Cruise To Cambodia

I have got a ticket to take the 2 days 1 night trip to Phnom Penh, Cambodia from Ho Chi Minh. The journey takes me to a small village called Vinh Long. I visited the some floating market, small fish paste making factories, "keropok" making factory and a market. We were taken by a long boat for to visit the floating village. Fishermen and people whom are living just on the boat, a floating home. They are traders and the boats will hang the item they trade on a pole for other to identify. You will see a different tradition here, and each and every one of them are dependent on the mother river, Mekong.

From there we were taken to another small town called Chou Doc. The group has decreased from 40 pax to only 7. I am the only Asian on the group. Rest are from europe and a old couple from Australia. I realized that backpacking is not an interest to Asians. But other do realize that they learn and see the real world this way, mixing with the people at the ground level. I had to stay in a small motel. It looked like a shop lot converted to a hotel, but I was confident that it would probably be one of the best in the town. Nothing to grudge. A good night sleep after a long day.

In the morning, I was late. Rest of the people were already waiting for me, the group now has only 5 pax. An omelet sandwich and a coffee, take away. Reached a small dock. From there we were on a long boat which could accommodate about 20 pax. About 20 minutes to the other side of the river. and then we arrived at a small canal. 3 small boats were already there waiting to take us. Now, this ride was awesome . They took us through some small villages along the canal. KIds and people waving at us. I was told by the Guide that 99% chances are that they have never left the place, even up to any bigger town nearby. We arrived at a part of the Mekong River where a lots houses were floating, now this looked like real houses and were built using plastic and steel floats. What they do? they rear fish in the Mekong water. A big tank with wires are built underneath each floating house.

Next was the big thing, myself with 4 other backpackers were transferred to another long boat. Destination - Cambodia. From Chou Doc, It was close to 8 hours long boat ride. After about an hour, we arrived at the boarded station of Viet. Had a meal and waited for the passports to be returned. It was quite modern with a small cafe inside. Then it was the customs of Cambodia. Some of the foreigners were stranded. My Malaysian Passport kept me going, but they did give me a different look. I believe they have not seen a Malaysian Passport holder crossing this way for a very long time. People along the river are probably 60-70 years backwards. The boat ride goes until a town called Neak Loeang. From there is was a 1 hour drive to Phnom Penh.

Hotels in Phnom Penh are cheeper than HCM. Actually everything is less expensive in PP compared to HCM from food to transports. Don't bother changing your currency to local cash. USD is preferred and accepted everywhere. If you tend to change to local currency, you will loose quite some money. Again Phnom Penh have some very nice places to visit. It is a small city by development probably something like Ipoh. I stayed there for another 3 days before flying back to Kuala Lumpur. Compared with HCM, Phnom Penh is up in my list for a second visit in future.