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River Life
Life on the River
Rivers in Vietnam
provide communication, transport, places to live, food and products.
The Mekong and Red
Rivers are the largest rivers of Vietnam. The Red River flows from China and is located in
the North. The Mekong River flows from Cambodia and is located in the South. These two
rivers form deltas where rich land is found. Over 200 other rivers flow from the mountains
to the sea.
| The rivers of Vietnam are busy with
thousands of boats travelling on them each day. Sampans, long narrow boats are the main
form of transport. They are used for fishing, transport and taking produce to markets.
The boat owners and their families also live on these boats. |
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On the Perfume River in Hue flat bottomed
boats carry sand, timber and many other products.
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In the Mekong, in the early hours of
the morning farmers take their fruit and vegetables to large
boats called floating markets. The locals go to the these markets to buy their food and
fresh seafood that has been caught that morning. |
| Many people live on the water ways of Vietnam
on boats and houses.
Those that are in the river are on strong
poles to keep free from the water. The people use small boats to get to land.
In Nha Trang some of these floating
houses now have TV aerials.
Many people live on boats that are moored on the banks of
the river, they can keep their catch of |
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fish alive in water in the bottom of the boat. |
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There are 10 floating
villages in Ha Long Bay, children attend the 'floating school' and a
'floating supermarket visits each day. People sell their fresh fish to the
tourists from their boats. Drinking
water is collected from canals and rivers. The dangerous germs are killed by boiling it.
The children walk to local schools. |
By Paul and Jason
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