|
Over 4000 kilometres long, the Cuu Long Giang (River of Nine Dragons) or Mekong River flows from Tibet. One of the longest rivers in Asia, it deposits rich silt in an expanding delta at its mouth in southern Vietnam. This area is the "rice bowl" of Vietnam with some areas producing three harvest per year. A sign at the tour boat dock in Cai Be declares: "Vietnam: A Destination for the New Millenium." This is the starting point for a fascinating tour of floating markets and waterside communities. |
 |
 |
The numerous television antennae on the houses lining the waterfront near the floating market of Cai Be reflect growing affluence and technological progress in Vietnam. Football (soccer) matches between teams representing various cities are extensively covered on Vietnamese television. |
| Rice husks fuel the fire that heats the sand on which rice is popped at this rice cake factory in Cao Be. The popped rice is blended with a sugar syrup, placed in wooden molds and then sliced for packaging. |  |
 |
The Cao Dai Sect, symbolized by the shining eye, was founded by Ngo Van Chieu in 1919. This mystic taught that the ideal faith should combine the best of all religious and secular beliefs. The individuals revered by the sect include Jesus, Buddha, Joan of Arc, Victor Hugo and Sun Yat-sen. This temple is located on a small canal in the Mekong Delta. The principal temple is at Tayninh, north of Saigon. Another sect with roots in the Mekong Delta is the Hoa Hao, founded by the faith-healer, Huynh Phu So, in 1939. It was a form of reformed Buddhism. Both sects appealed to Vietnamese nationalist sentiments and had their own private armies. |
 |
 |
 |