We headed out Saturday morning and got to the resort by afternoon. We were fortunate to have a really great spot right by the river, and it was nice to see the countryside on our 4 hour drive after being in HCMC for so long (not that I am complaining). I have been looking forward to seeing the Mekong Delta since I heard about the Plus3 Program, afterall. It is much slower and you can hear yourself think. We spent the afternoon doing some of the goofiest summer camp activities like a rock-paper-scissors face-off and 1v1s on an American ninja warrior water park. Muddy, soaked, and definitely a core experience.
Today we got up before sunrise to head out to the Cai Rang floating market. Unlike Saigon Square or the previous markets I have had the pleasure of dabbling in, instead of walking you wait on a boat and other boats pull up next to you to sell you an array of fruits and other goods like coffee. One vendor tied his boat to ours and handed us coffees. Our guide explained that the market used to be the main wholesale hub for the whole region, but with trucks and modern delivery it’s slowly turning into more of a tourist activity than a way to acquire produce for wholesale. It is rather unfortunate, but so is the way of life.
Socioeconomically, I feel that people’s quality of life is quite high despite not seeming that way financially. Everyone we ran into was warm, easygoing, and friends with their neighbors. Our guide kept emphasizing how close-knit these river communities are. Living by the water seems enviable in a lot of ways. Economics does measure people’s happiness. On the other hand, watching some of the families at the floating market, where the boat is the home and the business was harder to romanticize. To me, it is a peaceful region with a lot of fulfilling opportunities for the locals, but it may be tough to make ends meet.
Can Tho city itself felt almost like a mini HCMC. There were still a lot of scooters and vendors on the street. Not a lot spoke English, though, but somehow it didn’t matter. People were extremely friendly and patient. Hand signals were rather effective. It was here that I grabbed a soursop at the rest stop on the way back. Apparently the locals blend it with ice and condensed milk into a smoothie, but I’m just gonna eat it neanderthal-style with my hands later today.