Experience the best of Vinh Long

Vinh Long is a calm provincial capital of tree-lined streets and a busy waterfront, set where the Mekong divides into wide channels around islands. The province lies between the Tien and Hau rivers, the two main branches of the lower Mekong, and a Confucian temple built in the nineteenth century stands in the city.

Boats leave the waterfront for orchard islands such as An Binh, where footpaths and canals pass fruit gardens, small homestays and workshops. The Cai Be floating market lies close by, and Can Tho, the delta's largest city, is a drive to the south-west.

Fruit is the pride of Vinh Long: longan, rambutan, mango, pomelo and durian grow on the islands, and the city's cooks turn river fish and shrimp into soups, clay-pot dishes and rice pancakes. The rains from May to October green the orchards, and the months either side are drier.