http://hongkongvietnam.blogspot.com.au
21 September 2018
Today we joined a tour to Vinh Trang Temple & the Mekong Delta where we immersed ourselves in the natural beauty and the rich culture of the vibrant southern Delta region.
Leaving the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City, we arrived at My Tho, a town on the left side of the Mekong River. We boarded a large motorised sampan and cruised down the river around the four beautiful islands known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortise Islands where we observed the local life, fishing ports and houses on stilts over the river. Lunch was served in true Vietnamese style.
While at Unicorn Island we visited a bee keeping farm and tasted some natural pure honey, enjoyed some fruits from the orchard garden and were entertained with some folk song music. At Ben Tre we visited a handmade coconut candy workshop and drank some snake wine. We relaxed as we were rowed down lush green Thoi Son canal in a sampan.
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Joy, Mark and Ferdie
our friends from Philippines |
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| Group of tourists waiting to board our bus for Mekong Delta |
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| Note thick traffic heading into the city |
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| Traffic |
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| Our tour guide Nguyen Thi My Linh |
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| Bricks piled high in an unsafe manner on building site |
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| Traffic |
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| Farmer working in his rice field |
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| Farmer in his rice field |
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| How much more can one put on a motorbike? |
Vinh Trang Buddhist Temple
Vinh Trang Buddhist Temple was built in 1849 near My Tho in the Mekong Delta region of Southern Vietnam. It is one of the best known temples in the region. The temple stands on a 2 hectares block filled with fruit trees in the village of My Hoa in the town of My Phong on the banks of the Bao Dinh canal.
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| Vinh Trang Buddhist Temple near My Tho |
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| Buddhist Temple |
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| Monestery in Vinh Trang Temple |
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| Robyn admired the topiary shrub |
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| Bougainvillea in the Temple gardens |
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| I admired the water lily flowers at the Temple |
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| The Monks were seated in a meeting |
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| Adjacent was the Monk's dining room |
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| Lunch ready for the Monks |
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| In the Vinh Trang Temple |
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| Buildings within the Monestery |
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| Altar in Temple |
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| Inside Vinh Trang Temple |
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| Inside Vinh Trang Temple |
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Reclining Buddha Statue in Vinh Trang Temple gardens
With our Pilipino friends
Charlene, Mary, Ferdie, Clif, Lezyl, Mark |
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| Sometimes I felt like I needed to recline like this Buddha! |
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Budai is a semi historical monk as well as a deity
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Budai is a semi historical monk as well as deity who was introduced into the Zen Buddhist pantheon. He allegedly lived around 10th century in the Wuyue Kingdom. His name literally means "Cloth Sack" and refers to the bag that he is conventionally depicted as carrying as he wanders aimlessly. His jolly nature, humorous personality and eccentric lifestyle distinguishes him from most Buddhist figures. He is almost always shown smiling or laughing, hence his nick name in Chinese means the "Laughing Buddha".
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| Monestery & Pagoda in the Vinh Trang Temple gardens |
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| Budai & Pagoda in Vinh Trang Temple gardens |
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| Time to leave but bus wouldn't start |
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| Robyn suggested a passenger help push along with other passengers |
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| Robyn joined those who were pushing |
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| Washing hanging out to dry |
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| Nguyen Thi My Linh telling us where we were going |
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| Boarding sampan to cruise the Mekong delta |
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| Boats on the Mekong Delta |
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Sampan on Mekong Delta with Pilipino friends in background
Ana, Erickaa, Kennth, Lezyl, Charlene. |
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Bridge over Mekong Delta
Road to Cambodia |
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| Fishing boat in Mekong Delta |
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| Business on Mekong River |
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| Robyn having a Titanic moment |
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| Joy on board the sampan with Nguyen Thi My Linh |
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| Walking through orchards and enjoying tropical fruits - Durien |
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| Fish for lunch was delicious |
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| We devoured the tasty fish |
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What a banquet for lunch
English tourist Amy on left |
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| Grapefruit was so sweet |
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| Interesting chair for the waitress while we ate |
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| Coconuts |
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| Laundry arrangements at the orchard |
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| Toilets |
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| Coconut shells |
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| Paw Paws |
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| Back on our sampan |
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Our group on the large sampan
Ana, Erickaa, Kennth, Lezyl, Charlene (left)
Mary, Clif, Ferdie, Mark (right) |
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| Fishing boats |
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| Dog wondering when he will get some dinner too |
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| People enjoying the use of Hammocks - even dog resting |
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| It was hot |
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| Cat |
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| We visited a candy making enterprise with Nguyen Thi My Linh |
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| Grated coconut |
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| Mixing the coconut, caramel over heat |
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| Candy pressed into tray |
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| Candy cut, wrapped and packed for sale |
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| Snake |
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| Coconut wine and snake wine |
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| Having a taste of snake wine |
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| Boarding a hand-rowed sampan |
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About to cruise down the Thoi Son canal
Mary & Clif , Robyn & I |
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On sampan on Thoi Son canal
Mary, Clif & Robyn |
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| Our Sampan on Thoi Son canal |
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| Robyn and I on Thoi Son canal |
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| Thoi Son Canal |
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| Thoi Son Canal |
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| On Thoi Son Canal |
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| Sampans on Thoi Son Canal |
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| Kennth, Erickaa & Ana from the Philippines |
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| Care to share a thought? |
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| Robyn enjoyed a refreshing sugar cane juice |
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| Bee hive at Honey-bee farm |
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| We had an opportunity to put our finger into bee hive and taste |
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| Royal jelly tea and tropical fruits |
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| Bees enjoyed the royal jelly tea |
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| Folk song music at the honey-bee farm |
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| Honey bee farm |
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| Walk back to the bus was very painful |
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| Bridge over the Mekong River |
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| Mekong River |
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| Mekong River |
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| Houses on Mekong River |
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| House surrounded by rice fields |
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| Rice fields |
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| Graves & Tombstones in the middle of family rice field |
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| Returning to Ho Chi Minh City |
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| Putting the feet up after a busy day |
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| Drinks at Allez Boo near our Hotel |
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| Traffic every where |
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| Relaxing with a drink in Ho Chi Minh City |
If you wish to contact the author Joy Olney with any comments, please email me on:
joyolney@gmail.com
