Travelling From Vietnam To Cambodia Through the Mekong Delta

The vast and captivating Mekong Delta lies in the south-east of Vietnam, and is filled with picturesque waterways and exotic scenery as the Mekong River makes its way to the sea through a winding and complex network of distributaries. The delta is the "rice-bowl" of the country, producing enough rice in the watery region to feed the entire country with plenty left over. It is also a major draw card for visitors to Vietnam, as travellers journey through the region to catch a glimpse of the "real" Vietnam; everywhere you look you'll see locals living their everyday lives, perhaps fishing for their dinner, keeping chickens, doing laundry or working on the land. People in this area are very friendly, and they wave at the travellers as they make their way through the area.

A journey through the Mekong Delta is a popular way to travel from Vietnam to Cambodia, sailing through canals and past villages, islands and floating markets. Travellers can spend the night in small towns near the border to break the journey. This is a day-by-day description of what to expect for overland (or sometimes "over-water") travel from Vietnam to Cambodia through the Mekong Delta.

Day 1 - Ho Chi Minh City to Cai Be

Today marks the beginning of your journey from Vietnam to Cambodia. Travel by air-conditioned bus from Ho Chi Minh City to the town of Cai Bai, where you can board a boat and set sail on along the Mekong Delta. Although still very rural, the delta region is one of the most densely populated areas in the country. Farming is intensive; in addition to rice the region also commonly produces sugarcane, shrimp, coconut and a vast variety of fruits. With many tours which pass through the area, it is possible to visit a rice factory to learn more about the production, as well as a rice-husking mill and a rice noodle factory. One popular treat produced in the area is coconut candy, and there are places you can visit to see it being made, and there are usually plenty of opportunities to taste test these traditional treats.

Continuing your travels through the Mekong Delta in the afternoon, you will probably reach the small town of Can Tho just as the sun is beginning to set. You can spend the night in one of the comfortable hotels in the centre of town, perhaps visiting a local restaurant to enjoy some Vietnamese specialities made from delicious local produce.

Day 2: Can Tho - Chau Doc

On the morning of day two you can head off from Can Tho the visit the popular floating market in Cai Rang. In order to get close to the action, it's a good idea to travel on a small boat so you can sail between the floating stalls. The market is full of small boats darting through the water as vendors sell their wares.

After exploring the markets you can travel overland to the border town of Chau Doc. Many people make a living from fishing here, and there are often fish farms directly beneath the floating homes. You need to board a small boat to reach these farms, and the locals might even give you a chance to feed the fish. You can spend the afternoon exploring the small town of Chau Doc, and spend the night in a local hotel.

Day 3: Chau Doc - Phnom Penh

Departing from Chau Doc in the morning, it's time to complete the last leg of your journey from Vietnam to Cambodia. It's common for travellers to board a speedboat heading to the border. Once you reach the Cambodian border, the boat will stop and travellers will disembark to organise visas and complete immigration requirements. At time of writing, it was possible for many travellers to obtain their Cambodia tourist visas at the border, for a fee of USD25 per passport. It's a good idea to carry a couple of passport-sized photos with you for the application, and to check with the embassy beforehand to be sure visas can still be obtained at the border when you are travelling.

Once formalities are completed at the border, it's time to board your speedboat again and head into Cambodia. Travellers will normally reach Phnom Penh harbour in the early afternoon, allowing plenty of time to arrange a transfer to a local hotel with one of the many tuk-tuks waiting at the harbour. This completes your travel from Vietnam to Cambodia through the lush Mekong Delta.

If you are travelling during dry season, it is possible that some travel options may not be possible due to low water levels. Likewise in rainy season the water levels might make river travel a bit hazardous. In these circumstances it's beneficial if you have booked your tour with a reputable company, and they will make alternative arrangements (usually by mini-bus) but still get you out on the waterways wherever possible.

Sail past the limestone islands of Halong Bay, trek the highlands of Sapa and explore narrow alleyways alive with rickshaws in Hanoi. At Vietnam Online our travel specialists can help you create your own independent Vietnam travel adventure.

Article Source: Nadia_Flint