Vinh Long, Vietnam

Taken on: 24th December, 2011. Copyright: All Rights Reserved - See greeneyedmon5ter's page of Flickr

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While the provincial capital of the same-named province is a medium-sized town, most of the points of interest sit in a small area in the northeast corner, where the town is bordered by the Co Chien River to the north and a wide canal to the east and it is from here that the boat trips to Cai Be floating market and the island homestays depart. This corner of town is also a popular spot for the locals to sit back, slurp coffee and scoff banh mi while the chocolate brown river waters roar past (and it does roar here). There's also a bustling central market, with a large wet market along with a dry goods section, a bunch of gold shops and loads of eating opportunities.

Compared to My Tho further downriver, the boat trips here are more affordable and the homestays offer a terrific opportunity to experience Mekong life firsthand, yet few independent travellers tend to make it here. The tours operating out of Saigon often hop, skip and jump through, combining a trip to Cai Be with a ... Read our complete Vinh Long travel guide

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