Mui Ne Easy Rider

Can Tho to Chau Doc - including Cai Rang Floating Market - Easy Rider Trip

Susan Neil

06 Feb 2024 — 10 min read

Life on the Mekong Delta

We left our hotel shortly before 4.30 am to go to the river where we would be catching our boat.

Boarding the boat, cai rang floating market tour, can tho, Mekong delta, vietnam — Boarding the boat, Cai Rang Floating Market Tour

It was a bit challenging getting on the boat because it was slippery and there was nothing to hold on to. You had to take peoples hands for help … plus the boat is rocking.

The seats just sit on the boat floor … they are not anchored down. The drivers chair looks like it has been repurposed from … who knows where.

Drivers chair, Cai rang floating markets, can tho — Drivers chair, Cai Rang Floating Markets

I should add here that this group option cost 100,000 vnd approx $6.40 Aud per person. We could have done a private boat trip for 500,000 vnd. We were on the boat for about 3 and a half hours so that is good value.

We motored into the darkness for probably 30 minutes and then I noticed small boats without lights. My first thought was why are they out here on this busy waterway without lights. Then our driver pulls up beside one of them … I am thinking that he is offering assistance. Silly me … these are the market traders coming to try and sell us their wares.

Floating Market Traders, Mekong delta, Cai Rang — Floating Market Traders

Cai rang floating market, Mekong delta — Cai Rang Floating Market

There were many boats out there, both selling and spectating. We chose the earlier tour but there was a later one at 8.30 am. I chose the earlier one to see the sunrise but it was a non event … was too overcast.

Floating Market Traders, Mekong delta — Floating Market Traders, Mekong Delta

Noodles for breakfast, Mekong delta, vietnam — Noodles for Breakfast

We get noodles for breakfast from a breakfast boat … they were very yummy.

Healthy noodle bowl breakfast, Cai rang floating markets — Healthy noodle bowl breakfast, Cai Rang Floating Market

Eating noodles, Cai rang floating market, can tho, Mekong delta, vietnam — Eating noodles, Cai Rang Floating Market

Eating noodles of the boat with family, Cai rang floating markets, can tho, Mekong delta, vietnam — Eating on the boat with a family, Cai Rang Floating Markets

Selling Durian Fruit, Floating Markets, can tho, Mekong delta — Selling Durian Fruit, Floating Markets

Our Boat Driver, Cai Rang — Our Boat Driver

The people that we travelled on the boat with were an American Vietnamese family and also 2 male university students on holiday from Ho Chi Minh City.

We stopped at 3 different places along the way so that we could see and buy things. They put stickers on us so that if we bought anything the boat driver would get a commission.

Posing at a boat stop, Cai Rang Floating markets, can tho, Mekong delta, vietnam — Posing at a boat stop, Cai Rang Floating Markets

Me posing by the bridge, Cai rang floating market, can tho — Me Posing by the Bridge

Boat stop, Cai rang floating market tour, Mekong delta — Boat stop

Noodle making and selling, Mekong delta, vietnam — Noodle making and selling

Dried fish, Cai rang floating market — Dried Fish

Mr Qua took over the ladies job making noodle pizza

We picked up speed to head back, Cai rang floating markets, can tho, Mekong delta, vietnam — We picked up speed to head back

After the trip we head back to our hotel, with it‘s 7 floors, to pack and get ready for the day.

The same nice man helped me with my bag. Mr Qua offered also but I would have done it myself … if I have too much stuff it should be my problem. Next time I will travel lighter. Plus I am just sitting on the back of a bike all day … some exercise will do me good.

Ok so we head into Can Tho town and there are many people posing and taking photographs for Tet. Many gorgeous ladies in traditional clothing.

Tet Photograph, mekong delta — Tet Photograph

Lucky colour red for Tet, can tho, Mekong delta, vietnam — Lucky colour red for Tet

Tet Photography, can tho, vietnam — Tet Photography

Tet Photography, can tho — Tet Photography

Lucky colour red, tet photos, can tho — Lucky Colour Red

Can tho, Mekong delta, virtnam — Me in Can Tho

I am not sure why but I must stand here for a photo because it is a famous place. I may as well stand in the middle of the road as everyone else is.

