Since our Mekong Delta trip was such a photographic adventure we decided to break it into 3 more parts.  This post focuses on our little jaunts off our boat.  A couple times a day we would take the dingy to the shore and explore life on the banks of the Mekong River.  Just along the banks there is everything from bustling markets, to factories (featured in our next post), to temples to lush vegetation.

A sure way to make Meggan want to stay somewhere for a little longer is to visit a school.  We poked our heads into a school just as the kids were finishing for the day.  Most of the kids were speaking french to us which was a little unexpected.  The kids were adorable and were quite the hams for the camera.



We also walked through an area of plant and flower nurseries.  What was really cool about this area of the Mekong was that the individual farmers are empowered.  There are no massive commercial farms, but hundreds of little family-run nurseries that have the most luscious crops you can imagine.  Just walking around this area you can see how much care goes into their plants and flowers.  It is also very apparent that the Mekong Delta must be a very fertile place, pretty much any flower you can think of is being grown here.




Another way to explore the banks of the Mekong is by bike.  We had to keep our eyes peeled for kids, dogs, chickens and spiders the size of my hand.  It was also a good idea to keep a firm grip on the handlebars, especially over the sketchy b
ridge crossings.


 

As far as the structures of the delta, it ranges from thatched huts, to corrugated steal buildings on stilts to beautiful french colonial architecture.  We stopped to see the famous french author, Marguerite Duras' childhood home, which was a beautiful example of french architecture.




And just in case a couple dozen photos aren't enough for today, here's a few more…