Friday, February 17, 2012
February 17
photos
Entertainment on boat during dinner
Cost of lunch in Saigon in Vietnam
dollars
dollars
Boat trip on Mekong River
Red Snapper @ fish farm
Snack break on island
Horse and cart trip to rowboars
Cattle on interstate
(Posted by Cheryl for Dan and Michelle)
Friday,
February 17
Friday, February 17, 2012 Ho Chi Mihn City,
Vietnam and the Mekong River Delta
Today the remaining members of Class
VI checked out of their hotel and boarded a bus to travel to the Mekong River
Delta, a 70 km drive. We observed rice fields in all stages of growth, farmers
here are able to get three annual rice harvests each year. We also saw corn,
cattle, coconuts, and a large plant where pineapple are processed. Our tour
guide for the day, Hung, said that during pineapple harvest farmers harvest as
many as 100 tonnes of pineapple each day. One stop along the way, at the Mekong
Rest Stop, a beautiful garden, afforded the class a bit of shopping. A short
drive later to the village of MyTho and we were off the bus and onto a boat
headed up the Mekong River. The Mekong River is the 13th longest river in the
world and it flows through 6 countries before it enters the Pacific Ocean at the
southern tip of Vietnam.
After a short boat ride we stopped at the fish
farm of Mr. Phuc, who raises red snapper in three cages near an island in the
river. The fish are purchased as fry and grow to harvest weight in about 5
months. Each harvest yields about 8 tonnes of fish. The fish are loaded live
onto water hold boats and taken around the delta where they are sold live in
small groups to individuals who take them to markets all around the area where
they are sold again, still alive, to housewives who will prepare them that day
for a meal. Mr. Phuc feeds approximately 200kg of pelleted feed each day total
between all 3 cages. The feed costs about 15,000 VND per kilo or about $ .31 per
pound. This comes out to about $55.00 – 60.00 per cage per day in feed cost. The
pellets are made of compressed rice flour, shrimp and fish meal. When the fish
are sold each 8 tonne harvest grosses Mr. Phuc about $13,440, as he gets approx.
30,000 VND per kilo of fish sold. When the cost of feed is taken out, he nets
about $4,440.00 every 5 months (less the cost of purchasing the fish). Mr. Phuc
also raises dogs on his floating home/fish cages for protection as people try to
steal the fish he is raising.
A small discussion was raised with our tour
guide Hung who explained that the Vietnamese fish farmers would like to sell
their fish to the United States but they are banned in the US. Consequently the
fish are sold to European countries and other countries around the world who
removed the Vietnamese information and then sell them to the United States.
After the fish farm we went on to a couple of islands where we tasted
honey tea, watched coconut processing into candy, tasted fresh fruit including
Dragon’s Eye, Durian, Papaya, and Pineapple. Hung explained that people in the
delta used to raise more rice but have found that due to soil conditions and
profit, they are better off raising fruit for sale instead of rice. It was also
obvious that tourism plays a VERY large role in the economy of the area as
evidenced by the singers we watched, the multitude of places trying to sell
souvenirs including honey, dried fruit, candy, clothing, etc., the pony cart
ride we guiltily took (very small, very thin ponies pulling heavy carts loaded
with oversized American visitors), and the paddle boat ride we were taken on at
the end of our “adventure”. The day was eye opening, enjoyable, wet (rainy) and
hot but we are all glad we were able to be there.
After the delta tour
another short bus ride took us back to the Mekong Rest Stop for lunch featuring
fried sticky rice balls and elephant ear fish. Then we rode all the way back to
the Ho Chi Mihn Airport for the plane ride back to Hong Kong.
Written
from 25,500 feet in the air, about 26 minutes from Hong Kong… Rebecca Rink,
Reporter
Vietnam and the Mekong River Delta
Today the remaining members of Class
VI checked out of their hotel and boarded a bus to travel to the Mekong River
Delta, a 70 km drive. We observed rice fields in all stages of growth, farmers
here are able to get three annual rice harvests each year. We also saw corn,
cattle, coconuts, and a large plant where pineapple are processed. Our tour
guide for the day, Hung, said that during pineapple harvest farmers harvest as
many as 100 tonnes of pineapple each day. One stop along the way, at the Mekong
Rest Stop, a beautiful garden, afforded the class a bit of shopping. A short
drive later to the village of MyTho and we were off the bus and onto a boat
headed up the Mekong River. The Mekong River is the 13th longest river in the
world and it flows through 6 countries before it enters the Pacific Ocean at the
southern tip of Vietnam.
After a short boat ride we stopped at the fish
farm of Mr. Phuc, who raises red snapper in three cages near an island in the
river. The fish are purchased as fry and grow to harvest weight in about 5
months. Each harvest yields about 8 tonnes of fish. The fish are loaded live
onto water hold boats and taken around the delta where they are sold live in
small groups to individuals who take them to markets all around the area where
they are sold again, still alive, to housewives who will prepare them that day
for a meal. Mr. Phuc feeds approximately 200kg of pelleted feed each day total
between all 3 cages. The feed costs about 15,000 VND per kilo or about $ .31 per
pound. This comes out to about $55.00 – 60.00 per cage per day in feed cost. The
pellets are made of compressed rice flour, shrimp and fish meal. When the fish
are sold each 8 tonne harvest grosses Mr. Phuc about $13,440, as he gets approx.
