1. BOATS AND RIVER LIFE
The Mekong Delta, life is lived on the water. Rivers and canals wind through the region, and locals grow up paddling boats and travelling by ferry. Get a taste of this unique culture by taking a sampan to explore small channels and mangrove forests. Women typically row sampans standing up while skillfully navigating the currents and twists of each waterway. Wear a non la for sun protection as you float gently down the streams of Tien Giang District, passing locals fishing for catfish, children playing on the banks and families doing household chores in stilt houses.
2. FARM AND FRUIT ORCHARDS
Tan Phong is an islet in the Mekong River accessed via a five-minute ferry ride. The island is a tropical haven. Narrow channels criss-cross the land, creating rich soil that Cai Be farmers cultivate to grow delicious fruits. Plump jackfruits, rambutans, mangoes and mangosteens hang heavy from trees that cover every inch of the island. Give yourself an afternoon to explore the tiny lanes of the islet by bicycle. Ride over tiny bridges and along the water’s edge, all the while surrounded by lush greenery.
3. COLOURFUL RIVERSIDE COMMERCE
CAI BE town gets started early, and you’ll want to as well. Wake up at dawn for a magical ferry ride at sunrise, and ride a bicycle over the town bridges and through the morning markets. The Tien riverside market is easily recognizable. Under the battered tarps, fresh fruit and flower vendors wait for customers while conversing with friends or playing Chinese Checkers. From there, head to Cai Be Church, built by a Catholic German priest in the early 20th century. Look out for small pagodas, Buddhist shrines and Hindu temples scattered across town -- a reminder of the multi-cultural character of the Mekong Delta.
4. MEMORABLE HOMESTAYS
Experience firsthand the hospitality and warmth of the Mekong Delta people by choosing a family-run homestay in Cai Be. Mekong Rustic is a sustainable operation with a homestay option or private bungalow option set in flowering gardens on Tan Phong Islet. Here your hosts will cook up fabulous local meals and spoil you with fresh fruit and Mekong Delta sweets throughout the day. Homestays such as Mekong Rustic also organise community-based tours to craft workshops and artisans in Cai Be. Allow a few days to get into the local rhythm, and let yourself be fully refreshed by the abundance and beauty of Cai Be.
5. TRADITIONAL FOLK MUSIC
The people of the Mekong Delta are known for their love of music. Cai Luong, a Vietnamese style of folk opera originally from the Mekong Delta, is a mix of ballads and theatre accompanied by a musician playing a zither or, in modern renditions, a guitar. The amusing storylines are often set in Vietnam’s countryside and can be lighthearted, sorrowful, or both. Regardless of language barriers, it’s easy to enjoy Cai Luong, thanks to expressive acting and melodious singing. The Mekong Garden Restaurant, on Tan Phong Islet, is one of the places that performs Cải Lương music throughout the day and at dinner time.
Nguồn: Internet
