Vietnam - Mekong Delta

We took a day trip to the Mekong Delta, starting at My Tho to take a small motorised boat across the river and into some creeks at the side, finally ending up in Vinh Long before returning to Saigon by road.  We saw the tail end of the floating market, which starts at daybreak, when traders come to buy and sell fruit and vegetables on the water, and visited a factory where rice pop was being made in a large wok with heated sand in the bottom.  It was then fused into blocks, cut and packaged at a next stage. Other foodstuffs were being made and packaged and I always enjoy seeing these basic ways of making food products:

I saw a large nuoc mam (fish sauce) vat, which was used in days gone by to make the sauce from rotting fish.  It seems to me that the modern day sauce is less smelly than that I remember, perhaps because of an improved process.  Previously, the premium grades were made by repeatedly draining the liquid from the bottom of the vat and pouring it back in for another pass - you had to eat it quick without smelling it!  It is very nice with cha gio (Vietnamese Spring Rolls).

 For part of the journey, we took a sampan through a small creek, which was very peaceful, even when interrupted by the oarsman's mobile phone!  

We also enjoyed a Vietnamese lunch on top of getting a bit of a feel for what life is like for those who live on the water.  In all, a lovely day.