Our morning started really early around 8am, where we had to be packed and ready to board the bus for a 3 hour drive to the Mekong Delta. The trip itself was not too bad, but I would say that most of it was spent sleeping, or watching the surrounding terrain / area as it passed. We also ended up taking a pit-stop at the local marketplace, in order to get drinks, food or use the bathroom. The drive had a very interesting feel to it, as you could see the industrial and structural transition from the city’s large buildings and urban landscape, to the countryside’s humble houses and greenery.

After finally arriving to the hotel after a decent nap, I was interested in seeing where we would stay, and what the nearby area and daily life in general would look like. So, when I got my stuff to get out of the bus, I was fairly surprised to see that the only thing in sight at this place was the river, the place where we would go to see and get in the river, and our hotel. This felt very different to me, because I have only really lived and experienced very major cities in my life and in Ho Chi Minh, so I was immediately overcome with feelings that made me realize how simple life could be. I feel like when you’re always surrounded by the bustle and fast-paced life in the city, you often forget what peace looks like.

When we finally gathered our stuff to get into the hotel, my roommate Hannah and I walked up to our room and keyed into it. We were on the second floor with a view of the most beautiful skyline and pool, and I was so happy that the hotels had glass doors, as waking up to that same image in the morning is a privilege that comes with waking up in the countryside.

After settling in slightly to our room, we were all called to enjoy a meal at these pagodas that were centered in the middle of a koi pond, which added to the excitement of being able to explore the Mekong Delta. The meal was a traditional Vietnamese meal, where I enjoyed the Vietnamese Hot-Pot with fish the most.

Then, it was finally time to jump into the Mekong!

I’ll always remember the feeling of the initial jump into the river–feelings of excitement, nervousness, curiosity, cautiousness all at the same time. After losing my game of rock-paper-scissors, I slightly hesitated before sending it into the river. The jump was short, but the mental journey while mid-jump felt like ages. I remember finally breaking the surface tension of the water, and immediately being confused by the dirt and water mixture that my feet were touching. It was the strangest sensation, but it was unavoidable because it was all over the river. But, I would say that knowing that everyone else was feeling the same way as I did made the discomfort more palatable in the moment.

We ended up playing three games at the river, one where you had to fight each other on a swinging bridge, another where you had to cross a rope over a certain amount of time, and the final game was a race between two teams.

Looking back at the moments, I would say that although I wasn’t the most excited person for this trip, I think I am more grateful for the fact that I went through with the experience. If I were to visit Ho Chi Minh City on my own, I do not think that I would have been interested in going to the delta, but because of this trip, I was able to do something completely out of my comfort zone, and that was really heartwarming for me.

After that long and tiresome activity, it was time to swim in the pool and get ready for dinner. I remember wanting to jump in the pool so badly, because I was convinced the chlorine would help cleanse my hair, only to learn that the pool was a salt-water pool.

Dinner was a very fun experience, as we were able to eat another traditional Vietnamese-style dinner that they eat out in the countryside, and we had the sweetest mangoes to accompany it after. We also had fun singing karaoke together, with many memorable songs and incidents having taken place. It was a really fun memory that I will be able to look back on during my trip to the Mekong, which is something that I will always be thankful for.

After dinner, a bunch of us hung out in one of the rooms, and we just got to know each other and really bond over the experience and forced proximity of the trip. I can honestly say that I don’t think any of us would have really gotten to know each other, had we not gone on this trip, so it was interesting being able to learn more about everyone’s lives in a short night. I think it’s times like these that you really appreciate the experience more so than the content of the day.

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The next morning after only 3 hours of sleep, it was time to venture off into the floating market. I am a little familiar with the floating market experience, as my parents have told me a lot about the floating markets in Thailand and the Philippines, so I was really excited to see it for myself.

My very first thought when we were getting into the boat, was that the river looked a lot wider when you were actually near it and in it, so I was a little anxious about the 20 minute boat-ride, but it ended up being okay.

During the twenty minutes, all I could think to myself was that I could not imagine growing up in such a humble and calm city. My life would be so different had I grown up in a place like the area near the river, and I was hit with this thought throughout the entire day. Every seller’s livelihood in the area depended on the selling of their goods, and that’s why their houses and living situations are so simple. They aren’t reliant on high-amounts of electricity, gadgets, social media, external pressures, nothing. I think they are really content with their lives, and that thought always keeps me grounded.

Their houses don’t have washing machines, so everything is handwashed, and dried on a singular clothesline because they don’t need more than 2-3 pairs of something. They don’t have air conditioner, and they are reliant on basic fans. Thoughts like this kept arising, and all I just felt so overwhelmed by them. You never really know how others’ lives are lived until you see it for yourself, so this was honestly just a beautiful experience for me, and after a little bit of thought, I think that I would not be opposed to coming back for a night or two.