On the other side of Thoi Son, there are a number of longtail boats that transport you through the mangrove swamps up to the main part of mekong delta or to your tour boat. Unless you are on an organised tour, hard bargaining will pay off. No outboard this time. An elderly man and his wife steer with paddles gliding almost silently through the chocolate brown water. A whole network of channels eventually joining up with the main river. Palms and mangroves throw shadows down onto the water, as though they were painting on a huge canvas. Forgive me for waxing lyrical but it is a magical place that I only see in the Vietnam War Movies like platoon and born on the fourth of july.