is surrounded by gardens of ornamental trees, ancient
trees and bonsai, creating a peaceful atmosphere. It provided shelter for
Vietnamese patriots and is recognized as a national historical and cultural
relic by the government.
Dragon
Island – Ben Tre provine where you may fill your stomach
with luscious tropical fruit and enjoy a yummy lunch with local specialties,
typically included elephant ear fish, crispy southern spring rolls, sweet- sour
soup and rice or noodles.
Cai Be floating
market is
owned by Tien Giang province. This is a place where people exchanging goods, fruit and many
other commodities on their vessels. Beside Phung Hiep, Cai Be is one of the
most renown floating markets in the western region of southern Vietnam, was formed under the Nguyen Dynasty in the 19th
century. It is always busy, bearing all the characteristics of the locals’ life
in the western region. This market has variety of goods from fabrics, furniture for customers to
poultry, seafood ... including both food and drink. However, it is most famous
for fruits and is the basket of Tien Giang province with green grape-fruit, Tan
Lap pineapple, oranges, tangerines... All the goods are transported to the
market by rafts and boats. The sellers hang samples of their goods on the tall
wooden poles, so buyers can easily see what each boat is selling. Thus, Cai Be
floating market is not only a place for exchanging goods but also for having
unique cultural features that create such a beautiful river painting.
MeKong restop restaurant is
owned by Tan Ly Dong village, Chau Thanh district, Tien Giang province. This is
one of the most beautiful restaurant in the West. As an eco-tourism area, with
lotus pond, garden, coconut, river, fish pond .... and souvenirs from the west,
Mekong RestStop restaurant is really similar to a small peaceful village.
Indeed, there are many delicious rustic dishes like ‘ca tai tuong chien xu cuon
banh trang, ca loc chui cuon banh trang mam nem, banh xeo mien tay, goi sen…’.
All materials are fresh so the foods are certainly fresh, tasty and high
quality. Besides, the waiters and waitress are very friendly, pretty and serve
professionally. Therefore, MeKong restop restaurant welcomes thousands of
tourists each year.
Hon Khoai island is 14.6 km away to the
southwest of Nam Can town, Ngoc Hien district of Ca Mau province. It is a rocky
island with hills and forests including various kinds of precious wood. It has
name Hon Khoai because of its shape like a giant potato. On this island, you
can listen to the many types of bird’s and running water sound. Additionally,
you also can enjoy delicious dishes making from numerous algae. Furthermore,
Hon Khoai island has a renowned lighthouse that is 18 meters in height, built
in 1920 by the French colonist and remains its orginal architecture. With cool
climate and beautiful scenery, Hon Khoai is suitable for ecological and
discovery tourism. In 1994, the Ministry of Culture and Information recognized
Hon Khoai as a national landscape.
Gastronomy
Due to water features, the main source
of food is rice, fish and vegetables, fruits. They are many various and
plentiful. The inhabitant’s taste is very special: super sweet, super hot,
super salty…The simple refectory is having table, on the ground, even under the
tree. Indeed, you could taste coconut as well as see the process
making coconut candy or eat some rice paper comes from rice or go to the
orchards.
Climate
Mekong delta
has equatorial climate so that it is suitable to develop the agriculture (rain
much, heat), especially in developing rice cultivation and crop. However, lying
in the low coastal region, it is easily affected by the floods leading to
rising the sea level due to climate change.
Get
it
The Mekong delta is very near Ho Chi
Minh City, and Can Tho thus it only takes 4 hours- drive.
Although there is only one main road to transfer to Mekong delta, it is
easy to access by road, and but attention crowd and guard traffic jam.
There are some flights between Ho Chi
Minh City and Rach Gia, and also between Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc island.
Another transportation is boat to enjoy
unspoilt nature, cruises from Cai Be to Can Tho or contrary.
Moreover, Mekong delta is a natural
passageway linking the southern Vietnam with Cambodia, which can be entered
overland or by river.
