Up The Mekong …

Very very pleasant to visit Vietnam even if it was just for ten days! Worked on a few stories … some more successfully than others.

Made a great trip into the Mekong Delta and travelled as far as Châu Đốc in An Giang Province adjoining the Cambodian border collecting images for a larger story in Australian Geographic magazine. Met some wonderful people on the way but the one that made the most impression was the serene and remarkable 65 year old Nguyen Thi Luy. She has been rowing boats on the Mekong tributaries out of Châu Đốc for 35 years – originally working boats but now more frequently tourists are her bread and butter (or rice bowl).

Nguyen Thi Luy took me on a personal tour through the floating villages that are scattered along the river banks neighbouring Châu Đốc … and also just up river to visit a village populated by the picturesque Muslim Cham ethnic minority.

She performed her task with amazing grace and dignity … and an apparent ease (although I’m sure that I couldn’t have lasted five minutes let alone the two hours plus that she was at the helm and the driving force of our tiny craft).

I made these two images as she quietly moved us along the the Hâu River – a branch of the Mekong.

Thank You Nguyen Thi Luy … you are a treasure …

Images © Brian Cassey 2014

Ex Cairns Australia pic by Brian CasseyPic by Brian Cassey

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