Busing it to Can Tho and the floating markets of Cai Rang and Phong Dien

The Mekong region of Vietnam is the market basket of the nation. Not only does it produce most of the rice fueling the Vietnamese people but is ranked number 5 out of the top 10 rice producing

nations. However, rice is not it's only agricultural product, climate and the nutrients of the Mekong's soil offer up a plentiful amount and selection of fruits and vegetables of world class quality and it's hard working and clever workers have created an ever expanding manufacturing base.

Can Thao is Vietnam's fifth largest city (1.5 million as off 2012), along with being the region's largest city and the center of commerce in the Mekong.   Also a good place to take a peak at what is reminiscent of old school Vietnam, the floating markets of Cai Rang and  Phong Dien. As roads improve some of these markets are fading but as of now these two are vibrant.

If you swing through Pham Ngu Lao backpackers area you'll find many tour companies offering tours down into the

Mekong.  Normally the ones that do the floating markets are an overnight trek by bus, stopping at small interesting Mekong cities like Cai be and Vinh Long. Culminating with an overnight stay in Can Tho. These two day tours are

inexpeancive can be a mindless experience as you trug the well worn tourist trail as you are herded on and off a tour bus.  All for about 500,000 dong, about $25.00 US, including overnight lodging. So if your into cheap and mindless adventures with complete strangers, these tours will be perfect for you.

Don't buy a ticket at this counter, look
for a big bus.  This are mini buses,
crowded and uncomfortable.

 Howevier, if your up for a little adventure, book your hotel over the Internet, board a public bus and head out to Can Tho, once their you can wonder down to the river front, Ninh Kieu quay and make your own arrangements for the next days boat trip to the floating markets. 

Phuong Trang has frequent express buses departing from the Mien Tay bus station in Saigon's district 6 or private trerminal on Le Hong Phong street in district 10 and take one of their shuttle's to the Western Bus Station (Mien Tay bus station). No need to purchase a ticket in advance at a cost of 125,000 dong for the 3 1/2 - 4 hour bus ride with a half hour stop midway or their a bouts, just get to the bus station.  Note: no restroom on the bus. 

Vui - boat-woman 

A guide and boat (package deal and can't get one with out the other) which leaves at the ungodly hour of 5:15 am for the markets. This is a morning thing and you want to arrive before the big tourist boats show up. Also, more importantly 5:15 is when the boat operators want to leave, which all seem to be women, actually everything seems to be done by women here. My ex wife was early raiser too. To do both market's it's a 6 hour deal at a cost of about 700,000 dong. I've used Vui, that's her in the photo, 01214264381 and I like her but once you are by the quay many will approach you about a trip and probably about the same drill but Vui is so cute and sweet. Remember, their are no set fees, so nail down a price and agree on everything before pushing off.  

So in the morning of day one you bus down, check into your hotel, get the lay of the land. The market, river front,

the statue of Ho, maybe a hour boat ride cruising the river and some of the back water canals or just wondering aimlessly, which is one of my strong points .  You should have booked or looking for a hotel close to Ninh Kieu quay, with in sight of the giant statue of Ho Chi Minh so you can easily walk to your boat in the dark on day two. Your boat operator will be patrolling the area looking for you, so don't worry about finding her.  If you didn't organize your boat in advance, not a problem, you'll be inundated by boat-women.  

A room goes for anything from $10.00 to $100.00 plus a nigh and if not booked in advance it shouldn't be a problem finding a spot. 

You can be back in Saigon by 6:00 on day two if you want too.     Anyway, enjoy "cause you the man" doing it your way.

Thanks for stopping by -  Doug

Got traffic congestion build a combi subway, light rail network, Saigon, Vietnam

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam has  embarked on a 155 billion (US) light rail system to ease road congestion.
                       

Lam On  Square now

Lam On Square then

                                                             

Saigon, traffic, traffic and more traffic.

