After the hustle and bustle of Saigon, it was nice to be on The Jahan for our first full day of cruising and visiting the communities of the Mekong Delta. We started in Cai Be, learning about how to make rice paper. Turns out it’s harder than you think, with a few guests trying their hand at making some.
As we cruised along the river, we saw a lot of water hyacinth, which is an invasive species. The Vietnamese have found some inventive ways to use the plant, including weaving it into beautiful baskets and mats. With the fertility of the Mekong Delta, we got to try a variety of the local fruits, including the infamous durian, which certainly tastes much better than it smells!
The Jahan repositioned over lunch, so in the afternoon we visited Binh Thanh Island. The highlight was chatting to a couple who lived through the Vietnam war and getting their perspective on life in Vietnam both during and after the war. Then it was back to the ship for cocktails and nibbles while we watched a stunning sunset.
