Would you like to explore both the gorgeous natural beauty and the local way of life in such a close and friendly way? Take your time to explore the high-water season in Mekong River Delta with us. In the following, we would like to share with you the most expecting experience you’ll have when visiting the region this time.
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1. When is the high-water season in Mekong River Delta?
Mekong River Delta is typical for the tropical climate in Vietnam with two distinct seasons – dry season and rainy season (or high-water season). Each season brings its own uniqueness which can seduce any tourist when visiting the region. In the dry season (from June – August), the most attractive experience of many tourists is to visit the fruit gardens in the region and satisfactorily enjoy the fresh fruits here.
In the high-water season (from September to November), it is the best time for visitors to explore both the gorgeous natural beauty and the local way of life in such a close and friendly way. In the following, we would like to share with you the most expecting experience you’ll have when exploring the high-water season in Mekong River Delta.
2. Where is the Mekong River Delta region?
Mekong River Delta region or Southwestern part of Vietnam is an enormous maze of rivers, swamps and islands and is home to various floating markets, Khmer pagodas and villages surrounded by rice paddies. Due to this typical feature, boats become the main transportation of the inhabitants. There are three main ways to head to the region including airplane, coach and motorbike.
- By plane: You can take a flight to Can Tho International Airport. This is the biggest gateway to go to the Mekong River Delta by air. From here, you can take a bus or a coach to the other provinces in the Mekong River Delta.
- By coach: Head to Mien Tay Bus Station (West Bus Station) and catch one coach which takes you to other places in the Mekong River Delta.
- By motorbike: This is the most convenient way for you to move from Ho Chi Minh City to Southwest provinces.
3. Where can we go in the high-water season in Mekong River Delta?
The high-water season coming brings new opportunity for inhabitants living in the region. The water brings a huge amount of fish from the upstream to the region. Plus, it also brings about variety of typical plants and vegetables which can only be found in the high-water season. Before going further to explore the regional cuisine, let’s spend time experiencing the gorgeous nature here:
3.1. Tra Su Cajuput Forest:
Tra Su Cajuput Forest is about 34 km from Chau Doc town. This place has become one of the most expecting destinations of many tourists when visiting the Mekong River Delta.
Tra Su Cajuput Forest can be the most attractive destinations in Mekong River Delta in the high-water season. Sitting on the boat sailed by locals, you have ample opportunities to immerse yourselves into the stunning landscape of the region with a maze of canals, swamps and forests.
On the water surface, you can see a wide range of water-ferns which are afloat creating a peaceful space in such a green scene of the forests accompanied with loquacious bird-song. If you are lucky enough, you can see the bird standing on the trees or flower bush.
3.2. Tan Lap Floating Village:
Located in Kien Tuong – Moc Hoa area, about 100 km from Ho Chi Minh City, Tan Lap floating village is an ideal destination for exploring the high-water season in Mekong River Delta.
The village nests the vast cajuput forest bringing out the scenic scenery which can make tourists feel like they are in a fairy forest.
Coming to Tan Lap Floating Village at this time, you will be amazed by its blooming lotus and you will feel the scent of those pure flowers.
3.3. Thap Muoi’s lotus field:
When you decide to visit the Mekong River Delta in high-water season, you should not miss out the wonderful opportunity to explore the immense lotus fields in Thap Muoi. It is about 130 km to the south of Ho Chi Minh City.
When the high-water season comes, it is the ideal time for visitors to admire the spectacular view of flooded lotus fields on the roadside to Thap Muoi. This stunning view here can induce anyone to take Instagram-standard pictures. The visit here is totally worth your time and effort.
3.4. Tram Chim National Park:
When the high-water season comes, Tram Chim seems to dress up with new colorful cloth and becomes so lovely. No matter when you choose to visit the national park, the breathtaking views here surely induce you to stay for long. When coming here, you will be overwhelmed in the bird sanctuary with plenty of birds flying crowdedly over a corner of the sky. Additionally, visitors also have a chance to see 16 rare species of birds such as Red Sarus Crane, Black Crowned Stork, Black Eagle, or Gray Pelican, etc.
For those, who wish to learn more about local life, you can join in some activities like setting tube trap to catch eel, fish or paddy field rats. After that, you will be guided how to grill and cook these with vegetables from the gardens.
4. Which food to enjoy in high-water season in Mekong River Delta?
Now let’s note down all the scrumptious dishes you should try out when visiting the Mekong River Delta this time:
4.1. Mud carp fish hotpot with common sesban flower:
To make this yummy dish, you need to prepare 2 main ingredients: Siamese mud carp and common sesban flower. The broth is made from pork bone and fish bone with tamarind to create a slightly sour flavor. This dish is so typical in the high-water season in Mekong River Delta because these two main ingredients can be only collected in this season. The dish symbolizes the rising water when canal boat and rowboat are used to travel around the region.
4.2. Snakehead fish thick noodle soup:
This dish includes a fatty version of noodles made from rice flour. The soup is thick and cooked with snakehead fish meat. This food is then enjoyed with typical vegetables in the region.
4.3. Hotpot with macerated fish with water lily:
Water lily is the typical plant only found in the high-water season in Mekong River Delta. They grow up in swamp and when the high-water season comes, they will grow up out of the swamp. Before using it, the outter skin can be eliminated, then chop down, let it dry. Fish sauce used to make the hotpot is usually made from mud carp fish or snakeskin gourami. To boost the flavor, we can use chili, tamarind, lemongrass, all ingredients will make the hotpot more delectable.
4.4. Dishes from paddy field rats:
It is a big miss when you visit the Mekong River Delta in the high-water season without trying one of the most famous and typical dishes here made from paddy field rats. Let’s try grilled rats. The rats used to make the dish are those which often eat rice in the field so that they are safe for making dishes. You may hesitate at first but after trying some, you can be into this yummy dish.
4.5. Grilled snakehead fish:
Snakehead fish is one of the most popular fish in the Mekong River Delta and the locals are so creative in making various scrumptious dishes from it. It is very easy to catch snakehead fish in the high-water season. Would you like to know how locals cook this food in such an easy way? They will put the fish on many sticks surrounded by a lot of straw, then grill it. After about 10 minutes, the fish is done and ready for enjoying.
4.6. Salted three-striped crab:
Salted three-striped crab is the specialty in Bac Lieu, so if you visit the province, remember to try it out. After being caught, three-striped crab will be cleaned and put in salt water. It takes about 5-10 days to make the dish. Depending on the quality of salt water, we will have different taste of salted three-striped crabs. The southwestern people normally enjoy this dish in their daily meal.
For more exciting experience about the Mekong River Delta and its nearby areas, you can refer to some of our related articles below:
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