Vietnam | Mekong Delta: An Intriguing Insight to Smaller Vietnamese Villages

For our next day in Vietnam, we decided to book a tour to the Mekong Delta. This came highly recommended from various friends who had previously visited Vietnam. For 200,000 dong (roughly $10.92 Aussie), the tour was well worth it!

First stop... Happy House!

The driver and tour guide picked us up from our hotel promptly in the morning. We made the rounds picking up various guests from other hotels before heading off to the Mekong Delta. Our tour guide was incredibly enthusiastic and full of knowledge, as he grew up in a small village in the Delta. A good chunk of our journey was spent explaining the various activities we would participate in, the foods we would try, and tidbits about the area.

Pondering life at the Happy House

We made a quick stop at the place our guide deemed the 'Happy House' (basically a toilet and a gift shop) before heading to a local temple, Vinh Trang. It was originally built as a Buddhist temple. Once the French occupied the area, their influence began to creep into the temple's facade. It was destroyed multiple times but was quickly rebuilt by the locals, each time incorporating new influences. There are Buddhist, Chinese, and French influences all throughout the temple which is made obvious though the designs that you see when you visit.

Giant Buddhas 

From there we made our way to the delta. We hopped on a boat before being taken to Turtle Island. Here we learned how to make coconut candy, took a horse drawn carriage ride to a local restaurant, tried various foods, and relaxed in some hammocks.

Hammock naps before the storm

We made our way to another boat before being led to Unicorn Island. In the Mekong Delta, there are 4 islands, each holding names of animals significant to Vietnamese culture. Unicorns in Vietnamese culture differ from the unicorn you and I would think of. These animals are similar to deer with massive antlers. On this island we tasted local honey from a bee farm, took a traditional boat like the ones used in the floating markets down the river, and ate local fruits whilst listening to traditional Vietnamese music.

Paddling down the Mekong Delta

Overall, the trip to Mekong Delta was worth it! It was nice getting out of the bustling city for a day, and having the opportunity to see some of the rich cultural history in Vietnam. I did feel, at times, like I was on a Disneyland trip where they shuffle you from one experience to another with a cute little gift shop at the end in hopes you spend more money. But despite this I would definitely recommend all travellers make a trip down to the Mekong Delta. Having the opportunity to see locals go about their everyday, a manner that differs to those who live in the city, gave me a deeper understanding of the Vietnamese people and the Vietnamese culture.

And until next time...

Stay Curious!

Want to see more photos from my adventures? Be sure to follow me on social media:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter