The only info I got was from google map, ever zooming in closer and closer to the river side looking for that one little marker with a dotted line going from Can Gio to Can Giuoc, not knowing if the ferry service still exist or if it was even a vehicle ferry.
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| Ferry Ticket from Vung Tao to Can Gio |
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| Ferry Crossing from Vung Tao to Can Gio |
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| Arriving at Can Gio |
I did not want to go through Ho Chin Minh city to get over to the Mekong Delta hence the desperate hope to find an alternative route south of the Mekong Delta trying to cross the many river branch. Still it was not like a dead end type of journey with no back up so I boarded the ferry in the morning to Can Gio.
Can Gio peninsular was void of any large settlement that I could see. It was quiet and mostly filled with plantation of coconuts. I skirted to where the ferry point should be for Can Gio – Can Giuoc but it felt wrong.
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| Can Gio to Can Giuoc Ferry Terminal |
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| Ferry Crossing from Can Gio to Can Giouc |
No people, no vehicle and no ferry. I asked a local just chilling outside his house and he redirected me to the correct ferry location. Apparently I missed a turn somewhere.
The ferry crossing from Can Gio to Can Giuoc was surprisingly simple. Just head to the edge of the road by the river and there were people all just waiting with their bikes and car for the ferry to dock.
Ticket was surprisingly cheap costing barely a dollar and I was on the barge soon enough for the crossing. The journey took less than 20 minutes and I was on my way again.
Successfully by-passing HCM, I had more time to spare now. I decided to do a detour to look at the Royal Mausoleum in Co-Gang. The resting place of several members of the Nguyen Dynasty, the last ruling dynasty of Vietnam. I was interested merely from the name Nguyen.
Successfully by-passing HCM, I had more time to spare now. I decided to do a detour to look at the Royal Mausoleum in Co-Gang. The resting place of several members of the Nguyen Dynasty, the last ruling dynasty of Vietnam. I was interested merely from the name Nguyen.
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| Royal Mausoleum of Nguyen Dynasty in Co Gang |
It was a common name all around Vietnam today and this was a mausoleum that could easily be mistaken as a temple to foreigners. A small simple place and inside the temple, the mortuary tablet stood on all three alters instead of the customary god figure. Everything was in Vietnamese but a good detour nonetheless.
I continued my journey going through My Tho city quickly and headed for little town Ben Tre. I felt that there was less chance to stay at small cities now that I was down south and decided to try Ben Tre when I found a cheap hotel online.
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| On the way to My Tho City |
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| Ben Tre Town Center |
Ben Tre was a weird place. Riding in, it was filled with large Karaoke building with big neon signboard and each one of them had a few girls line up outside by the receptionist booth.
I had seen many Karaoke signboard in Vietnam but never like this so massive on the spicy nightlife. Riding into the old town of Ben Tre and all the atmosphere changed surrounding the clock tower.
It was a little maze of old building with each shop selling everyday items. The contrast was glaring just a few meters apart between new and old building doing such different stream of business.
As I rounded back out to the hotel in the evening, as the sunset and the rest of the neon lights flickered on, I now saw what was not so obvious during the day.
As I rounded back out to the hotel in the evening, as the sunset and the rest of the neon lights flickered on, I now saw what was not so obvious during the day.
Huts upon huts along the side of the road which I thought was a local coffee shop place was actually a prostitution den. These huts were lighted up at night with dim red light and a foldable signboard with sexy girl would be placed.
As I ride through the road, girls could be seen sitting just outside the hut waiting area where black netting would obscure most of the view except from the front.
As I ride through the road, girls could be seen sitting just outside the hut waiting area where black netting would obscure most of the view except from the front.
Ben Tre was not in the list of anything to do or see for travel guide. I had not expected this but now that I know what to look out for, I noticed throughout the Mekong delta these huts were more prominent than any other region of Vietnam.
Traveled on: Jan 2024
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