chengmohtravelblog: Backpacking in Southern Vietnam (8/6-14/6/2010)-continuation

Day 3 - 1 day Mekong (Mytho - Ben Tre)
Breakfast in guesthouse; begin the tour to the watery world of the Mekong Delta, just a couple of hours by road from the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City's streets, Vietnam's largest rice bowl. On arrival in My Tho, we embark on a boat navigating around the intricate small canals in the delta region, which is a great way to observe the local lifestyle close-up and catch a view dotted by many islands. The exciting excursion will pass the lush green vegetation before arriving at the famous Unicorn Island. Here we have opportunities to stroll around an orchard, taste many seasonal fruits and enjoy wonderful traditional music.


Mytho-beside Mekong river

Tasting fruits on Unicorn Island

On a boat along Mekong near Unicorn Island

From there, we continue on a motor boat trip to Ben Tre province to visit a handmade coconut candy workshop. Then transfer to a small motor boat and travelled along the lush, green canal and stop at a local restaurant for Vietnamese lunch and bicycle riding around the village.Its back to Ho Chi Minh City around 7.00pm.

Day 4-6 (Dalat)
Day 4

This morning we left Ho Chi Minh City and head for the hills, literally. The scenic 7-hour drive along Highway 20 (300km) to Da Lat was broken up by stops at some of the tea and coffee plantations. We arrived at Da Lat, sometimes known as the “City of Eternal Spring,” by late afternoon.

Dalat's temperatures hover between a cool 15 and 24 degrees Celsius.Checked into Villa Pink Hotel. Ate dinner at Vinh Loi, a Chinese restaurant.Very reasonable price.

Day 5

One of the highlights of Dalat are the guided motorbike tours into the surrounding picturesque hills and villages. First stop: cricket farm. Yes, the Vietnamese eat many things….really nothing goes to waste here…including crickets. And scorpians. We were offered a fried cricket to eat ourselves.

Picturesque hills

Scorpion farms


Silk cocoon at silk farm

Silk weaving machine

After visiting the local market, we were back on the motorbikes to the silk farm. The production and weaving of silk goes back many generations in Vietnam and it’s cool to see the tradition from start to finish.

Under the waterfall

After a quick visit to a waterfall where we got quite wet, we visited a village and met a a family who are part of the ethnic hill tribes of the area.

Ethnic hill tribes

We were back to Dalat town before sunset. We borrowed the motorbike and headed to The Crazy House, Dalat flower garden and Bao Dai summer palace.

The Crazy house


An eagle room inside the Crazy house

Dinner at the same restaurant.

Day 6

Boarded a bus and headed back to HCMC. Reached HCMC in the afternoon. Mrs. Long welcomed us with a glass of iced lemon tea each. Really refreshing!!
After resting, we went for a half day city tour around HCMC: the War Remnants Museum has a wealth of images from the wars, the most moving being a gallery entitled 'Requiem' which is dedicated to Vietnamese and foreign journalists and photographers who perished during the French and American conflicts, the Reunification Palace was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until April 30, 1975 when the North Vietnamese tanks came crashing through the front gates, bringing the U.S.-Vietnam War to a dramatic end. Close to the palace some of the best examples of French colonial architecture are represented in the forms of Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. We saw a statue of Uncle Ho in front of the City Hall

Central Post Office

Reunification Palace

War Remnants Museum

Notre Dame Cathedral

Inside the Notre Dame Cathedral

Statue of Uncle Ho

Day 7
Morning- free and easy. Walk around marketplace near Pham Ngu Lao area. Bought Vietnamese coffee including the coffee strainer. Lacquerware are famous in Vietnam, not forgetting cashewnuts.