Mekong Delta Tour

Photographs shown on this site were taken using Canon 5D Mark II which shows a quite good high ISO performance. This was supported by mostly using fast Leica-R Summicron (35-50-90) manual f2 lenses. These also have a superb rendering with lively colors and excellent imaging of out of focus areas. The NEX-7 I use today would also have been well suited. With the Pentax 645D it would have been a bit more difficult, but surprisingly not impossible, because it has good ISO 1600 quality and relatively fast f2.8 lenses. Certainly it’s about two stops less than with the Canon FF DSLR or the NEX (ISO 3200 and f2 lenses). I found f2 on full format to still deliver reasonable depth of field. shooting in raw and the use of a good noise filter is recommended.

The trip  I wish to report on led us right into the heart of the jungle. A jungle composed of coconut palm trees. Everywhere you join people, some coconut is opened, a straw put in and you have a delightful refreshment. Not bad in that heat.

Palm trees are used for nearly everything. Houses are build with it, furniture made of it, and delicious food is made with it. Good food and drinks are very important in Vietnam. Regularly the table is packed with typical small bowls with different delicious dishes. There may be seafood, there are meat, herbs and cabbage are very important as well as several sausages. It looks like this:

This table is still not ready. Empty spaces will be filled.

In the small villages and cities in the outback you will be noticed even if wearing helmet and sunglasses. Being a tall white guy makes it impossible to stroll through the streets without attracting attention. Being not shy, people on the other hand are not obtrusively.

Have fun.

Getting there, we had to cross some side arms of the mekong river. Small wooden ferries that carry only pedestrians and scooters are at service.

Women harvesting herbs.

Women harvesting herbs.

This bridge is called monkey bridge.

Relatives are very important.

Relatives are very important.

Rowing on a side arm of Mekong river looks like this.

Jungle hospital

This dignified man provides the land for the hospital.

Isn’t she lovely?

Boat on the Mekong river.

This tour has been undertaken with local guides which is a good idea in such an exotic country. The wonderful guides of Tiger Tours in Saigon offer motorcycle tours which guide you to highly interesting points and authentic vietnamese life. I recommend them because they really care of you. There is always plenty of delicious food and beverages, great hospitality and explanations where important. If you wish to take great pictures, they will make it possible. All that for reasonable prices. Check out at www.mytigertour.com