Drying Rice on the Road

Our bus to Can Tho was scheduled to leave at 12:30 so we arrived at the cafe at 11:30 so we could get something to eat. There wasn't much on the menu, so we ordered fried rice which turned out to be quite different than the norm and was really stir fried vegetables over white rice. We enjoyed it more than we expected. Unfortunately, the bus was over an hour late, so we sat until 1:30 chatting with Julie & Danny, 2 Brits who are also traveling for a year.


The ride to Can Tho took 6 hours with a stop at some midpoint town to drop off passengers. Vietnam's countryside was already different from Cambodia's because it was green with rice growing in the fields surrounding the road. This was likely due to the fact that we were in the Mekong Delta, with an abundance of water, eliminating the dependence on rainfall. Also, the rice was being harvested and lined the road, left to dry in the sun.

P- Why are these people allowed to dry their rice on the road?

G- I don't know. Maybe because they just do whatever they want.

P- Well it shouldn't be allowed. They build a 2 lane road for vehicles, and because they're putting their rice all over the road, the traffic has to keep stopping and maneuvering around the rice.

G- I don't think they give a damn how you feel about it.

P- You'd think non-rice growing tax payers would be pissed that they have to keep stopping and going around these peoples' rice.

G- Um, it doesn't work like that here. They don't think that way. If it's rice harvesting/drying time, the rice has to be dried. It's just a fact of life. Not something they get pissed about.

P- Well I'm tired of having to stop.  These bus rides are long enough without having to stop every 30 seconds.

G- (Just then our bus driver drove right over a long expanse of drying rice.) Happy now?

P- Yes.

The roads and towns through Vietnam were definitely more built up than in Cambodia, and Vietnam was clearly more industrialized, with larger cities. The ride was pleasant and beautiful and we chatted with a girl, Anna, from Montreal, Canada. We even passed through a town that was having a parade!  Upon arrival in Can Tho, we were deposited in front of a hotel. I waited with the luggage while Phyl & Anna walked around looking for hotel rooms. Anna found a place, but we were having less luck. Finally, after 1 hour of searching, we happened across a great place for $15.00/night, only 2 blocks from the river.

G- This place is great! You did an excellent job!

P- I told them I'd take it the minute she opened the door. Go look in the bathroom.

G- OMG! A bathtub!!! We can bathe or shower without getting the whole bathroom wet.

P- I know! I'm very excited.

The room was clearly newly renovated with pale yellow walls, a flat screen TV mounted to the wall opposite the bed, a mini fridge, and a large bathroom. The piece de resistance, not 1 but 2 rolls of toilet paper!!!!!!!!!! Our toilet paper would not be rationed at this hotel. The final thing that made our love complete was the wifi router mounted to the wall just outside of our door. We were ecstatic!

We intended to stay only 1 day, but stayed 2 because we so enjoyed the room and the riverfront.