To escape the heat, we leave the Jahan bright and early at 6:30 a.m. We are split in two groups and board two covered water taxis to visit the fascinating fishing town of Chau Doc. Riding on the local trishaws (oddly-configured cyclos), we take a circle tour of the market area and arrive at the local temple honoring heroes of the community. Then we take a casual stroll through the marketplace, admiring the colourful display of local fruits and vegetables. The crowded market is practical and sells everything from fishing equipment, seeds and natural medicines to school supplies as well as things of everyday needs like brooms and pottery.
Later we are taken by our water taxis to see one of the hundreds of nearby floating fish farms, some holding up to 100,000 fish, which will go into a frenzy at feeding time. If they meet the standards, the fish will be processed, frozen and exported to the U.S., Canada and Europe. These farms constitute a major investment: the producers must first procure fingerlings, then purchase the expensive but nutritious feed pellets (sometimes as much as $200 per day), and pay the overhead for their floating farms. If the fish price is good at harvest time, then the payoff can support a family very comfortably. After the visit to the fish farm, we visited the floating market and were given a briefing by our Vietnam guides on the lifestyle of these people. We then returned to the Jahan. At 10:00 a.m. we heard Barry Till`s lecture entitled ``In the Shadow of the Dragon`` which dealt will Chinese influences on Vietnam throughout its history.
The day concluded with a walking tour of the prosperous little village of An Hung, next to where our boat was moored. The village produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, specializing in red hot chilis. We were invited by a local family to sample some of the succulent exotic fruits, such as durian, jackfruit, mangosteen and other seasonal fruits as well as boiled corn. Our host performed beautiful music on a traditional instrument. In the picturesque village we saw the monkey and elephant bridges, the homes of the villagers and their “happy rooms” located on stilts above a pond. After a pleasant hour and a half walk, we returned to the Jahan.
