We have traveled from Cambodia to Vietnam, using the Jahan as our vessel of exploration, but this morning, we added yet another vehicle. Chau Doc has hybridized the cyclo into their own version of transport, a trishaw. Everyone boarded their own trishaw and bicycled around the downtown area with our destination being a local market. Pans, tanks, trays, and baskets were filled with live fish, prawns, dried fish, pounded seasoned fish, fish paste, and all manner of familiar and not so familiar vegetables. A floating fish farm was next on our docket with a new mode of transport: a sampan. Each day of our journey as we explore the diverse sights, sounds, and flavors of Cambodia and Vietnam comes with a unique and innovative vehicle of exploration as well.
2/23/2024
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The Jahan
Binh Than Island and Cai Be, Vietnam
We hopped on sampans, local passenger boats, for a cruise to a small village on Binh Than Island to walk through local homes and learn about the process of weaving, drying, and exporting functional mats. At the local community center (which is also a colorful temple), we met with village elders for a short discussion about their lives and the area. Afterward, we did a leisurely cruise through the canals and got to witness the harvesting of water hyacinths, an invasive species common in the Mekong Delta. During the afternoon, we boarded sampans again to visit the island of Tan Phong to visit a group of women making baskets, souvenirs, and other items from water hyacinth. Then, we cruised around the town on six-seater golf carts for a scenic ride through the orchards. After boarding the sampans again, we headed to the small town of Phu An to visit a series of small workshops to see the production of a variety of items including rice paper, rice wine, and coconut candies. Everyone was able to sample the treats. Before dinner, the entire staff and crew of Jahan was introduced during our ship farewell cocktail hour and posed for photos.
