Wolfgang's photos with the keyword: Mekong Delta

Photo was shot on the Floating Market in Cần Thơ, Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta, at the south end of Vietnam is a vast and low plain, divided by the "Nine Dragons", the arms of the mighty Mekong River. The country most fertile soil is formed by alluvions and sediments deposited by the great river. This prosperous region produces close to half the agricultural production of the country, with only 12% of its superficy. It is a world of rice fields, orchards, arroyos, and canals, where water and earth are intrically interlaced, where in many places a boat is the most convenient way of transportation, where many people live on the water, depend on the water for fish and rice, and perform functions such as shopping and eating on the water. The insularity of the Delta has made it a refuge for minority religions such as the curious indigenous Cao Dai religion and the Muslim faith of the descendants of the Cham people.

The Mekong Delta is the region in southwestern Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea through a network of distributaries. The Mekong delta region encompasses a large portion of southeastern Vietnam of 39,000 square kilometres.

Compared with the harmony music we enjoyed in the university of Hanoi this songs takes getting used to western ears. My first impression was like "tasting strong acid in the song". The guitarist playing the percussion bell at the same time with his guitar.

The vast delta is formed by the deposition of the multiple tentacles and tributaries of the mighty Mekong River which has its origin in the Tibetan highland plateau 2,800 miles away. From its source, the river makes its way through China, Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Cambodia and South Vietnam before flowing out into the South China Sea. The Mekong's Vietnamese name, Cuu Long, means Nine Dragons for the nine mouths that terminate the flow of this great river as it is absorbed by the sea.

Look to his simple foot throttle and the chair leg extension

The Mekong's Vietnamese name, Cuu Long, means Nine Dragons for the nine mouths that terminate the flow of this great river as it is absorbed by the sea. I was said that there are only eight arms into the sea, but one is a man made cannel to get the number nine.

Ben Ninh Kieu is probably the most well known landmark in Can Tho. The port lies on Hau Giang and crosses the city of Can Tho. The city opens to the water front where port Ninh Kieu is the focal point of all activities on the river. Frequent ferries carry passengers to Xom Chai island, just a short distance away and a beautiful sight at sunset.

The main market of Cần Thơ used to be located on Ninh Kiều pier, and be mostly an open market.

Fresh vegetables, fruits and other food at the local Cần Thơ market

A busy traffic over this bridge. It was the point to get on the rowboat to the floating market

Its a great pleasure to raw through the hundreds small channels which connect the nine branches of the Mekong Delta. Its a net like a labyrinth and you need the help from indigenous people.

Due the tide the water level was getting lower and lower. We had to hurry ton reach the big Mekong branch in time. Suddenly an heavy loaded barge blocks us to go on. We'd to step out into hip-high mud go reach the solid ground. In the meantime the oarsman and some helpers pulled the boat around the stranded barge. We reached the floating market in time.

There is a weird way of marketing the goods for sale at the market - "bẹo hàng". Sellers hang the samples of what they want to sell at the top of a long pole which is fixed at the bow of their boat, so buyers can spot in the distance what kinds of goods they can purchase from that boat.

Cái Răng floating market is the main wholesale floating market near Cần Thơ.

Buyers are local traders with bigger boats snapping everything by the bushels and resell at local markets or to wholesale dealers from big cities, often for a handsome profit.