Vietnam turns 50 this year. It will celebrate its golden anniversary as a unified and independent country in April with major cities and the countryside towns all preparing for what will be big celebrations.
But like all approaching milestones, there is always a time for reflection. Its turbulent past is behind the citizens, and those who lived through the past, particularly tough decades before independence was achieved, want to move on and look to a brighter future.
And what better way to reflect on the past, present and future, but a relaxing trip down the mighty Mekong.
It is still a well-used river for industry with barges chugging along past the interspersing canals, fishing villages sitting atop the water on the river’s banks and small towns dotted amongst the lush vegetation.
It was once the home to many crocodiles with many of the fishing boats painted with scary eyes to ward off the said reptiles. Those days have gone but a lot of the population still use the water for a living.
The scenery is striking with mountain ranges and small to large villages and towns where the ships can send guests, usually via a tender, to view the landscape.
While the major cities of Hanoi, being the capital, to the economic centre of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), formerly Saigon, are bursting with people and scooters - note walk over the roads with confidence - the small islands and fishing villages offer the real Vietnam.
One of the popular choices for tourists to see the places off the beaten track is by CroisiEurope’s CFMekong River Cruises. With five ships in the fleet there are many tours to choose from - being very relaxing to ones that offer lots of activities.
We went on the New Discovery Tour aboard the RV Toum Tiou ll, a boutique 38 metre ship with 14-berths to sleep 28-passengers, plus crew, from Phnom Penh, Cambodia to HCMC. It went for six days and five nights. The beauty of the tour is the food, from the cooked breakfasts to ala carte lunch and four-course dinners by the trained chefs.
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Toum Tiou II crew were a delight |
The guests leave in the morning every day, return to replenish at lunch and avoid the hot part of the day, then head out again for an afternoon of canoeing, kayaking, cycling or a leisurely walk.
The best part of a river cruise is being able to see the countryside with immersive activities.
Entering Vietnam via the port border at Chau Doc visitors can see Sam Mountain and then travel up it on the Nui Sam Cable Car. It is known as Nui Sam or Mountain of the King Crab. At the summit there are breathtaking panoramic views towards the border of Cambodia and Vietnam.
After the mountain views, there is the Tra Su Forest, where you can witness the country's incredible and diverse flora and fauna, such as herons, storks and raptors and close to 140 plant species of this stunning natural environment.
Another must-do is Thoi Son island, or Unicorn Island, where a visitor has the opportunity to explore the daily lives of the local people and even take a cooking class. The Vietnamese spring rolls are a must!
There are the famous sampan rides along the scenic canals that can look like a busy street but with boats, not cars, for a closer look at the Mekong Delta and its unique features.
Being only 70 kilometres from HCMC, or about two hours drive, it is popular with local day trippers and overseas tourists because of its abundant fruit trees, beautiful canals, and quiet garden paths.
It is a famous eco-tourism destination in Vietnam’s south. This is a place associated with the image of a four-season orchard with a variety of species along with a dense river system.
Surviving Ho Chi Minh City
On board the RVTT2, where the staff are as wonderful as the scenery - bring something sparkly for the disco evening - we settle back on the sun deck to make our way to HCMC along the magnificent Chao Gao canal.
Here the past and present is in full display. The Port has easy access to the city and having watched the locals, crossing the roads from the vast riverbank dotted with mouth-watering restaurants to the main hotels is daunting but manageable.
It is a city steeped in history from the French occupation, complete with a replica of Notre Dame Cathedral, to the City Square and Opera House and very ornate Municipal Post Office. A statue of Ho Chi Min, whose vision it was for a unified Vietnam, stands tall.
Hồ Chí Minh was born Nguyễn Sinh Cun in May 1890 and was colloquially known as Uncle Ho. He was a Vietnamese revolutionary and politician who served as the founder and first president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam from 1945 until his death in 1969 and as its first prime minister from 1945 to 1955.
A visit to the French-inspired Hotel Majestic is a must as are the Reunification Palace, the Flower Market and the famous Ben Thanh market (for that copy bag) and the 300 years old Giac Lam Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City.
While it is confronting, the War Museum should be visited to learn more about the troubled history of Vietnam and to appreciate how far the county has progressed.
In April it will be a country celebrating its 50th year and by all accounts its a party worth attending. There is so much to see in Vietnam, and it's all worth it.
CURRENCY
The currency aboard the Toum Tiou ll riverboat is in US dollars with cash preferred but they will also accept Visa or MasterCard.
The author was a guest of CFMeking River Cruises and the tour was the TOUM TIOU II New Discovery Tour
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Carolyn Cummins is the former Commercial Property Editor and Business Reporter at the Sydney Morning Herald where she wrote about many topics including the tourism and the hotel sectors for close to 30 years. She is now a freelance reporter and can be contacted at carolynannecummins@gmail.com |
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