We were both apprehensive about how to get to the Mekong and through to Phnom Penh but after looking at several tour operators which ranged from $1000 to $50 for the accommodation, transport etc we went with a well known tour operator called Sinh Tourist. We got picked up at 7:30am to depart for the first drive to Mekong from Saigon, this wasn't to bad but still took 3 hours. We stopped and boarded a boat for the first trip. We went along one of the many Mekong tributaries to see how they grow and use the coconut, one of the areas biggest exports. It felt a bit like when we went to the Amazon but more developed and more settlements on the banks. We visted a bee farm also and tried some of the honey, it was okay seemed more like a sales trip to be honest as they tried to sell the stuff. One nice part is before we left two women and two men started to sing some traditional songs for us which was very interesting, not like we had a clue what they were singing about but still fascinating. We boarded the boat the went further down some of the smaller streams and into a coconut candy factory. They showed you how they make it and we bought a pack of peanut candy. Afterwards we boarded a large 'tuk tuk' like vehicle and headed for lunch, after we got off the tuk tuk we boarded a canoe and a Vietnamese lady rowed us down the small river to the place where we would eat - a local family home. The lunch was okay, nothing to shout about but we ate with four people who we had earlier got talking to which was nice. Two Germans, a mother and her youngest son, a couple from Ireland called Nicola and Kieran all of which were really nice to chat with and exchange stories. What was most horrific was that during lunch someone noticed something, upon furher inspection it was only someone killing and butchering a dog! I had just eaten some very average/nondescript meat and makes you wonder what on earth we have just eaten. One guy filmed it and when we watched it back it was pretty awful, they are not pets like in the west and a simply another meat source, the two men doing it didn't seem to have any emotional tie to the animal. Next it was back to the boat and another bus over the many many bridges which join the many islands in the Mekong and we arrive at the next destination, Can Tho. We stayed at probably the nicest hotel we had stayed at yet, a four star beast were we had two double beds, the largest bathroom and in top notch condition. Tea was good as well, again we sat as a 6 which made for good company. Afterwards we headed for the night market but it wasn't very big or good so us, Nicola and Kieran retreated to a bar. Second day we were up and out again by 7:30am heading to a floating market which was again very interesting. The market was more a whole sale market and the boats would advertise what they sold by hanging the types of friut high from a bamboo pole. Afterwards again further travel on the boat to a fruit and fish farm, we originally thought this wouldn't be good but it turned out to be interesting. We hadn't seen all the different types of fruit which you can buy growing and it was good to actually find out what some of the fruits were which you see growing everywhere, it finished with trying fruit samples. Afterwards we boarded a smaller bus as only 6 out of the group where going to Cambodia, luckily Nicola and Kiernan as well as another couple from Czech and Poland. We arrived at the final destination Chau Doc and went for tea. We ate as a group and were served several fish and meat dishes, the bbq style pork (I think) was delicious. We drank and talked for a few hours after and headed back to our 1 star hotel, quite the change from the previous nights luxury. After being back izzi started to feel ill, violently throwing up several times which wasn't good and had us both worried. We eventually got to bed about 12:30 which didn't leave long for sleep with another 6am start. The final day we checked out and ate the worst food we had had in Vietnam and boarded our final boat to the border. Firstly we visted a floating fish farm where the people live directly on top of thousands of fish and to a Cham village. The village was incredibly, it felt very untouched and was very interesting to see how they live. Even though we didn't stay more than an hour we both enjoyed the village a lot. We then had a 2hr 45min boat trip to the Cambodian border, again this was really good, travelling through the canals of the Mekong seeing all sort of stuff including buffalo crossing the river which was excellent. People who live on the riverside use the river for everything from washing, drinking, fishing and agriculture, it is the life source of there existence. We had read lots if bad things about crossing the border to Cambodia by boat but it ended up being fine. We paid $24 each for a month long visa and walked over it without any checks or trouble. The drive to Phnom Penh was another 2 hours on some pretty sketchy roads. We felt like there was a noticeable change once in Cambodia, it feeling less develop and a differing agriculture and housing styles. Upon arrival at Phnom Penh we jumped on a tuk tuk to take us to our hotel. Everything in Cambodia is in US dollar and tuk tuks line the streets asking "tuk tuk sir, madame, can I help?". In the first night I must have been asked 50+ times. All in all the Mekong trip was great fun and even better value, we got two nights and god know how much travel including most of our meals for $76pp. I'd recommend travelling that way as oppose to just sitting on a bus for several hours! We got to see lots of stuff all which we hadn't seen anywhere else in Vietnam.
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