6am comes to quickly and when I come down for breakfast Tea make a comment that I look dead. Thanks Tea. It is a short walk to the port and we are on a boat again. It takes about 40mins for us to get to the floating market. It is not what I expected. I though it would be a narrow part of the river, with boats lined up either side where we could buy stuff from our boat. Instead this is more like a wholesale market. Large boats in the middle of a wide part of the river, where they show what they are selling by means of hanging their products on bamboo poles extending from their boat. These boats are so full, rammed to the gills with fruit, I see many boats so full of pineapple that people have to live on the top. Every window showing just pineapple, it's crazy. Our guide tells us that these boats come from all over the delta to sell their stock and that they may stay here for months until they sell everything, before heading home. As we arrive it is now long before a smaller boat pulls up along side us, slings on a grappling hook and is selling everything from fruit to beer and coffee. No one on our boat is interested, I joke with the other Irish guy about having a beer, even though it is early in the morning. All the boats have eyes painted on the front of the boat, this is from the time that there were crocodiles in the river. The eyes made the crocodile think the boat was a big fish and so they stayed away. We get to the end of the market and we swing round to head up the other side where we stop and get the chance to board one of the pineapple boats. You can get a full fresh pineapple for 30p, they will even cut it all for you and stick it on a stick. Many people on our boat opt for this, and the way they present the pineapple to you is beautiful. Though I think that a whole pineapple will be a bit much for me so I don't get one.
-----
After this we head off down a smaller river before we are off the boat again. This time in to a rice noodle factory. Here we can see how they make the rice into big pancakes, then dry them in the sun, before putting them through a machine that cuts them in to strips. It is so hot in here, not a job that I would like to be doing. Back on the boat and off to another island where we get to walk around an orchard. Some of the fruit here is so big. There is a Jack fruit that is bigger than your head! Our guide shows us around, although we are not allowed to pick any. We get the chance to stop for a quick drink before back on the boat and then back to the dock.
-----
We have some free time before the bus leaves to go and get something to eat. Tea and I head down the street from the hotel, most people just eat there but we are pretty sure we can get it cheaper elsewhere. Sure enough not to far we find a place that does noodle soup. Tea orders us up some stuff, she asks if I want a duck egg, without thinking I say yes. It is only when it arrives that I realise what I have done. It is a duck embryo that I have. The yolk and white parts are separated in spiral fashion, through the whole thing is still egg shaped. In the yellow part you can see what look like the beginnings of feathers. I am not excited about this one. I take a bite! My God. It was horrible, egg consistency but with something else inside, and not the taste of egg! It's bad. I actually have to force myself to eat the remaining part. This is the first thing I have really struggled with, I nearly wretch as I finish the last piece. It's over, now I can try and enjoy my soup. Thankfully the soup is good, made even better by the addition of some meat, which upon my excitement, Tea orders some more. It's time for the bus, so we all cram in, not as many people this time as some were heading elsewhere.
-----
The journey back is long and arduous, I spent my time passing in and out of consciousness, until we make a stop and I get a coffee and ice cream. Then back to the bus. Some women are complaining that they had money stolen when they left their bags on the bus on the first day. I never leave my stuff on the bus, no matter what anyone says. It's a recipe for disaster. We get back to HCM later than expected, just after 6. Have a few drinks with Spencer and Elias before heading to bed.