By vehicle in the direction of Soc Trang to the Cau Dau Sau landing and then by boat about 15 minutes to reach the floating market. SAM MOUNTAIN: there are dozens of pagodas and temples, many of them set in caves, around Sam Mountain. The Chinese influence is obvious, and Sam Mountain is a favourite spot for ethnic-Chinese, both as pilgrims from Saigon and tourists from Taiwan. The views from the top of the mountain are spectacular and one can easily look out over Cambodia. Overnight in Chau Doc.

FLOATING HOUSES: these houses, whose floats consist of empty drums, provide both a place to live and a livelihood for their residents. Fish are raised under the house in suspended metal nets. Journey across the River at Long Xuyen to Sa Dec and then north east past Vinh Long and My Tho. VINH LONG: capital of the province, this is a medium-sized town along the banks of the Mekong River about midway between My Tho and Can Tho. From Vinh Long, one can access all the islands in the river which are totally given over to agriculture. MY THO: capital of Tien Giang Province and one of the poorest cities in the delta. The economy is based on fishing and the cultivation of rice, coconuts, bananas, mangoes, longans and citrus fruit.