Can Tho to Chau Doc

While in Can Tho we managed to negotiate with a local for a car and boat combo to take us to the floating markets about 20km outside of Can Tho and then on to our next destination - Chau Doc.

True to their word, our driver met us at 7.00 at our hotel and took us to a small village where we met our boat driver. We boarded our boat (which looked like it had seen better days!) and headed up the Mekong. Before too long we were at the absolutely brilliant floating markets. We had specifically asked not to go to the market where all the tourists go and we weren't disappointed - this was a market for local people going about their daily lives. At one point, our driver bought a pineapple from a stall holder and then spent about 10 minutes peeling and beautifully preparing the fruit for us. All looked great until, half way through, he washed his knife in the Mekong! He had gone to so much trouble - what could we say...? Anyway - the pineapple was beautiful and we're still alive.

Eventually made it back to land and our car, which took us on our three hour journey, through amazing little villages, to Chau Doc - very close to the border between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Spent the afternoon exploring the town - particularly enjoying the markets. Our hotel is right on the river and a beautiful place from which to observe Mekong Delta life.

Tomorrow we jump on a boat up the Mekong and across the border into Cambodia. Next stop - Phnom Penh.