Ancient Nomad - Travel Stories of the Ancient Nomad

I arrived in Chau Doc, Vietnam, early in the morning. It was dark and only one moto taxi driver bugging me to take me to town. I refused and had a coffee at one of the small places they just opened. He didn't give up but I just ignored him - the usual strategy and always eventually working. The price went drastically down, but I knew I had to wait till dawn till other when people arrive. Then you ask and see what's the deal, instead of a hit and miss and a waste of money. Acting quick in Asia, or South America, pays off only when you know what you are doing and you know that you have the upper hand. In this case, acting quick meant refusal ;) Patience and smiles pay off.

So I waited, and it paid off. Earlier, I spotted a couple of tourists who got off the same bus and logically they were also going to Cambodia. I saw them go into the waiting area at the bus station (very small) and staying there. Something was going on and for a reason - they also refused any driver and seemed confident at that. And hour or so later a gray van pulled up and they emerged. So did I. They loaded their bags and I asked where are they going. They said the are taking a boat to Cambodia and they are getting a free lift to the port, prearranged. I tild the driver I am also going to take the boat and I was onboard :) A couple of hours later, after they opened the office, I had my ticket ($18), and we were boarding the boat.

The crossing to Cambodia goes like this. First you arrive at the bus stop in Choud Doc, then go to Vinh Xuong still in Vietnam and then, after a boat ride, arrive at Kaam Samnor where you get your visa and passport stamped. It's all a rather confusing process since there are no visible borders or signs, you change the van and boat, the boat goes and then stops in a few places and you don't really know which place is which. I am sure though that the last place was Kaam Samnor and that was the Cambodian border. To get the formalities done you get of the boat and just stay in a yeard around the office about 50 meters from the shore. Then you get all stamps and bo back to the boat. So, I don'te really know exactly which place is which, but it went like this: Chau Doc, Vinh Xuong, and Kaam Samnor. I will mark the uncertain photos as Mekong River.

Photo: Chau Doc, Vietnam → The brown long boat with open deck in the middle is taking me to Cambodia.

Photo: Chau Doc, Vietnam → The view of Mekong River in Chau Doc.

Photo: Mekong River, Vietnam to Cambodia → Then we left at about 8:00 am.

Photo: Mekong River, Vietnam to Cambodia → One fo the many typical boats you will see on mekong River around Vietnam and Cambodia.

Photo: Mekong River, Vietnam to Cambodia → Life on the Mecong.

Photo: Mekong River, Vietnam to Cambodia → These people expect big floods I guess.

Photo: Mekong River, Vietnam to Cambodia → Many of the people on the moving upd and down the river boats also live on them.

Photo: Mekong River, Vietnam to Cambodia → The boat moves towards the border. It's 9:00 am now.

Photo: Mekong River, Vietnam to Cambodia → The ferries crossing the river are more frequent now.

Photo: Mekong River, Vietnam to Cambodia → One of the many ferries.

Photo: Mekong River, Vietnam to Cambodia → The streets come right up to the river.

Photo: Mekong River, Vietnam to Cambodia → Also, peole have their dwellings built right up on the river's edge.

Photo: Mekong River, Vietnam to Cambodia → Local houses along the Mekong River.

Photo: Mekong River, Vietnam to Cambodia → The local people still use their traditional not motorized way of transport between the different points along the coast. It's definitely easy to go down the river, but the current can be pretty strong and I am not sure how they make it back.

Photo: Mekong River, Vietnam to Cambodia → The almost falling apart dwellings with TV antennas. And many of 'us' from the 'West' are proud of having no TV.,

Photo: Mekong River, Vietnam to Cambodia → Lots of people on the Mekong live from fishing and farming.

Photo: Mekong River, Vietnam to Cambodia → Like almost anywhere in South East Asia, the job is done equally by man and women.

Photo: Mekong River, Vietnam to Cambodia → Moving along the Mekong River.

Photo: Mekong River, Vietnam to Cambodia → Farming.

Photo: Mekong River, Vietnam to Cambodia → I enjoyed going through the open areas, the persepctive.

Photo: Mekong River, Vietnam to Cambodia → Already way pass the Vietnam - Cambodia border. The river here is getting wider.

Photo: Mekong River, Vietnam to Cambodia → It's 13:00 pm. We changed the boats a while back - it happened in the middle of the river. The next stop Phnom Penh.