Vinh Long, Mekong Delta, 9/13

After leaving our boat, we had to walk a ways to the bus. Jill picked up a friend on the way.







We bused to Vinh Long where we boarded a different boat. On this one everyone had to stay seated, as it wasn't the most stable vessel. It got us to where we had to go, though.



The first stop was at a brick factory. What was most interesting about it was that they use rice husks to fire the kilns, as you can see to the right. They make bricks part of the year, and ceramic pots and statues when the demand for them is high.



We also passed some fish farms, and stopped at one. In the picture below you can see red snapper in the pen. They also produce catfish. Most of the production is exported to the U.S.

Fish farming has been a very lucrative enterprise in Vietnam. You feed the fish a couple of times a day, harvest them after a few months, and make a bundle. However too many people tried to take advantage, so the sale prices dropped to below profit levels because of overproduction. I read an article a couple of months ago that said they were dumping catfish because they couldn't afford to bring them to market size. The fish farms are also subject to storm damage. A typhoon two years ago wiped out a bid portion of the industry in the Delta.

Our next stop was at the Ba Linh local home. It is run by an elderly gentleman who was once a VC, and his family. Very relaxing and an excellent lunch. It was the student's first introduction to Elephant Ear fish. To the left is what it looked like when it came to the table, and below is what it looked like afterwards.

Across the bridge there was an alligator farm, which looked like it was a tourist place. However, it was fun trying to "catch" the alligators. For a small amount you got a bamboo pole with a piece of meat tied onto the end of a fishing line. Below is Katie, ready to try her luck.

It's easy to catch them, but not so easy to reel them in. I'm glad I'm not the bait.

Once they jump and get hold of it, forget about it. (Pictures in upper right and below courtesy of Josh Strenger; to the right courtesy of Julia Vu)

When we got back to the lunch house, it started pouring, as it is quite prone to doing here.


Michael sacrificed himself to help everyone back on board in the rain.

Next we went to one of the tourist meccas of the Delta, a banzai garden where you are served tea and fruit, then allowed to hold a python. Boats go in and out constantly, and the place is packed with western tourists. Some of the same groups we saw here, we ran into at some of the stops the next day.


The gardens were pretty, and you did get to hold an 80 lb python.

Next we took a 20 minute sampan ride to get back to our boat. Why is the lady rowing while Jared, Andrew, Michael, and Tom hang out?

Our boat then took us to Mr. Muoi's house for our overnight home stay. It was a very relaxing evening, and the students enjoyed it very much.

There were women's and men's bunk rooms. For many if the students it was the first time they slept under a mosquito net. The mosquitoes actually weren't bad, but the netting protected you while you slept.

Here Diana and Phat are talking on the porch.

The students go to help make spring rolls before dinner. They were delicious.

A good deal of card playing went on.







The food was delicious. Some students said it was the best they have had.

There was after dinner entertainment provided by local musicians, augmented by our own talent.