Sunday, January 10, 2010

Vietnam - Mekong Day Tour

We were off to an early start. After breakfast we rushed over to Sinh Café for the Mekong Tour.
Ben Tre Boat Trip Map
Ben Tre Boat Trip Map
The bus ride to Mekong area was about 2 hours. The tour consisted of the following:
The first stop was the Rice Paper production. The rice would go through the treadmill and mixed with coconut.
Treading mill
Treading Mill
Drying of rice paper
Drying of rice paper
Lil girl as part of the process
Lil girl helping out!
Lunch was a simple fare. We also get the chance to see the major Fried Elephant Ear Fish. The fish was used as an ingredient with the rice paper. It was an interesting mix of flavors.
Fried Elephant Ear Fish
Fried Elephant Ear Fish
The tour guide also brought us to an area to sample pure honey. Besides the refreshing honey drinks, we also so to see the bees hive.
The Hive
The Hive
Countless bees
Countless bees
There was also the horse cart ride that was the highlight of the tour. Our horse or pony was a female one and the rider had to spend quite a bit of energy to prod the horse along.

Pony
Pony
We were also shown a flavor of the fruits and Vietnamese traditional singing.
Fruit array
Fruit Array
The river cruise was quite commercialized in a way. In a way, the whole Mekong Tour is designed to feed off tourists. It was really tranquil to sail through the river.

Cruising the river
Cruising the river
Mini boat
Mini boat
When we got to the main river, we had to go onto the main boat. I was really holding on to the transition platform with my dear life. Ha…

The last stop was the coconut candy.

Raw Materials
Raw Materials
Rich coconut extract
Rich coconut extract
Coconut concentrate... Wow...
Coconut concentrate - Wow!
Sweet Packers
Sweet Packers
After which, it was the hot stone treat at The Spa. The service was impressive that it was a one stop shop. They even arranged for transport from the hotel to the Spa. It was very impressive - both the deco and the service. This place is highly recommended but it may be a little pricey.
The entrance
The entrance
Setup
Setup
Grand affair
Grand Affair
Lighting that dazzles
Lighting that dazzles
Tea
Tea
Spa
Spa
We were all famished as we didn’t have dinner. We settled at Shabu Shabu. Very comforting to tuck in to steamboat as the weather was turning chilly.

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