SEA Field Trip: Motoring up the Mekong

June 27, 2008 at 10:30 AM | by ced138 | Comments (0)

Can't afford a European vacation this summer? Do what our contributor Claire Duffett did: Explore Southeast Asia instead.

The villages along the Mekong River from Cambodia's Phnom Penh to Vietnam's Chau Doc contain unspoiled culture, authentic food and kind, welcoming people willing to take in travelers. We remembered the film "Apocalypse Now," where a boat ride up the Mekong is a trip to the depths of hell. On the contrary: Often times it quite literally felt like heaven on earth.

But a quick warning to people crossing the border into Vietnam by boat: Customs police at the river crossing are stern. Our recent bribery attempt on a day-early visa earned us this: "You may be able to do that in Cambodia but not in Vietnam!"

The guard was right about the distinction between the two countries. Little did we know the order, uniformity and beauty we were about to discover by crossing into Vietnam. As soon as we entered, red signs with comic book-style lettering adorned government building and instructed citizens on proper hygiene.

A moped ride through the border towns takes you along cliff-side roads with the Mekong to the left and villages and rice paddies to the right. Women in white silk gowns pedaled past on bicycles with fruit-filled baskets. "Picturesque" is an understatement.

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