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taboo5 | profile | all galleries >> Vietnam >> Ho Chi Minh City (Mekong River), Vietnam (December 2008) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Ho Chi Minh City (Mekong River), Vietnam (December 2008)

The Mekong River travels over 3,000 miles on its way to the sea, ending at Cuu Long, the famous Mekong Delta. The name means “nine dragons” or the nine mouths that wind their way of canals, channels, silt islets and mangrove swamps. One of the most renowned places in the Mekong Delta is My Tho near Ho Chi Minh City. A myriad drainage channels wind their way around many tiny islets (or islands), dominating transport throughout the region with boats and barges crisscrossing the river in every direction. Seasonal floods inundate the delta with water for several months of the year. The life and culture of the inhabitants of the riverside hamlets are influenced by and dependent upon the mighty Mekong River.
Mekong River cover page.
Mekong River cover page.		 Map of Vietnam with the star indicating Ho Chi Minh City (the Mekong River is nearby).
Map of Vietnam with the star indicating Ho Chi Minh City (the Mekong River is nearby).		 Map showing some of the islets (small islands) of My Tho on the Mekong River in Vietnam.
Map showing some of the islets (small islands) of My Tho on the Mekong River in Vietnam.		 My attractive tour guide is standing in the boat, which took us to the Thoi Son Islet.
My attractive tour guide is standing in the boat, which took us to the Thoi Son Islet.
View of a ferryboat on the river with My Thuan Bridge in the background, the first cable-stayed bridge to cross it in Vietnam.
View of a ferryboat on the river with My Thuan Bridge in the background, the first cable-stayed bridge to cross it in Vietnam.		 This tourist boat was docked at Thoi Son Islet where I got off.
This tourist boat was docked at Thoi Son Islet where I got off.		 One of our first stops was at a candy making concession stand. This machine compresses coconuts.
One of our first stops was at a candy making concession stand. This machine compresses coconuts.		 These are some of the coconuts that were compressed.
These are some of the coconuts that were compressed.
This machine stirs a coconut candy mixture.
This machine stirs a coconut candy mixture.		 Coconut candy is shaped in this mold.
Coconut candy is shaped in this mold.		 After the candy is cut, this woman packages it. I couldn't resist buying some!
After the candy is cut, this woman packages it. I couldn't resist buying some!		 Me posing as a dragon fruit vendor.
Me posing as a dragon fruit vendor.
These musicians and singers performed for us.
These musicians and singers performed for us.		 A Vietnamese man was catching a nap.
A Vietnamese man was catching a nap.		 Since there are canals and tributaries of the Mekong River on the Thoi Son Islet, we took a sampan ride on them.
Since there are canals and tributaries of the Mekong River on the Thoi Son Islet, we took a sampan ride on them.		 A woman was paddling a sampan in front of us.
A woman was paddling a sampan in front of us.
This woman was paddling the boat that I was on.
This woman was paddling the boat that I was on.		 There was a lot of sampan traffic on the canal that day.
There was a lot of sampan traffic on the canal that day.		 The canal led us back into the Mekong River, where we switched to a larger boat.
The canal led us back into the Mekong River, where we switched to a larger boat.		 This boat in front of us was very crowded!
This boat in front of us was very crowded!
View from the boat that I was on of other boats ahead of us on the Mekong River.
View from the boat that I was on of other boats ahead of us on the Mekong River.		 View of a tourist boat.
View of a tourist boat.		 This large ferryboat was in front of us.
This large ferryboat was in front of us.		 One of many colorful boats, which was docked, that we passed by.
One of many colorful boats, which was docked, that we passed by.
Our next stop was the Qui Islet where we crossed this wood plank bridge.
Our next stop was the Qui Islet where we crossed this wood plank bridge.		 Men with a pony and a cart on Qui Islet.
Men with a pony and a cart on Qui Islet.		 I took a ride on this horse drawn cart with this woman driving it.
I took a ride on this horse drawn cart with this woman driving it.		 As we departed from Qui Islet, we saw many more colorful boats.
As we departed from Qui Islet, we saw many more colorful boats.
We passed by this wooden boat with a colorful red eye-like decoration on the stern.
We passed by this wooden boat with a colorful red eye-like decoration on the stern.		 A closer view of the wooden boat.
A closer view of the wooden boat.		 We approached the main dock, ending our Mekong River cruise.
We approached the main dock, ending our Mekong River cruise.

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