For lack of other options for nearby day trips, we took the Mekong Delta River Day Tour. This time we paid 9USD for the entire package save for lunch. Apparently there isn't much to see in HCM as it's in the southern part of Vietnam already. (Hue province is in mid-country and Hanoi is in the far north.)
Anyhow we were picked up by a 10-seater van and traveled for 2 hours going to the north. We were brought to the pier to ride in a 20-seater covered pumpboat along the Mekong River.
We went shortly to visit a coconut candy factory (as part of the tour and for commission purposes for the guide and agency). We boarded the boat again at 1230 PM and was finally brought to a restaurant to have lunch. (thank goodness! my small intestines were already a portion of my big intestines...) This time we were joined by a group of Filipinos who are also traveling in HCM.
After lunch we rode the boat again for our next stop. In 15minutes we were dropped off in a small village where a horse carriage awaits to bring us into another sweets factory.
There was a live entertainment as a Vietnamese lady rendered a local song accompanied by 2 elderly men playing their traditional musical instruments.
It's really amazing how different people are from our backgrounds and how similar we can become by our love for music. I didn't understand a word she sang but I felt it was good.
We stayed there for an hour to rest and have coffee then we rode a smaller wooden boat with young to middle age women paddling along the narrower canal of the river (more like a side street).
For their hardwork, they're paid only 1-2USD per day as I've inferred so they live by tips from generous tourists.
We transferred to our bigger boat and went back to the pier where our van awaits us. We were back in the city at around 5PM with tired bodies and hungry stomachs. Pho.. pho.. spare me some pho....
We hurried back to our hotel to freshen up and get ready for a last-minute stroll. (The Philippine contingent - Chan and our 2 ates were heading back to the airport at 1030PM to catch the 1AM flight back to the Philippines.) In order to buy some gifts (pasalubongs) for people back home, we went to the newly-built Galleria mall in the downtown area. To my dismay, the grocery at the 3rd floor is very small hence has a limited variety of local foods. But we managed to stash away something to buy.. We had dinner in the foodcourt and ordered again, Vietnamese dishes. (If it's not obvious yet, I am an advocate of the saying "When in Rome, do as the Romans do.")
What I like about Vietnamese cuisine is that the taste of their dishes is very simple but has a subtle strong character. I like the way they put simplicity and sophistication in food altogether. Amazing how a piece of mint leaf could add flavor and aroma to the soup..... =)
So much of my day dreaming.. Shortly after dinner, we went to the hotel and
went out again to have coffee, alfresco and Vietnamese style. In the busy main street of Pam Ngu Lao, there are several coffee shops along. Most of these shops put small chairs and tables facing the sidewalk to allow their customers to watch people and curious onlookers. (A glass of iced coffee costs around 1-1.5USD depending on the size of the coffee shop.)
Christa and I bid goodbye to our Philippines and Korean delegations. We stayed for another night in HCM since our flight back to Singapore is not until 130PM of the next day.
Lights out. Another adventure awaits me tomorrow.
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