Before departing for Vietnam I was lured by romantic images of the Mekong Delta’s muddy waters cluttered by boats brimming with fruits, vegetables, and rice hat wearing vendors.
In search of the true Vietnam, down in the agricultural heart of the country, tourists pile into air conditioned minivans from Saigon en route to the delta daily.
They taste coconut candy in a factory, visit honey farms, and cruise through floating markets.
But as I discovered recently, Vietnam’s Mekong cannot be experienced in an image, a video, or on a tour.
This is not a place created for photographers or tourists.
This is not a place where cathartic moments occur rowing down channels or spending the night in a homestay.
The Mekong is a place where an outsider can simply do her best to understand. Where life moves slowly while tours speed through.
So instead of the usual overnight excursion, I decided to spend my time on An Binh island.
Where winding pavement paths underneath archways
created by lychee trees
snaked in circles
surrounding jungle-shrouded homes.
Schoolgirls passed me on bicycles
giggling and shouting “hello”.
Boats transported perishable cargo
to distant villages
or floated sleepily around the island.
Men played rounds of volleyball in the sand, inviting me to watch them play.
Front yards flooded into muddy swimming pools
local kids took to swimming in them after school.
Roosters woke me in the morning
crickets sang out my window lulling me to sleep at night.
I wondered if I had found the Caribbean
with shrines and offerings
instead of rastas and reggae
with brown rivers instead of turquoise sea.
Yet despite its quaintness
the island was covered in trash
floating in its waters
and choking its jungle
gulping fish clustered in farms
eating garbage and other farmed fish.
I remembered that I was still in Vietnam.
Thank-you for your beautifully written “photo essays”. I always enjoy reading them. 🙂
Thanks Michael!
Im thinking of doing this. Did u go up by boat or by bus, and how easy was it to find a homestay if u dont book in advance? Thx!! Id be going solo.
I took a bus from HCMC down to Vinh Long, then at Vinh Long there is a quick ferry that takes you to An Binh island. Once you’re there it’s really easy to just show and up find a homestay, or call and prebook with one of the recommended places in Lonely Planet 🙂
Hi- Do you have a hostel/hotel recommendation for Ho Chi Minh City?
Hi Jennifer, I stayed with a friend so unfortunately I don’t have any recommendations. Sorry! Have you tried searching on Trip Advisor?