The 19.7 km first phase of this is now in progress (construction Lam On Square) at a cost of 1.3 billion (US) and due to be operational by 2017/18. This first line will run on what is thought to be the cities major traffic route, Ben Thanh Market to dist 9 and with a daily capacity of 160,000 people. Ticket prices will be 2,500 dong or about .16 US which is a little less than the 3,000 dong for a bus ticket are at present.

In total the completed modern 6 line system will spread out across 67 miles of track.  Estimated completion is in 2020.

In conjunction with all this a bus-to rapid transit system is due to leap into action in 2018 with newly built designated bus routes and updated facilities.  It is thought to have the capacity of handling 620,000 passengers per day at a building cost of 1.35 billion.

Artist conception of one of the
new terminals.

Artist conception of the
downtown terminal.

Artist conception of  pedestrian mall
Saigon city center.

Which leads us up to the big question, if only 5 % of 

Saigon's population is utilizing mass transit at present

is all this stuff enough to make them park the 

motorbike or that new car.

The problem with the present mass transit (buses) 

is the sirly drivers and assistants, ill maintained 

buses and facilities.  A long with a stigma 

associated with bus ridership associated with

riding the bus because you were too big a 

loser to afford a motorbike or now for some, 

a car. Not sure how these new facilities 

will be at addressing these things.

So for now the only sure thing is that big money 

is being spent while the historical and significant

values of old Saigon are being decimated.

Thanks for stopping by 

bus from Bangkok to Pattaya - my seat mate, oh my seat mate

Bus to Pattaya 

The bus to Pattaya and gateui (lady boy)

tayaan

Its 6:00 in the morning as I sat in Bangkok’s Northern (Mo Chit) bus station awaiting the 7:15 bus to Pattaya. I am not a morning kind of guy so six o’clock in the morning feels like the middle of the night and the coffee I’m sipping just doesn’t have enough punch to get me through the lingering cobwebs of a night of doing the bars of soi Cowboy.

Then for a moment my foggy mind clears enough to capture a vision of Thai loveliness walking through the half light of the bus terminal, dressed to the nines, short skirt showing shapely legs, with blond streaked, ink black hair cascaded down her back. From my seat in the terminal I only got a brief look before the vision passed from my sight and passed on to the stations coffee shop. Not much going on, so with just time to kill I toss my backpack over my shoulder, headed over to the coffee shop for a second cup of coffee and try to get a clearer look at what I had just watched walk past and was rewarded with a coffee and best yet a nod and a smile from my latest love.

As I tried to shush Mr. Ego’s shouting, they all want you Doug, Mr. Reality chims in, evening clothes this early in the morning, something is little strange here. Then on closer observation, yikes - did I see a faint shadow of a beard? As I craned to get a better look, my vision spoke a greeting to me in Thai spoken with a feminine, lilted male voice, embarrassed, I nodded, trying to hide my surprise and disappointment as I scurried out of the coffee shop and back to my seat. Where I then attempted to disappear into the book I held in front of me as my mind milled over the morning’s craziness and damn it’s still only a quarter after six. Anyway, I’m thinking that I’ll be on the bus soon, leaving all this behind.

Oh ya, here we go, board the bus, grab the first row seat across from the driver, allowing me an unobstructed view out the window and I’m so happy with my good luck I forgot about everything else. Making myself busy getting my cameras ready and took little notice as my seat mate slid in next to me. As I’m puttering away with my camera, out of the corner of my eye I notice the disapproving looks of some of the older Thai women boarding the bus. I then glance over at my seat mate who is now leaning on my shoulder, ca damn it’s the gateui (lady boy) from the bus station. From the look on her/his face I could tell she was enjoying the attention and my discomfort and as I moved closer to the window so did she, a smile for everyone boarding, as to say, this is my guy.

The two hour ride to Pattaya seemed to drag on for ever and once the bus pulled to a stop at Pattaya, I couldn’t get away fast enough, that is after I got around my seat mate. Just a thought to keep in mind while traveling in Thailand – it’s possible that your new, best Thai girl might also be your new, best bro.