We were met this morning by the transportation company taking us to the Mekong Princess, our home for the next 8 days. The Mekong Princess is a small river cruiser with rooms for 30 passengers. Although it is small, it is very luxurious. All rooms are suites with queen or king beds, sitting areas, large showers and baths, and personalized service. All-inclusive cruising with mini-bar refreshed in your room twice per day. The bar on ship, is open from 6am to 12pm and is included. Of course, you can always upgrade your drink preference to something more upscale if you don’t care for call liquor. No casino, no floor shows or talent contests. Dinner is a la carte.

Sailing started around 2pm after a very nice buffet lunch. This sailing is upstream on the Mekong, next week will be the return voyage sailing downstream. What’s special about the Mekong Princess line is their commitment to give something back to the local communities. Our particular ship will stop at an orphanage, a Buddhist Temple, and an elementary school they support. We will also have a cultural dance show given by a few of the residents at the orphanage.

Sailing the Mekong is not like sailing the Danube or Rhine. This is a working river with lots of barges carrying sand, concrete mix, gravel, rice, etc., and large transfer ships moving product from ocean going vessels to upstream ports. Occasionally there is a small fishing boat or two trying to catch the days meal. But mostly, it’s the water highway for goods transport.

The Mekong Princess

Countryside along the Vietnam Mekong is varied from agricultural to industrial to urban. Sometimes it’s a mix of all three together. Fair amount of trash along the shoreline. Cambodia shoreline will be slightly different with mostly agricultural development and occasional major city docks.

The Mekong River

Buddhist Training Center

Fishing on the Mekong

Is it just me or does that symbol look like a skull?

Daytime sailing is pretty much uneventful, occasionally small villages appear by the shore, lots of wooden 2-room homes on stilts, children playing by the shore waving to the passengers. Pretty hot and humid so most passengers stay inside where it’s air conditioned. Once we dock, it’s off to explore a village. In minutes you’re covered in sweat! Usually before you reach the street! Fortunately, the ship offers laundry service because there is no wearing these clothes again without laundering.

Speaking of laundry. Some blogger that we read before booking the Mekong Princess recommended bringing only a few clothes and use the ships laundry service. Very reasonable, they said. Not sure how much they spend to wash a pair of underwear but $3.50 is a bit high. So is $5.00 for a shirt, and $4.00 for a tee shirt. Would wash things out in the sink but that just wouldn’t be enough. These clothes need a good soaking and scrub!

On with the cruise! Our first stop is Ben Tre (Vietnam) for a visit to the coconut candy factory. This family owner operation has been cranking out flavored coconut candies for decades. The entire family works here, Grandma & Grandpa, Mom & Dad, aunts, uncles, cats & dogs, everyone. Decent candy and at a good price. Costs around .20 for a large package of 16 pieces.

One other specialty, rice wine. Sounds like it might be a possibility until you see what the local “rice wine” really is. Didn’t try it, didn’t buy it! Whiskey with various kinds of snakes floating in it. Claim is it really pumps up the libido, or kills you.

Making bowls and utensils from coconut shells

Hand-cutting coconut candy

Hand wrapping coconut candy

Rice liquor with critters

Making rice paper. You can eat it or use it for artwork. What a deal!

Next stop is Can Tho (sounds like the response to “cannot”). This is our chance to see a Chinese pagoda temple but first we get a private Unicorn Dance. Unicorn dance is a Chinese dance where the participants wear large 2-person dragon costumes while parading around a courtyard. Lot more fun than seeing the Chinese temple.

Chinese Unicorn Dancers

Golden Boat Award – Best Looking Couple on the cruise

Continuing on in Vietnam, we stop at Cai Rang to take a sampan journey around the floating market. Could have passed on this one. This floating market is for wholesalers; everything is sold in massive bulk orders so seeing bales of rice or stacks of flour really isn’t that impressive.

Two more stops on the Vietnam side, one for a temple visit, the other to visit a weaving community where everyone on this tiny island is weaving.

Collette and I have pretty much decided that we are through visiting temples and cathedrals. Yes, they have a lot of architectural amenities, but once you’ve seen a thousand, you’ve seen them all.

That wraps up Vietnam. Oh yes, it is still hot (96F) and humid (90+%).

Into the Mystique!