The vast Mekong Delta, a once hostile swampland, today is Vietnam’s most productive agricultural area, producing nearly half of the nation’s annual food crop. The entire delta area is made up of 13 provinces, covers 40,000 km2 and has a population of 18 million.

Nutrient-rich deposits carried by the Mekong River and its comprehensive network of waterways make this region extraordinarily fertile for the production of  rice, tropical fruit and sugar cane. In fact, about 60 per cent of Vietnam's rice is produced here.

Secluded waterways with overhanging foliage lined with stilt houses, mangrove swamps, paddy fields, fruit orchards, cottage industries, home-stays, Khmer temples, floating markets make this area extemely popular with tourists.

After our two-hour drive from Saigon through rice farming fields and small villages we arrived a My Tho City -- the major trading hub for the area. We proceded to the docks area where we met our local guide -- a lovely Vietnamese lady, who has been doing this for 16 years. She led us to a delta boat which took us across a wide expanse of river water to our first island visit. We sat on rattan chairs and benches and were thankful for the cooler air off the water.

The 2 km-long Rach Mieu bridge over the Mekong could be seen in the distance, as well as a great variety of delta water traffic. During the rainy season -- May to November -- the waters of the Mekong are quite brown from the silt deposits -- waters were a bit clearer during our April "sunny season" visit.