Sa Dec
Sa Dec is lovely. Best hotel, a great market on its doorstep, and flowers, lots of flowers.
We find a delightful little waffle, coconut and purple sticky rice confection at the street market which makes a delicious breakfast. We’re on our own for breakfast so no pho, stew or eggs today.
Market Machinations
I venture out into the market on my own. No problem buying bananas, oranges and the like. But I can only find large bags of cashews and I want a smaller bag. I have three options – buy the bigger bag, don’t buy the bigger bag or try to get what I want.
I am happy to say that I did get what I wanted with a lot of hand gestures, and smiling. It’s always great to discover that humans can communicate without speaking the same language.
Flowers, Flowers, Flowers
Sa Dec is a flower centre. There are lit-up floral arches over the roads, and a tree-lined street leading into the city.
We take a 20 km ride around Sa Dec and pass lots of plant nurseries.
More Flowers
We stop at a nursery with a cafe inside. It is lovely to sit among the flowers. There are some very beautiful orchids.
Temples and Pagodas
Two pagodas are on our itinerary. One is a Cao Dai temple and it is so colourful and interesting.
“Cao Dai, (“High Tower,” a Taoist epithet for the supreme god), syncretist modern Vietnamese religious movement with a strongly nationalist political character. Cao Dai draws upon ethical precepts from Confucianism, occult practices from Taoism, theories of karma and rebirth from Buddhism, and a hierarchical organization (including a pope) from Roman Catholicism.” (Britannica.com)
Chinese Buddhist Temple
Our second temple is a red and gold Chinese-style Buddhist Temple. It is filled with huge burning incense coils with tags dedicated to people’s family or friends in need of solace.
We head back to the hotel and later take a van to a restaurant with delicious roasted duck. Then walk to a Lotteria (Korean fast food) for an ice cream.
Sa Dec to Vinh Long
I have another purple sticky rice concoction from the market for breakfast before we hit the road for a 35 km bike ride to Vinh Long. It is a trip that will include three ferries.
Along the way we visit a brick factory with huge fire kilns. The kilns are fuelled by rice husks. The bricks and the process remind me of ancient Roman brick making.
Landing on the Island
Our last ferry was a private one to take us to our homestay on An Binh island across from Vinh Long. The ferry captain didn’t seem to know where to land and just went to a side of the river. It is an awkward landing and it is difficult to get ourselves on shore, not to mention unloading our bikes. The welcoming committee of several barking and frantic dogs add to the event.
Once settled in our lovely homestay, we have a springroll making lesson and a delicious dinner.
A Pop-up Dining Experience
Today is an optional biking day. Some go on a bike around the island. I, along with a few others, chose to relax and go over to Vinh Long. We shop and drink yummy passion fruit juice at a riverside cafe.
We all meet up in the market for lunch. After buying our food, vendors found us little chairs and stools to sit on and eat.
Fish and Karaoke
Dinner at the homestay is a memorable crusted catfish.
After dinner several of our group sing karaoke. Nhi, our guide, sings Hello Vietnam beautifully.
One of my lasting memories of this trip is riding through residential areas and hearing someone singing karaoke loudly and confidently. And it’s always a Vietnamese song and not an international pop song. It is the soundtrack of my trip.
Vinh Long to Ben Tre – The Last Cycle
Our last biking day is a journey of 58 kilometres. We start with a ride across the island to a ferry.
Each ferry on this journey has been its own adventure. Never knowing if one of the wooden rigs would actually make it across the river. Or would we arrive at a dock and find the ferry doesn’t go there any more. The noise and exhaust of the unmuffled lawnmower engines. So much a part of exploring the Mekong Delta.
A Journey to Cherish
After so many days of cycling, I’m energized and want to ride every last click. There has been something especially exhilarating about riding a bicycle through the jungles of Vietnam.
Away from the tourist areas, moving through the landscape at a slow pace, I feel I’ve caught a glimpse of life on the Mekong Delta.
The End is Near – Heading Back to HCMC
“Life is like riding a bicycle – to keep your balance you must keep moving.” The sign at our cafe stop on the bus ride back to HCMC. So fitting for the end of my visit to Vietnam. I must keep moving. Whether I’m traveling or not.
Goodbye Vietnam
One last breakfast by the canal in Ben Tre before our bus ride to HCMC. One last chance to buy souvenirs at the Saigon Centre Market. One last BLT at the Hungry Pig.
Our last night we go to the Saigon Opera House for the A O show about the contrast of village and city life in Vietnam with a mix of circus, acrobatics, dance and music.
Then we leave in the dead of night (3 am!!) to make our long way home.
Now Here It is – One Last Moment of Mosaic
From the My Tho Pagoda Complex.