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 | Home >> Destinations :> Mekong River Delta The Mekong River, which is 4,220 kilometers long, is one of the twelve great rivers of the world. It rises from the Tibetan highland plateau 2,800 miles away. From its source, the river flows through the Tibetan and Yunnan regions of China, forms the boundary between Laos and Myanmar as well as between Laos and Thailand. At Phnom Penh, it merges with the Tonle Sap and divides into two branches – the Song Hau Giang (known as the Bassac River on the Cambodia side) and the Song Tien Giang – and continues through Cambodia and the Mekong basin before draining into the South China Sea through nine mouths known as the Cuu Long (means nine dragons). Dominated by the Mekong River, the Mekong Delta is comprised of both the far southern region of Vietnam and one of country's two main ricebowls. Covering about 40,000 square kilometers, the Mekong Delta is a low-level plain not more than three meters above sea level at any point and criss-crossed by a maze of canals and rivers. So much sediment is carried by the Mekong's various branches and tributaries that the delta advances sixty to eighty meters into the sea every year.
An official Vietnamese source estimates the amount of sediment deposited annually to be about 1 billion cubic meters, or nearly 13 times the amount deposited by the Red River. About 10,000 square kilometers of the delta are under rice cultivation, making the area one of the major rice-growing regions of the world. The southern tip, known as the Ca Mau Peninsula, or Mui Bai Bung, is covered by dense jungle and mangrove swamps. The Mekong Delta is know for the vast rice fields and the huge plantations. It's also known for the many miles of waterways criss-crossing the land making this area fertile and unique. Today, the region is one of Vietnam's highest producers of rice crops, vegetables and fruits. The Mekong Delta was an ancient Khmer territory. The people in this region are made up of Vietnamese and some people of Khmer, Chinese and Cham origin. This accounts for the variety of religions that add to the cultural diversity of this area. Buddhism, Catholicism, Cao Dai, Hoa Hao and Islam are the main religion practised by the local in the area. The people in the delta make their living as farmers and fisherman. Life is tighly woven with its rivers as daily activities and businesses are conducted on its banks. You can find here and there on the banks of the rivers houses thatched by coconut leaves and built from whatever materials found, and in front of the houses, children swimming and women washing clothes at the sunset. Floating markets are a particular cultural feature of the Mekong Delta. Boats loaded with produce from nearby orchards of the Mekong Delta converge to the floating market. They carry mostly fruits but also coconuts, vegetables and fishes. The markets are held every morning from 5am to 11am. The famous ones are Cai Be, Cai Rang, Phong Dien and Phung Hiep. For travellers, the best way to explore the Mekong Delta is through the rivers and tributaries. This way offers you the opportunity to experience the truly unique Mekong River lifestyle at a leisurely pace that will stay with you forever.
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