Oct 25-2 - Cai Be and Sa Dec - Vietnam as seen from the river

First impressions of rural Vietnam as seen from the river: everything is green and gray, not colourful. There is little in the way of a "national dress", most people wear western clothing, sometimes with the conical hat , occasionally you see the traditional pyjamas. Everywhere bicycles and motorcycles honk their way through the village.  This lady is taking her dog for a a ride...

On our numerous excursions we are shown, at a fast clip, people at work. The overriding impression is one of a people working hard to make a living. Everything is laboriously made by hand; techniques used and perfected over generations are ingenious. We saw:
a woman making the rice paper for spring rolls or candy:

 ...rolling candy made from puff noodles and sugar (very good!)

or making bricks...

Imagine working in this environment where the outside temperature is 40+,  where the ovens (no thermostat) reach a terrific temperatures - for $120 a month.

At the local market, we are, of course, seduced by the colours and the textures and the faces of the people.....

...and marvel at what is sold...fish are still wriggling, and I heard reports of skinned frogs being offered, still alive....

 

 In Sa Dec we took tea 

at the home of "the lover" of Marguerite Duras  - her book by the same name, "L'Amant", won the Goncourt Prize in 1984, and has been filmed. She and her Chinese lover have become a legend in this part of the world,. She was French, he was Chinese, the story was sad.

Our ship is named after her.