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Vinh Long Travel Guide
Vinh Long is in the Mekong Delta, and is the capital of the province with the same name. It is a medium-sized town, bordered by the Co Chien River to the north and a wide canal to the east. Boat trips to the Cai Be Floating Market and to home-stays on various islands depart from here. There is a busy central market here, with both dry goods and wet goods, and of course there is a cluster of gold shops, and lots of places to eat.
What To See & Do Tours from Saigon usually make Vinh Long a brief stop for a snack by the river on their tours of the delta, and combine it with a trip to Cai Be. However, only a few travelers on their own come here, and even fewer visitors stay overnight here. Consequently, you may find yourself the only non-Vietnamese here. As mentioned above, you can take boat trips to the Cai Be Floating Market and to island home-stays from here. Boat trips from Vinh Long are more reasonably priced compared to My Tho which is downriver. Going on a home-stay is a good way to experience the lifestyle of the Mekong Delta up close. Home-stays
The official Vinh Long tourist office arranges both home-stays and boat trips to Cai Be, but prices are considerably more expensive than doing it yourself. If you want to arrange a trip yourself, wait around the riverbank for a short time and you will be approached by boatman wanting to sell you a trip. You can get trips to Cai Be, and home-stays for much less than the tourist authority price. However, be aware that these independent operators do not have insurance in case there is any problem. Cai Be Floating Market
This market is not just in the morning like other floating markets, and goes well into the day. Most boat trips from Vinh Long to Cai Be take at least around three hours to go and come back, but the time will depend on the route they take, and the type of boat. If you are on a tight schedule, and if you can get to Vinh Long early enough in the morning, you can take a boat trip to the market, and get back to Vinh Long early in the afternoon and have time to go on to another destination such as Can Tho.
Besides boat trips and home-stays, Ving Long doesn’t exactly have a wealth of attractions for tourists. About the only things on offer are the Van Thanh Mieu Pagoda, a museum, and a disco. The big My Thuan Bridge over the river is near Vinh Long.
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