Vietnam is a place for sensory overload. There are so many rich and colorful sights happening all around you at any given time, it’s hard to focus on one thing. Today was no exception, and as we made our way on the river to the town of Chi Be, we passed ferries, cargo ships, and bright fishing boats. My camera was buzzing as it captured one image after another. But it was in a little candy shop that my attention was drawn to the remarkable ability of the Vietnamese to create these mouthwatering coconut candies by hand. The process is tedious, precise, and at the end of it all, delicious. Every aspect of the candy was made by hand, even the rice paper in which the candy would be wrapped.
2/23/2024
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The Jahan
Binh Than Island and Cai Be, Vietnam
We hopped on sampans, local passenger boats, for a cruise to a small village on Binh Than Island to walk through local homes and learn about the process 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 about their lives and the area. Afterward, we did a leisurely cruise through the canals and got to witness the harvesting of water hyacinths, an invasive species common in the Mekong Delta. During the afternoon, we boarded sampans again to visit the island of Tan Phong to visit a group of women making baskets, souvenirs, and other items from water hyacinth. Then, we cruised around the town on six-seater golf carts for a scenic ride through the orchards. After boarding the sampans again, we headed to the small town of Phu An to visit a series of small workshops to see the production of a variety of items including rice paper, rice wine, and coconut candies. Everyone was able to sample the treats. Before dinner, the entire staff and crew of Jahan was introduced during our ship farewell cocktail hour and posed for photos.
