This morning we got to experience a floating Vietnamese market as we woke up before sunrise. We then boarded local boats and headed out onto the Mekong by about 6:30 a.m. We saw the floating merchants as they sold fruits and vegetables and the other, land-based merchants selling coffee, breakfast foods, and other local treats. That morning’s light by sunrise was excellent for our group’s photographers. After exploring the floating market, we boarded a floating fish farm for a more intimate glimpse of what life is like in the Mekong Delta.

Our afternoon took us up the Mekong River toward Phnom Penh. Cultural specialist David Brotherson lectured on cultural distinctions and similarities between Cambodia and Vietnam. Afterward, the ship’s galley hosted a class on how to make spring rolls and Cambodian chicken amok.