Moved on to Vinh Long in the Mekong delta, arriving with no info and nowhere to stay. Got to the town centre and were approached by a lady offering a Homestay on An Binh island opposite across the Mekong so took a chance. Really peaceful when we arrived so settled in and borrowed a couple of bikes to cycle around the waterways and villages, very lovely. The main activity seems to be swinging in a hammock. The perfect antidote to Saigon.
Took a longer bike ride next day around tracks and lanes, eventually arriving in Long Ho, a busy river town. Back to the hammocks! An Binh island is on the French and German tourist route, but still quiet.
Bus to Chau Doc near the Cambodian border passed waterways of different sizes all with boats going somewhere, houses on stilts or floating. Although there are rice paddies, much is fruit trees, veg and flowers. Graves are randomly scattered in fields, orchards and even peoples' gardens.
Wonderfully lazy last day: caught a ferry across the river and walked a bit around the Cham minority village which is mostly Islamic, then down an alley where we spotted a floating hotel. Wide shady veranda with reclining chairs and empty. Perfect spot at the join in the rivers, so spent the day sitting watching the Mekong and the boats go gently by.
Spent today sitting on the boat up the Mekong to Phnom Penh, lovely trip and Vietnam passport control let us out (last day of visa) and Cambodians let us in with a new 30-day visa. Phnom Penh seems familiar as we were here before Xmas and our favourite street-corner eating place was as good as we remembered.
Heading slowly to Laos through north-east Cambodia tomorrow.
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