Mekong Delta Tour - Part 1 We took a two day tour which was partly by bus, mostly by boat, including a one night's stay at a nice hotel but no free meals. Tour cost: $15!!!

We started by bus at first. Vietnam is experiencing an economic boom; there's construction everywhere. Now, on to the boat. The rivers were populated with many kinds of boats. Same, but different. So many antennae. First tour stop: a puffed rice treat "factory". First they puff the rice. There was a very distinct sound to this process. Then they separate the husks. Mix with some sweet and flavor... Rice "krispy" treats a la Vietnam! Sitting, sipping hot tea, and trying puffed rice samples. Anyone with a boat can be in business... View from front of our boat. View towards rear. Coming home from school. The painted front is so you can see the boat at night.... or it sees you. People use the river from everything. Don't try this at home. Socialist signage. 2nd stop was for lunch. This is the wash-up area for the kitchen. This entrance to someone's home is decorated for a wedding. This is a street. No, really. This is someone's home. I'm still not kidding. I believe the water shooting out is part of the engine "cooling" system. Third stop, coconut candy factory. Not easy work. They keep the shells... They use coconut shells for the fire to heat the candy mixture. How industrious. Raw candy "goop". Nice operation. I bought some samples. There are bees in Vietnam, too. There are beers in Vietnam, too. Then we arrived in Can Tho. Hi, Doughnut! This is the view from our room at Hotel Xuan Mai 17 in Can Tho. A truck spewing noise. Whee!! Nuoc mia is sugar cane juice, usually mixed with a little lime juice. Yum! This guy didn't like my taking a picture in the middle of the street... When school gets out, mayhem ensues. Very noisy, too. Sunrise from hotel in Can Tho.