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Dien Dien Flowers in the floating water season- MEKONG ECO TOUR

It is common knowledge in Vietnam that the Mekong Delta in Vietnam has two seasons, the “dry” one between December and April, and the “rainy” one between May and November.

But when you talk to local people, they will tell you about the “floating” – or high-tide – season when more water from the Mekong Delta River flows into its tributaries in Vietnam – the Tien and Hau rivers.

Starting in the seventh month and ending in the tenth month of the lunar calendar, the off-the-book season is marked with flooded fields, but the flooding also brings alluvium that enriches the soil, not to mention the abundance fresh water produce – read fish. That all this could be lost to upstream dams in China, Laos and Thailand, and that the delta is imperiled by climate change is a sobering thought.

Somewhat surprisingly, the “floating” season is also a favorite season for travelers, and once you are there, you understand why. Not only does nature put her liveliest foot forward at this time, the liveliness seeps into locals as well.

It is at this time that traditional songs known as vong co (literally “longing for the past”) are sung by people when rowing their boats along rivers to harvest the season’s produce, including some special ones like the dien dien (Sesbania sesban) flowers. The dishes made from the special produce, including the dien dien flowers and ca linh (a fish species under the same family with carps), are also a draw.

Not to know when the wild flower as Dien Dien flower has closely connected with the people in the Southwest plain. Every year, when it is continuously rainy season and the flood water inundates, Dien Dien tree (sesban common) grows verdantly and blossoms with yellow flowers covering vast space. This kind of tree is so abundant that the region of Xa No was a place-name of Vi Thanh (Hau Giang province). According to the late senior writer Son Nam, Khmer people called Dien Dien tree as the name of s’nor. Then it was Vietnamized to call so through generations until today.

Everyone comes to the Mekong Delta region know about this famous hotpot of cyprinid fish. As the flood season comes, all kind of fish from the Mekong River downstream to the fields to start breeding season. One of these fish is “linh” fish (cyprinid) which makes the main ingredient for the hotpot. Small, fresh and fatty fish are cleaned, removed the gut then rinsed with water and drained.

Dien dien (Sesbania sesban) flowers are just picked from tree, cleaned and put in a basket with other vegetables. The fish is sweet and soft, the flowers is slightly bitter and the soup is sour and fragrant, all together creates a wonderful taste. Don’t leave Mekong Delta without trying it. Dong Thap, Long An, An Giang and Can Tho are among the most famous places to try this hotpot.

 

Let’s book and join Mekong Eco tours or Mekong eco cruise tours to have chance enjoy this delicious hotpot. 🌼🌿🌼🌿🌼🌿🌼🌿