Down the Mekong River: Welcome to Waterworld

Trip Start Jan 03, 2008

Trip End Feb 07, 2008

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Flag of Vietnam Chau Doc, Vietnam
Saturday, January 19, 2008

Leaving Cambodia and entering Viet Nam by boat was one of my best decisions. The ride down the Mekong River was awesome. I cannot believe I am fortunate enough to make a trip like this. We left Phenom Penh at noon time and crossed the border into Viet Nam about three hours later. It was a little nerve racking, entering a Communist country for the first time. The border guards didn't make things easier.

As we followed the river down the Mekong Delta we saw more and more settlements along the banks. Closer to Chau Doc there were kids swimming in the water and men stringing out fishing nets. The feeling was almost dreamlike. I could not believe what I was seeing. An incredible life on the water. The highlight of my trip so far.

I got into Chau Doc, the major border town after the border, just before dusk. A cyclo driver named Wong asked to take me to a good hotel and I accepted. His english was excellent making things easy for me. The hotel was good and cheap and he waited outside while I showered then took me to an ATM so I could get Vietnamese Dongs. After that we went and booked my bus for Saigon, then a massage, and then some well deserved beers.

We did get drunk together. He told me all about things in his city. Then we went for dinner, where the waitresses sit and actually feed you. It was interesting to say the least. Exhausted, I had Wong bicycle me to my hotel about 10 pm. It was a day I'll never forget.

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Boys Waving	Girls Washing	Leaving Cambodia, Phenom Penh from the river.	Men Working
River Shacks

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Comments

laprof on

How's your health????
Oh Frank,

You needed a guy to do the bike pedaling, then you had to get a new Vietnamese dong, then you had to be spoon-fed???? You better get back home before we have to send a helicopter and a wheelchair....
Get well soon!

francesco0 on

Re: How's your health????
Cute. I can't help it, that's the way it is here. Worse yet, I haven't been able to run in a week. Hopefully when I get back to the beach I will.