The extensive delta of the great Mekong River in South Vietnam is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable natural habitats in the whole of South East Asia. The dense vegetation on the river banks and brown-colored water of the Mekong, with its innumerable creeks, are the main characteristics of this, the third largest delta in the world. The estuary covers a total area of around 39,000 square kilometres and only the deltas of the Amazon and the Brahmaputra are larger.
The immense value of this fertile land has been appreciated for many years as the Mekong Delta yields two to three rice harvests a year.
For several centuries, the Mekong has been well-renowned for its fish. It also contains a number of rare species such as the Pla Buk, the ‘king of fish’, as it is known by the local people. For the local population, the Giant Mekong Catfish is an almost legendary creature, although sightings of it are few and far between.
The simplicity of the everyday life of the Delta’s inhabitants is clearly visible and is a further fascination of this intriguing region.