Our last day in Vietnam got underway with a Tai Chi class on the upper deck. We raised the anchor just before sunrise and the Jahan headed upstream towards Chau Doc. Just over a mile from the Cambodian border, Chau Doc is a bustling small city whose economy is based on farming the basa catfish. Like much of the Mekong Delta, this region was once originally part of the Khmer kingdom, but was conquered and colonised by Vietnam in the late 17th century.
After transferring to the local boats, we make our way through the floating market, in which dozens of vessels laden with fresh fruit and vegetables have gathered in the main channel just outside of town to trade. Effectively a small floating village which assembles each day, we see the vendors in heavy freighters with rudimentary living quarters, smaller runabouts which ferry the produce to shore, along with even smaller soup kitchens selling breakfast. Next we head over for a closer look at a floating fish farm, having passed many already along the river. Greeted with the overpowering odour of the fish food, we learn about the day-to-day workings of the local industry.
The next stop on our excursion is into Chau Doc itself. We assemble outside the local ancestor temple. Clearly exhibiting a strong Chinese influence in its design and decoration, this temple is devoted to the worship of the region’s founding father. Next we take time to explore the farmers market, with hundreds of vendors assembled along the roadway with colourful displays of fruits and vegetables, both familiar and foreign. Before we leave Chau Doc we take a brief rickshaw ride around town. The local style consists of a regular bicycle fitted out to tow a simple buggy behind it. While not the most comfortable seat we’ve encountered it provides an enjoyable way to see the town. After we return to the Jahan we make our way along the Tan Chau canal towards the Cambodian border.
During the afternoon naturalist Chris Cook gives us an introduction to the biodiversity along the Mekong River. The sheer scale of this river system and the various regional ecosystems it traverses makes it a rich breeding ground for all types of wildlife. Afterwards, David Brotherson gives a talk on the cultural differences between Cambodia and Vietnam. Although they happen to be next door neighbours, these two nations came from two very different worlds. The day comes to an end as we enjoy another beautiful sunset as we head upstream towards the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh.
