Mekong ornamental sales at 5 riverbank sites

The HCMC Department of Transportation has announced five sales locations along the city’s rivers for ornamental potted-plants from the Mekong Delta before Lunar New Year.

The five sites are a 400-meter long area beside Phu Dinh River in Ward 16, District 8; a 200-meter long area along An Tai canal side in Ward 7, District 8; a 1.7km strip along the Tau Hu Canal stretching from the bridge on Ngang Canal to Cha Va  Bridge; a 470 meter-long area from Cha Va Bridge to Nguyen Quyen Street; an 800 meter-long area from the corner of Le Quang Kim & Hung Phu streets to Chu Y Bridge.

 “Only the five listed locations can sell ornamentals in the city,” Phan Cong Bang from the HCMC Department of Transportation, said.

To transport flowers from Mekong Delta provinces to HCMC, Mekong Delta gardeners should follow two routes. The first one is from Cho Dem’s river - Ben Luc - Cho Dem Bridge - Binh Dien Bridge – Doi Canal - Tau Hu Cabal. The second is from Vam Co Dong River - Nuoc Man Canal - Can Giuoc River - Tau Hu Canal.

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Where the Mekong meets the sea

Ba Dong Beach in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh

Duyen Hai is a coastal district in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh, where the Mekong River meets the East Sea.

From Tra Vinh take National Road 53 east to get to Duyen Hai. The first place of interest there is Ba Dong Beach in Truong Long Hoa Commune. Ba Dong has giant sand dunes, formed by the action of the river and the ocean.

Lining the beach at the foot of the sand dunes are endless miles of casuarina forests.

Behind the sand dunes are potato farms where visitors can join in the harvest with local farmers to learn how to farm and about the local culture. As the soil is sandy and soft, it’s easy to dig the big sweet potatoes up. Along the beach there are farms that grow rau muong, a type of water spinach with purple flowers.

Farmers in their potato garden near Ba Dong Beach in Tra Vinh Province - Photos: Phuong Ha

Also in Truong Long Hoa Commune, about 55 kilometers from Tra Vinh Town, is the Nha Trang – Duyen Hai, also called Ba Dong tourist area where tourists can find accommodation, a swimming beach, volleyball court and places to relax.

The tourist area covers seven hectares. There is also a food area and bungalows to rent. The sunsets are spectacular.

The tourist area contains an old temple dedicated to worship Trieu Thi Trinh who led the revolution against the Chinese in 248AD. She failed and drowned herself in the river.

The temple attracts many visitors and pilgrims every year to the heroine’s commemoration ceremony.

About 200 meters from the temple is an old tomb built of stone under the shade. Locals say it is the tomb of a princess in Nguyen Dynasty who may have been the sister of Gia Long King. 

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Drop down a few gears in the Mekong Delta

Thuan An locals cross a cau khi (bamboo bridge) in Vinh Long Province - Photo: Mong Binh

The Mekong Delta is a throng of commerce and activity but there are many quiet necks of the waterways where locals still lead a very simple life.

A 30-minute boat trip from Ninh Kieu Wharf in Can Tho City takes in the serenity of Thuan An, a commune in Binh Minh District in Vinh Long Province. The attraction lies in the residents who live in harmony with nature and smile when they meet visitors, whether they are Vietnamese or foreigners.

I received a lot of friendly greetings and gestures during my hour of cycling around Thuan Tan and Thuan Phuoc B villages last week in the district. The many welcoming smiles and the innocent faces of dozens of children lifted my spirits as I cycled the 10 kilometer round trip.

In the channels, sons helped their fathers catch shrimp, fish and snail. In the rice fields children walked around and giggled, encouraging their parents to finish pulling out the weeds before sunset.

The breezes carry the scent of rice in flower this time of year. After a long day in the fields farmers chatted loudly all the way home, never stopping for a breath as they crossed the shaking cau khi, the bamboo bridges in the Mekong Delta.

At home, their families prepare a meal of rice they have grown and the fish and shrimp they have caught. Dinners in the Mekong Delta countryside start early, as soon as everyone back from the fields has had a bath.

The scene of people bathing and washing clothes in the canals in front of their homes is a common sight that hasn’t changed for generations.

After the bicycle tour of the villages we stopped at a café to refresh with a coconut juice to ready for the boat trip back to the heart of Can Tho City.

The boat-bicycle tour of rural villages is organized by Victoria Can Tho. The rides are available in the morning or afternoon by dialing (0710) 3810111 or emailing resa.cantho@victoriahotels.asia. 

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