5th and 6th February 2014 - Vietnam and the Homestay

We left Cambodia early this morning and had a long bus journey to the Vietnamese border. The border crossing was very basic (see pictures) and we had to bribe the immegration police to grant us access as we had arived during their lunch break. After the border we carried on for another long lourney to our homestay in Chau Doc on the Mekong River.

The Homestay was a brilliant experience! When we arrived we were greeted by very friendly owners and we learnt to make some traditional rice pancakes with a meat and vegetable filling. It was delicious. They then cooked for us all and it was the most food we have eaten while we were in Asia. The food was fantastic and we were nice and full for a 'good nights sleep'. Our accommodation was understandably very basic and our bed wasn't very comfortable but we made it through the night. The roosters were up early at 4:30 and didnt let us sleep in much longer. After an early breaksfast we went for a boat trip along the Mekong River to see the floating markets. These markets were wholesaler markets and they often stay on the river for a few days to sell all their stock before returning home to re-fill. You could see whole families on these boats and we got on one boat for some fresh pineapple prepared in font of us. Was most probably the nicest pineapple we have ever had!! Along with the main wholesale boats there were small ones that came around selling vietnamese coffee (hot or cold) as well as others selling food, noodles and soups! It was a great experience and not what we expected at all but it was so interesting to see another way of business. Our guide was quite clear to explain that these sellers were purely business men rather than farmers selling their own produce.

After the River tour we drove another 7 hours to Ho Chi Minh City where we had our last night with some of our group before meeting the new ones joining us on the next leg. We went for another tasy meal and had some farewell drinks for our new friends. We ended up going to a Vietnamese nightclub which even for Asia was very expensive!

After a long day travelling and a few drinks we were ready for bed - until next time!

Katrien and Rob
xx