We are in the Mekong, and one of the most colorful things to do here is the floating markets.  There, local people sell their produce to transfer it to larger ships.  There are lots of boats, produce and people, oh yes and tourists.  David and I were dockside in the early morning dark, shuttled into a small boat, and off for a 27 kilo river ride (hour and fifteen minutes) watching the sun come up. . .  Farmers head up river with their Long boat laden down with goods.  Tet New Year is Jan 23, which is Christmas and Family reunion time all at once and the tradition is to get new clothes for new year so extra money is needed/spent.

Interesting scene: a chaotic jumble of boats, transfer of pineapples, bushels of potatoes, watermelons, bananas and God knows what else, people negotiating prices.   Breakfast or coffee vendors pull over to boats  offering to sell you something.

We cruised the markets for another hour or so, and were all the way home (you go faster in daylight) enjoying breakfast at our hotel by 9 a.m