All the rivers run!

All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

Six years ago, hundreds of people in Triem Tay Village on the riverside of Thu Bon hurriedly moved away for fear the serious erosion that had devastated the area over the years bears too much possible risks to their livelihood. But the French – Vietnamese architect Bui Kien Quoc saw this both as a challenge and an opportunity. For Quoc, 71, whose hometown was not far from the source of Thu Bon, this great water that runs nearly 200km length from its origin to Cua Dai estuary can be strong inspiration for a new model of river-based tourism.

Over the next five years, Quoc designed and built a bio-dyke of vetiver and various domestic grass varieties which functions as a green barrier preventing aggressive floods.

“This soft dyke, not the concrete cement one is to keep everything in harmony with the river and its surrounding landscape,” he said.

“It gives the feeling that everything is untouched. It is still the same old waterfront village except the erosion is now restrained”.

From the ancient town of Hoi An, visitors are welcomed on a scenic boat ride on the river before stepping on his eco-resort Triem Tay Gardens for a shift to a quiet serenity. “The water is important as it is a different experience to see things” Quoc emphasizes the appeal of the river excursion leading to Triem Tay

Set on a stunning promontory bordering lush vegetation, his quaint lodge is ideal for anyone looking for a rural feel and a tranquillity retreat. Rustic charm paired with awe-inspiring views makes this the perfect getaway location with four individually designed bamboo and wooden cottages – the Guru, the Village, the Sunset and the Yoga.

But what the place sells the best is not its rural villas or modern amenities, it is the glowing sunset at the end of the day when the sun goes down on the other side of the river, the water turns completely still and one can feel greatly immersed in nature and harmony.
In Quoc’s opinon, Vietnam has a lot of potential to develop river based tourism utilising the great natural network of rivers and canals integrating nicely with inland waterways. “We have more than 3000km coastline, yet we also have thousands kilometres of running rivers”.

In fact, Viet Nam’s dense river networks of which 2360 rivers have a length of more than 10 km and many international rivers constitute a significant tourism resource of cultural heritage and natural environment. It makes the country a dynamic destination that one hardly finds anywhere else.

A river cruise brings a pleasant sight seeing alternative for those wanting to experience the real Vietnam and see Vietnamese daily life outside of big cities. There are a variety of small-ship itineraries to choose from whether it is a tour on the Ngo Dong river, Ninh Binh province visiting magnificent limestone caves, or a foodie cruise on the Saigon river. For those who are short of time yet keen on getting away from Saigon centre, a boat ride to The Deck situated on the banks of the Saigon River, proves to be one of the city’s most elegant sunset cruise and a real fine-dining treat with picturesque view.

For romantic souls, there is a more peaceful journey in a traditional dragon boat along the gentle Huong river abound Hue city where royal tombs of rich imperial legacies, wooden houses, magnificent temples and flourishing landscape mingle.

With the water snakes through so many different cultures with distinctive cuisines, Vietnam’s river based tourism presents travellers a different cultural perspective and the chance for quiet reflection.

The name of the mighty Mekong River itself; for example, is a magnet itself to attract an influx of international visitors to the region. With its unique natural sceneries and the rich culture, a wide variety of tourism products has been developed, from dinner cruises to deluxe cruises with cabin and deck, and are ready to cater different needs of both domestic and international customers.

The Aqua Mekong cruise is one of those which offers luxury sail up and down the epic river between Vietnam and Cambodia with fully equipped fitness centre, screening room, outdoor evening cinema, observation deck and a top deck, river facing pool at the bow.

But even for travellers who are on a shoestring budget, there are also a lot of options to explore this fascinating region. Having walked the tourist hungry streets of Saigon, going down the water to the Mekong Delta is a change of pace and a connection to the world being left behind. My Tho, Vinh Long, Tien Giang, Can Tho, Ben Tre are some of the traditional gateways to the delta.

My Tho’s bustling waterfront is a fascinating insight into the region’s rich agricultural industry where you have the chance to cruise by lavishly green rice fields and orchards.

Meanwhile in Tien Giang and Can Tho, you can find one of the busiest floating markets in Vietnam. In Cai Be, Cai Rang, you can experience the buzzling sights and sounds with its hundreds of hawkers in sampans, selling mountains of watermelons, mango or jack fruits and other fresh grown locally produce. Cai Rang is especially delightful near the Lunar New Year period, where the river life gets more colourful than ever with flat bottom boats full of flowerpots ready to be delivered.

However, it is sometimes not the river itself, but the community living on the waterfront that attracts the keen visitors. For people like Alex, who comes from a mountainous region of Scotland, seeing the local people’s daily lives built around the water and houses on stilts line the banks of the river is just fascinating. As he said “culture is a way of life and the river gives you a touch of real life”.

So get on the boat and embark on a whole new adventure. The river is calling!