Cai be viilage, Vinh Long Province
We headed off to Cai Be Village at the southern tip of Ho Chi Minh early this morning. Our two hour bus ride took us to the mouth of Mekong river - the Mekong Delta. Connected by vast number of tributaries and meanders, the Mekong fans out accumulated sediment of silt and sand. The richness of these sediments and sand allow life to flourish abundantly throughout history. As tides grow and fade with time, so did the local people, as they plan their daily schedule around it.
The motorised boat sail us along the river to many different local family-based industries such as the rice cracker and coconut candy industries.
Making rice crackers was by the age old method of heating a large pan with black sand which was collected from the depths of the delta, coating it with a layer of oil. Basketful of rice is then thrown into the intensely heated pan causing instantaneous transformation of rice into rice pops. The rice pops are then mixed into a delicious caramelized mixture and then pressed into pieces of Vietnamese favourite rice pops snacks! The aroma from each mouthful was absolutely delightful!
Next we went mud fishing! It was such a fantastic experience! The initial trepidation of falling into the mud or getting dirty was later met with roaring laughter and eagerness to get our hands on one snake head fish. Our fisherman of the day was Qi heng. With pure skill and luck, he managed to corner almost every fish present in that muddy canal. Everyone clapped in awe and screamed in delight!
As we continued our journey, we passed by the local floating market selling wholesale produce of potatoes, tapioca and other locally grown food. The villager stayed on these house boats and their livelihood depended on the Mekong Delta. Bamboo poles hung produce that each seller was selling so buyers could identify the boats from miles away.
On the way back we had a scrumptious meal filled with endless surprises from a gigantic glutinous ball to a fried elephant fish which was eaten with rice paper and local herbs.
Now we are heading back to the city center to get things for the orphanage tomorrow.
Till then~😄
