Today, we visited the Mekong Delta, a region of Vietnam where the majority of their rice is grown. Because the delta has so many rivers, our main method of transportation was boats. At one point, to get to the other side of one of the island, we took a small wooden canoe paddled by two locals. We went down a small river surrounded by trees and large leaves. I found it very beautiful being surrounded by nature and I enjoyed seeing Vietnam’s natural environment. I also enjoyed seeing how some locals made their living by driving these boats, and I really appreciated the ride.

I also found the socioeconomic aspect of the region interesting because even though the local communities in the delta feel a little closed off from the rest of the country, it is a big tourist site. Tourism is one of Vietnam’s most profitable industries, so many of the delta residents are living comfortably and in the middle class. I enjoyed seeing how they use local resources like coconuts and honey to make their own products such as candy and build their own businesses with their products. They also know that many of the tourists visiting the delta are interested in the culture, so they have many Vietnamese restaurants and they perform Vietnamese songs. There are also restaurants directed to tourists where they have fun activities like feeding alligators and swimming on top of the water in a big, inflatable ball. I think the delta residents have been very smart about how to build their businesses in a way that attract tourists so they can profit as much as possible from the industry.