Traveling again, towards Chau Doc, we find some flowers and there is also meat drying outside a restaurant.

Lotus, Vietnam National Flower — Lotus, Vietnam national flower

Wild flowers, vietnam — Wild Flowers Vietnam

Pork drying outside a restsurant — Pork Drying Outside a Restaurant

Next stop is at a place where Little Egrets are nesting in the trees. I did want to see Saurus Cranes but I suppose to non bird enthusiasts a bird is a bird.

The birds on the ground flew away as I approached but I climbed the tower for another look. It was a pretty interesting place. I needed a good camera to get any decent photos though.

Bird watching platform — Bird Watching Platform

The toilet was a bit rough so I decided not to go. There was a cute little girl there and she gave me some jewellery.

We stop early for lunch as we are hungry after having breakfast early. Lunch is Com Tam which is broken rice served with grilled pork and fish sauce. This restaurant was very busy when we were there so we figured that there food must be good and it was.

You add the sweet fish sauce to taste so you do not need to add if you don’t like the taste.

Broken rice became popular in the 19th century when food was hard to come by. It was basically the rubbish that was left on the floor after the good or whole rice had been removed. It is widely used now and a delicious change from either whole or sticky rice.

Real life on the Mekong delta — Real life on the Mekong Delta

Real life on the Mekong delta, vietnam — Real life on the Mekong delta

Vietnam is certainly a country of contrasts.

This next photograph that I took almost looks like it is in black and white but no this is a full colour shot.

Life on the Mekong delta, vietnam — Life on the Mekong Delta

We find some bananas drying on the side of the road. Mr Qua tells me that they are added to rice wine … I think this would be very yummy but as yet have not seen any for sale.

While looking at the dried bananas I see that someone has papaya outside their house on a stand. I ask if they are for sale … it seems that they probably were not for sale but Mr Qua gets me one for a cheap price and then they give me another one too. Mr Qua manages to get the papaya safely strapped on the bike.

We go to a temple and also get photos of cable cars going up the hill in Chau Doc.

Preparing gifts / offerings for budha, Chau doc — Preparing gifts / offerings for budha

Cable cars going up the hill, chau doc — Cable Cars going up the hill

Gold budha in the temple, Chau doc — Gold Budha in the Temple

In the temple grounds, Chau doc — In the temple grounds

Beautiful scented bonsai, Chau doc — Beautiful scented bonsai

After this we ride on to another temple area with many things to see.

Temple entrance, Chau doc — Entrance so you can see where

Temple building, Chau doc — Temple building

I loved this place … there was so much to see at one place.

Yes we are still at the same place … there is so much to see here and such a lovely place to spend time.

At every turn there is something to see and enjoy here. I met some gardeners on my walk around and some children who enjoyed saying hello to me but no other tourists … such a beautiful place.

We leave here and head down to the waterfront. It has been a long day and the sun is setting but Mr Qua is still being his tourist guiding self and the day is not over. He really does not need to put so much into every day … but he does.

I am exhausted … he probably is too as we started early.

So we meet these lovely people at the waterfront in Chau Doc. They are chatting and we somehow join in. He is a local guide and she is a solo vietnamese travelling bike rider. We shared some laughs … both beautiful people.

Selfie with new friends, Chau doc — Selfie with new friends

We were impressed by this lady … both she and her bike were beautiful. But can you see on her arm that she has had a fall from her bike.

After this I needed to find a cash machine and Mr Qua patiently took me to a few where I could finally get money.

Because it had been such a long day Mr Qua suggested that we get a duck dinner to take home so that we do not need to go out again. Done deal for me … bring it … I am over today.

Ok so we get to our hotel and up to my room and it is not what I booked. Yet when I checked in they took my money and made no mention of a different room.

So this is a sorry point for me ., do not sell me a room and then sell it to someone else because they are staying longer. I did let the manager know how I felt but no compensation was forthcoming. This place was Kim Ngan Hotel.

Anyway our dinner was very yummy. We had the duck with broth from cooking and it tasted very good.