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TOURISM IN THE MEKONG DELTA
considered the major market place of the
western region of the South. However,
opposite my hotel, the centre of Can Tho
is also quite busy and noisy with mo-
torised cyclos roaring up and down the
streets combined with throngs of people
going about their lives.
The area around Can Tho Market
nearby the wharf attracted me because
of its many riverside and floating res-
taurants. Nothing can be better than
enjoying a lunch of various local spe-
cialties while watching the bustling
river route where hundreds of boats
hurriedly pass by.
After lunch, just several steps out
of the floating restaurant, I find the riv-
erside has its quiet moments and there
are a number of pagodas worth visiting.
I firstly visit a Chinese pagoda called
Chua Ong pagoda dedicated to the Chi-
nese genie Guan Yu. Built in 1894,
the pagoda is on Hai Ba Trung street
overlooking the river. My next spot is a
Khmer Buddhist pagoda named Munir
Ansay on Hoa Binh Street. The pagoda
was built in 1948 and modeled on the
Tam Bao (Three Treasures) tower.
Leaving the Khmer pagoda, I drive
to Nha Nam Duong on Cach Mang
Thang Tam street. Overlooking Binh
Thuy River, the pagoda is very impos-
ing with big houses and green gardens
surrounding it.
After a few pagodas, I come to
the 130-year old Binh Thuy house, also
called the Binh Thuy Orchid Garden.
The owner is the respected Duong Minh
Hien, an old sentimental man.
The ancient house was constructed
in a French style with gothic decor and
shining iron pillars. Outside, the orchid
garden is home to various strange and
beautiful flowers and trees full of ripen-
ing fruits like pomelo, jackfruit, mango
and durian.
Sitting in the ancient house, listen-
ing to the trees rustle in the breeze,
breathing the fresh air imbued with flow-
ers and fruits, and enjoying golden fruits,
it seems that I am in heaven on earth.
My kind motorcycle owner also
suggests I take a boat trip towards
Phong Dien district where there are a
lot of fruit farms and gardens. His wife
helps me to make the idea come true
when steering her boat very fast along
the brown river banked with green row
of mangrove palms to anchor in the
post of Sau Tuan Durian garden. This is
not a tourist destination and entrance
is free.
It’s wonderful to follow the hos-
pitable farmer to visit his fruit garden.
Besides durian trees laden with sweet-
smelling fruits, there are many mango-
steen trees. A simple wooden set of ta-
ble and chairs is put under the tree and
tea and boiled water are free of charge.
A nap under the tree is free too, as the
owner has hung several hammocks for
tourists in his garden.
Sometimes, Sau Tuan or his daugh-
ter perform the traditional melodies of
cai luong
, a southern opera, also for
free. You have to pay for fruit only. You
can choose fruits youself and the owner
will weigh them and you can eat there
or take them home. Don’t miss the
brown fruit of the mangrove palms, its
shiny white pulp tastes very sweet and
cool and they are very good for health
during summer.
A precarious crossing on one of the
hundreds of small canals
The flower village in Sa Dec