Day 151 – Vietnam

March 5, 2010 – Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho to Chau Doc, Vietnam

Once again, Eric and I decide to try the Vietnamese public bus system to get us to Can Tho.

In doing this we discover that sometimes it’s just easier – and sometimes cheaper – to book with a tour agency rather than fumble through on your own. Another “taxi incident” is solved early in the ride and we have minimal problems getting ourselves to Can Tho.

Unfortunately, Can Tho is not what we were expecting.

We have been looking forward to checking out the Mekong Delta for the past few days. We figured it was a very appropriate way to finish off our visit to Vietnam because in many ways the Mekong is the lifeblood of not only Vietnam, but also Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. It’s used for shipping, travel, agriculture, etc. and the Delta is where it flows out into the South China Sea.

We were expecting a smaller farming community, peaceful and quiet. Instead, Can Tho is a big city, loud and nosy. We manage to walk about 50 metres outside of the bus station before we change our minds, head back in and buy a ticket for the next bus out of there.

Our destination?

Chau Doc, which is a small town located near the border of Cambodia.

The bus ride gives us a good overview of life along the Mekong Delta, which I am pleased about considering this was the whole purpose of our coming here in the first place.

We arrive at the Chau Doc bus station at around 8:00pm and decide to walk towards what we think is civilization. Yes, perhaps we could have taken a motorcycle or a taxi, but after spending most of the day sitting on a bus, we need some exercise. And seriously, how hard can it be to find the town centre when there is only one major street?

Well, it isn’t hard to find the town, but it is hard to find a place to stay.

Chau Doc is busy with all the people going back and forth to Cambodia and rooms are proving hard to come by. Eventually, we find a room, but only for one night – the following night the hotel is full, so we’ll have to find another place to stay. No worries – at least we’re covered for tonight.

We enjoy a meal of Com Cha – Vietnamese chicken and rice – at a food stall by the town centre before enjoying a game of Skip-Bo and crashing for the evening.

Not a bad day for a day of public systems and changing plans.