We started our morning in Cai Be, a fruit and vegetable hub of the Mekong Delta. We enjoyed a cruise on sampans, which are local passenger boats. We stopped in the small town of Phu An to visit a series of small workshops, where we observed the production of a variety of items ranging from rice paper to rice wine to coconut candies. Everyone was able to sample the treats. Then, we enjoyed a leisurely one-hour boat ride back to the Jahan.
After our morning excursion, local guide Tri gave a presentation about the Mekong Delta. After lunch, our photo instructor gave a presentation about iPhone photography. Then, we hopped on sampans again for a cruise to a small village on Binh Thanh Island to walk through local homes and learn about the processes of weaving, drying, and exporting functional mats. At the local community center (which is also a colorful temple), we met with village elders for a short discussion. One of the highlights of the village visit was a little girl with a tiny dog wearing a red-checked dress. After dinner, National Geographic expert Barry Till gave a presentation entitled, “Water Problems in Southeast Asia: the Mekong River and South China Sea.”
