I have heard the call of autumn, the season of floods in the Mekong Delta.

Every autumn, the Mekong Delta experiences floods. For the people of the Mekong Delta, the flood season is not a natural disaster, but an opportunity to create jobs and usher in a new, more prosperous and vibrant way of life. The floods bring with them a wealth of aquatic resources and enhance the beauty of the riverine landscape. Therefore, if you travel to the Mekong Delta in autumn, don't miss the bountiful flood season in An Giang, the vibrant pink lotus blossoms in Dong Thap, and the bustling floating markets in Can Tho, to enjoy the simple and rustic beauty of nature and the people of this riverine region.

Heading to An Giang to cope with the floods.

An Giang is one of the most flood-prone areas in the Southwestern Mekong Delta. Whenever the floods begin, local residents are busy preparing their equipment to go fishing in the Vam Nao River. This river, connecting the Tien and Hau rivers, is nearly 7 km long and 15-20 meters deep. Locals call Vam Nao a "fish haven" because it was once home to giant fish weighing hundreds of kilograms. The most common species include giant catfish, flagtail catfish, freshwater stingrays, and oil catfish. The flood season is also a time when tourists from near and far flock to Vam Nao to admire the vast expanse of water and witness fishermen hunting for fish, or experience the thrill of casting and pulling nets themselves. Visitors can also enjoy local specialties of the flood season such as sour fish soup with water hyacinth flowers or braised fish in a clay pot.

Another flood-prone area in An Giang is the Tra Su Melaleuca Forest. This forest is beautiful year-round, always lush, verdant, and pristine. When autumn arrives and the floodwaters rise, Tra Su becomes even more stunning, with its wetlands covered in beautiful green patches of water hyacinth, disappearing from the characteristic milky-coffee-colored alluvial water. Visiting Tra Su in autumn, tourists are delighted to sit in a traditional three-leaf boat, weaving through the melaleuca forest and strolling across Vietnam's longest bamboo bridge, listening to the rustling leaves and the melodious birdsong...

In An Giang province, there is also Bung Binh Thien, known as the "heavenly lake," a stunning destination in the Mekong Delta during the flood season. When the floods arrive, locals prepare for fishing activities, while tourists eagerly admire the lake's beauty. The rising floodwaters transform Bung Binh Thien into a giant mirror, covering 900 hectares, covered with lotus flowers, water lilies, water spinach, and water hyacinths, creating an incredibly poetic and vibrant natural landscape. At Bung Binh Thien, visitors can explore the lake on small boats, discover the floating houses and fish cages of the locals, and learn about life on the river and the freshwater fish species – a truly memorable experience. Additionally, visitors can visit the Cham village surrounding the lake to gain a deeper understanding of the unique local culture.

Visit Dong Thap to admire the pink lotus flowers.

Dong Thap is considered the land of pink lotus flowers, with its vast and expansive lotus ponds. Visitors can explore many different lotus ponds, but the most famous is the Thap Muoi Lotus Pond tourist area in My Hoa commune, Thap Muoi district, renowned for its pristine natural beauty and the vibrant pink lotus blossoms that blanket the entire area.

Spanning nearly 20 hectares, the Thap Muoi Lotus Pond tourist area offers a vast space for visitors to admire flowers and take photos. Notably, the tourist area also provides rental services for traditional Mekong Delta costumes such as the "ao ba ba," conical hat, checkered scarf, and ao dai, allowing visitors to capture beautiful moments by the lotus pond.

Dong Thap not only boasts pink lotus flowers during the flood season, but also offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy local specialties such as grilled snakehead fish wrapped in young lotus leaves, chicken salad with lotus root, lotus seed sweet soup, lotus seed sticky rice, linh fish, and grilled field mouse…

Traveling to Can Tho and floating on the floating market.

The Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho is beautiful and lively in every season, but perhaps the most vibrant time is when the floodwaters rise, adding to the bustling atmosphere of life on the river with boats traveling up and down the river. The market is a gathering place for hundreds of boats carrying countless produce and goods, usually starting early at 6-7 am and ending around 10 am. To enjoy the river scenery and immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere of Cai Rang market, you should arrive early to witness boats overflowing with agricultural products from the orchards – mangoes, bananas, dragon fruit… in a dazzling array of colors, not to mention vegetables like sweet potatoes, gourds, pumpkins, bitter melons, cassava, watermelons…

Taking a stroll through Cai Rang floating market in the morning, you can also enjoy breakfast on the boats. Here you can find a variety of dishes, from hot noodle soups like hu tieu, bun rieu, and banh canh to refreshing and delicious iced milk coffee.

Huong Thao