Mekong fruit farm

Took a boat up the Mekong to tour a local's fruit farm. He was given the land in 1975 after reunification and it was just a mangrove swamp. His family dug trenches to prevent flooding and provide irrigation. They then planted crops that are commercially viable and to provide for his family. Jackfruit, Vietnamese versions of apples and pears, cocoa, etc. Of course I ate a fresh cocoa bean as soon as he popped the fruit open... can't say it tasted like chocolate but it was very sweet and delicious. His grandkids collected fruit as we were walking around, which they then served to us on his back patio. His wife was super cute, and she follows the local tradition of making rice crackers which she offered for sale. They were really yummy, the taste of the coconut came through. We all worry so much about our perfect gardens and weeding back in the States, and this guy has irrigation tubing lying everywhere, handmade trenches, trees all over the place, not in any kind of organized pattern, and produces enough fruit to make a living. Full of fruit and crackers, we continued on our journey back out to the delta and on to lunch.Read more