Day 2 on the Mekong Canals

The Ho Chi Minh Statue at the waterfront in Can Tho

finding "Vui" --a capable skipper navigating the narrow canals

canals of commerce

pulling up the water lily-type plants 

freshly painted boats with the eyes in the bow seeing the waters ahead

all morning we saw people doing their wash in the river...not sure about the water quality but they do apparently have a plumbing system running through these areas. They do not drink any of the water but wash with hit...

 When we were on Phuquoc Island we made the acquaintance of a lovely couple who had just come from the Delta area. They told us to seek out a woman named...."Vui" at the base of the Ho Chi Minh statue in Can Tho City... Vui was their private and local guide one day. They had such nice things to say about their experience, we decided to find "Vui"ourselves. On our first day we went to the Ho Chi Minh statue on the waterfront where people gather to meet their boats to take them to the floating markets. When you're a white tourist in Can Tho you really do stick out like a sore thumb! Upon our arrival, multiple lady guides came to us hoping to be our guide..."hello, hello...do you want to see the flo-ting mah-ket?" so all three of us gently kept saying... "we're looking for Vui"..."do you know Vui?". "We were hoping to find Vui...?" We gave up for that day and decided we'd book a tour another day. Well... the following afternoon when we were down by the waterfront again perusing the markets, we were met by two beaming women saying..."This Vui, this Vui...I'm Vui sista' we met yesterday... I'm Vui sista'... you look-ing for Vui..." So we had our match!!! Today we finally had our day with Vui and explored the smaller backwater canals of this area around Can Tho. Vui indeed was a wonderful guide who had learned some meager English from a few books and from talking to tourists--but "no school..." She's been running her little boat and meeting tourists for 24 years. She bought her new boat and engine 9 years ago for $250. One highlight of our day today was the fruit orchard where we again enjoyed pineapple and saw some crocs' and a monkey who loves pineapple! BTM