Into the Heart of the Mekong: A Welcome Fit for Kings

Our adventure began in bustling Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), where we caught a Futa long-distance bus heading to Cần Thơ. The ride was quite long, taking about 3 to 4 hours. But don't worry at all—our guide, Nhu Ý Lé, will help you with everything. She will buy the bus ticket for you and stay in touch with you the entire time, so you definitely won't get lost! :)

From Cần Thơ, we continued further south, deeper into the Mekong Delta, all the way to the town of Nga Bảy. In Cần Thơ, we transferred from the large Futa bus into a smaller minibus that took us directly to our destination. The entire logistics were incredibly smooth, as the minibus dropped us off at a stop right in front of our guide Nhu Ý Lé's house.

And that is where it all began. As soon as we stepped off the bus, Nhu Ý Lé was already there waiting for us. She stood there with a traditional conical nón lá hat on her head. In that exact moment, all our travel fatigue completely vanished. Her warm smile and welcoming embrace instantly melted our hearts. Before we even had time to fully realize we had arrived, we were hit by the first massive shock—in the best way possible. Nhu Ý Lé had prepared an absolute feast for us. The table was practically bending under the weight of plates filled with fresh Vietnamese specialties, rich aromas, and vibrant colors. There was so much food that, despite our best efforts, we simply couldn't finish it all—it was just impossible! Every single bite was incredibly authentic and bursting with flavors that you can only dream of in tourist restaurants. One of the highlights was roasted python, which was actually very tasty! :) We also tried Taro, a tropical root vegetable with a delicious nutty flavor. After this culinary heaven, we went to drop off our things in our room, freshened up a bit, and recharged our batteries. However, there was no time for lounging around—Nhu Ý Lé already had the scooters ready for us, and we set off on our very first trip around the Nga Bảy countryside..

First Kilometers in the Saddle and a Floating Ferry
We hopped on the scooters and headed just outside of town, into the real countryside. I rode with Nhu Ý Lé. You can really tell that the scooter is her primary mode of transportation; my partner had a tough time just keeping up with her on that nice yellow scooter of hers! The first ride is definitely a shock because you see so many new things all at once—but they are all so beautiful. Soon, a wide river crossed our path. Instead of a bridge, however, there was an amazing local ferry. You just ride straight onto it with your scooter, and within a few minutes, it takes you across to the opposite riverbank.

We even visited a local school, where a whole crowd of children surrounded us, curiously examining our faces.

On the other side, we continued further into the interior. The stunning Vietnamese countryside opened up all around us: we passed banana plantations, small fields, and the modest homes of local people who waved and smiled at us.By Bike for Dinner: A Market Full of Colors and Aromas
When we returned home, the itinerary was far from over. We swapped the scooters for bicycles and went with Nhu Ý Lé to the local market to buy ingredients for dinner. And that was a true experience for all the senses! The market was flooded with mountains of fresh food, all kinds of unique local delicacies, and an incredible variety of exotic fruit.

Everything was so fresh, juicy, and fragrant that it honestly cannot be compared to anything you can buy back home. I have to admit, I miss this amazing fruit so much here in the Czech Republic..

Yes, we had this delicacy for lunch.

A Family Dinner: Cooked with Love by the Entire Family
Upon returning from the market, another unforgettable experience was waiting for us. Nhu Ý Lé's entire family got involved in preparing the food, and together they made another absolutely wonderful dinner for us. It was incredible to watch how harmoniously the family worked together in the kitchen and with how much love they prepared everything. Once again, a truly magnificent meal landed on the table before us, packed with fresh herbs, meat, and flavors that proved to us that Vietnamese home cooking is simply the best in the world.

Day Two: Sailing into the Heart of the Green Jungle
The next morning, right after a hearty breakfast, we hopped on the scooters and headed to our next destination just outside of town. A typical long Vietnamese motorized boat was already waiting for us at the riverbank. We all climbed aboard, and along with our driver, we set off straight into the wild heart of the jungle. Navigating the narrow canals was incredible—we were completely surrounded by stunning, lush green vegetation and dense forest.

During the boat ride, we spotted something truly fascinating—strange, bright pink eggs clinging to the plant stems right above the water. We spent a few hours in this wild, peaceful oasis, and the absolute highlight of the trip was visiting a local observation tower. The view from the top, looking out over the endless green expanse of the Mekong Delta, was simply breathtaking.

It’s such a beautiful thing, isn't it? Just an endless green forest, you, and absolute silence. In that exact moment, you forget about the rest of the world and just soak in the incredible energy of the nature around you.

Isn't it just beautiful?

Our amazing guide.

A Khmer Temple and an Intensive Ride Through the Countryside
Upon our return from the jungle, a delicious lunch was waiting for us, followed immediately by the next part of our itinerary. I must warn you in advance: Nhu Ý Lé will prepare a truly intensive program for you. You won't stop for a moment, but you will leave with experiences to last a lifetime. Once again, we hopped on the scooters and set off to explore the surrounding landscape—rice fields, the river, and, most notably, a breathtaking Khmer temple. Its vibrant, colorful, and intricate architecture completely enchanted us.

Gorgeous Architecture.

A Spectacular Experience: Cooking Dinner with the Family
However, the most spectacular experience of the whole day awaited us after we returned home. They got us fully involved in preparing dinner! We cooked alongside our guide’s entire family, and they really put us to work. This very moment of creating, laughing, and sharing cultural traditions together is probably what I will look back on the most from the entire trip. Our reward was, once again, an incredibly delicious and filling meal. Vietnam has captured my heart so deeply that in my old age—or honestly, maybe much sooner—I fully intend to move here! :)

The Last Morning: Vanishing Floating Markets and Tears in Our Eyes
Waking up that morning was incredibly hard. We only had one thought on our minds—it was our final day, and all this beauty was coming to an end. Before dawn, we headed to Cần Thơ to have breakfast at the last remaining floating markets, which are slowly but surely vanishing nowadays.

A boat ride across the stunning, wide Delta awaited us, and for breakfast, having traditional Phở right on the boat was an absolute must. Along with the noodle soup, we tasted fresh coconut and incredibly sweet pineapple. Honestly, throughout your entire stay with Nhu Ý Lé, you will do nothing but eat and taste new things. It is simply a foodie paradise.

A Rice Noodle Factory and the Best Chocolate to Say Goodbye
After breakfast, our journey continued to a local factory where traditional rice noodles are made. It was amazing that we could try the entire production process firsthand.

Our very last stop was a cacao farm. We tasted the best chocolate of our lives there and took a small bar with us as a souvenir.

And then it came. The end. I could see that all of us were getting pretty emotional. We all had tears in our eyes; I was fighting them back hard, and I honestly felt like crying. It is exactly because of these powerful emotions that I know we must return here one day.

If you want to have the same life-changing experience, don't forget to reach out to our amazing guide. I am leaving Nhu Ý Lé's contact information below (and I’ve also placed it at the very beginning of this article just to be sure).

Love you, Vietnam!