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4 October 2026

Vietnam stretches along the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with China to its north and Laos and Cambodia to its west. Its long coastline faces the South China Sea.

For many people, Vietnam begins with images of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or the famous rice terraces.

But in the south, another Vietnam exists around the Mekong Delta.

Here, the river is not simply part of the landscape.

It is part of everyday life.

The Mekong divides into a network of waterways before reaching the sea, creating a landscape of islands, canals, orchards and villages. Boats carry people and goods where roads cannot always reach conveniently.

Early in the morning, some markets begin to move on the water.

A boat becomes a shop.

Another becomes a restaurant.

A third carries fruit, vegetables or household goods.

For someone accustomed to streets and roads, it can seem extraordinary.

For the people who live there, it is simply practical.

The river has shaped the way communities work, travel and trade for generations.

Perhaps that is what makes the Mekong Delta so interesting.

We often think of civilisation as something people build against nature.

Here, people have learned to build their daily lives around it.

The river is not an obstacle to overcome.

It is the road.

#Vietnam #MekongDelta #SoutheastAsia #RajatChandraSarmah

Rajat Chandra Sarmah, Guwahati, Assam, India, Instagram @rajatchandrasarmah, YouTube: conversewithasmile, email rajatchandrasarmah@gmail.com