Home » Mekong Eco Travel Guide » Flooding season brings out the best of Gao Giong- MEKONG ECO TOUR

Flooding season brings out the best of Gao Giong- MEKONG ECO TOUR

Gao Giong – Cao Lanh in the southern province of Đong Thap was in the middle of the flooding season. Immense water had overwhelmed the canals, making the Gao Giong Ecology Tourism Site emerge like an oasis on water. After light rain, the air seemed to clear. The sound of bìm bịp (moorhen) calling to each other echoed through a forest of tram (myrtle) trees, which were full of white flowers with a sweet scent. Here and there, điển điển (riverhemp) bloomed full in yellow, in contrast to lotus flowers in purple and pink. Flocks of birds nested in the trees, and their flapping stirred up an area of water. Sitting on a wooden boat, I felt peaceful and relaxed.

Gáo Giồng is well-known for its rich flora and fauna. There are 15 species of birds that call it home including white, red and black storks, making Gao Giong the biggest stork garden in the Plain of Reeds. Beneath the water, you can also find cá lóc (snake-headed fish), cá sặc (snakeskin gourami), cá lăng (hemibagrus) and cá bống (goby). During the rainy season, schools of cá linh (small carp) swim in from Cambodia, which make for a tasty delicacy. Our boat travelled along the channel, following other boats carrying tourists around the site. On the way to the stork garden, we passed immense forests of melaleuca and bamboo. The reflection of the trees on the water created beautiful images. A stork garden appeared as we turned onto the main channel. Thousands of storks were perched in the melaleuca trees, creating an impressive backdrop. From time to time, they took off in unison, looking for a more comfortable perch. We took many photos of the stork garden before returning to the dock. At the service centre, a typical lunch of the flood season was waiting for us. We had baked field rats, baked snake-headed fish, a hot pot of small carp fish, a hot pot of snake, red rice steamed on lotus leaves and wine with forest bee honey. The rich lunch was an unforgettable memory on this trip, and the dishes seemed like gifts sent from heaven to the people of Gao Giong