30,000 VND per kilo of fish sold. When the cost of feed is taken out, he nets
about $4,440.00 every 5 months (less the cost of purchasing the fish). Mr. Phuc
also raises dogs on his floating home/fish cages for protection as people try to
steal the fish he is raising.
A small discussion was raised with our tour
guide Hung who explained that the Vietnamese fish farmers would like to sell
their fish to the United States but they are banned in the US. Consequently the
fish are sold to European countries and other countries around the world who
removed the Vietnamese information and then sell them to the United States.
After the fish farm we went on to a couple of islands where we tasted
honey tea, watched coconut processing into candy, tasted fresh fruit including
Dragon’s Eye, Durian, Papaya, and Pineapple. Hung explained that people in the
delta used to raise more rice but have found that due to soil conditions and
profit, they are better off raising fruit for sale instead of rice. It was also
obvious that tourism plays a VERY large role in the economy of the area as
evidenced by the singers we watched, the multitude of places trying to sell
souvenirs including honey, dried fruit, candy, clothing, etc., the pony cart
ride we guiltily took (very small, very thin ponies pulling heavy carts loaded
with oversized American visitors), and the paddle boat ride we were taken on at
the end of our “adventure”. The day was eye opening, enjoyable, wet (rainy) and
hot but we are all glad we were able to be there.
After the delta tour
another short bus ride took us back to the Mekong Rest Stop for lunch featuring
fried sticky rice balls and elephant ear fish. Then we rode all the way back to
the Ho Chi Mihn Airport for the plane ride back to Hong Kong.
Written
from 25,500 feet in the air, about 26 minutes from Hong Kong… Rebecca Rink,
Reporter
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Thursday,
February 16, Vietnam
This morning we went to Ho-Chi-Minh complex.
This is where Ho-Chi-Minh himself lays in state. We walked around the complex
looking at his living quarters, cars, and gardens. One highlight of this visit
was all of the school kids visiting the same place. They like to say
hello!
Next we headed off to the local market! This market was quite fun,
they had meat, veggies, and fruit! After the visit at the market we had a
wonderful lunch at Nguviquan 5 Spice Restraunt, this was very good!
As we
type today's blog we are sitting at the airport waiting our flight to
Ho-Chi-Minh City (commonly known as Saigon)!
Sarah Jorgensen, Kari
Vanderwal, Jim Kopriva
This is where Ho-Chi-Minh himself lays in state. We walked around the complex
looking at his living quarters, cars, and gardens. One highlight of this visit
was all of the school kids visiting the same place. They like to say
hello!
Next we headed off to the local market! This market was quite fun,
they had meat, veggies, and fruit! After the visit at the market we had a
wonderful lunch at Nguviquan 5 Spice Restraunt, this was very good!
As we
type today's blog we are sitting at the airport waiting our flight to
Ho-Chi-Minh City (commonly known as Saigon)!
Sarah Jorgensen, Kari
Vanderwal, Jim Kopriva
Thursday,
2/16 photos, Vietnam
Local
transportation
Group
Group at Ho Chi Minh mausoleum
School children
With guide Ta Dang Thai (right)
Market at Hanoi
Market
Market
Lunch
(Posted by Cheryl for Dan and Michelle)
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
February 14
photos
At Vietnam Farmer's Union
Enroute to farmer's field
Rice field
Rice greenhouses
Guide and farmer with spouse
Group at farm
Water buffalo
Worker enroute to rice field
Planting rice
Swine production
At village
Traffic in Hanoi
(Posted by Cheryl for Dan and Michelle)
Monday/Tuesday,
February 13/14--Vietnam
Tuesday morning we departed from Guangzhou
for Hong Kong by bus where we split our group and 22 of us continued on to
Hanoi, Vietnam. The rest spent their final day in Hong Kong before departing for
home Wednesday morning. The group in Vietnam were treated to a traditional
Vietnamese supper at the Banana Flower restaurant.
Wednesday morning
we met with Vietnam Farmer’s Union (VFU) where five officials were able to join
us and share information about Vietnam agriculture as well as answer some
questions. VFU is headquartered in Hanoi and has a 10 million members in 63
provinces. Of the 87 million people in Vietnam, 60% are farmers. They raise
predominately rice (seven different varieties), crops and vegetables, and
seafood. Vietnam exports rice, coffee, pepper, and seafood (catfish) and imports
fruit and milk products. They are very passionate about promoting agriculture
and teaching safety and ag production within their country. They have an
advancement program for women to promote gender equality and development as 40%
of their membership is women. We extended an invitation to them to visit South
Dakota and showcase our ag industry as well as share the SDARL program
curriculum. After a delicious Vietnamese lunch, we had the opportunity visit our
tour guides home village. The farmer we visited rents 10 hectares from the
government and raises ducks, pigs, and fish. We also got to see water buffalo
tethered on the road, rice nurseries, and rice being planted in the paddies. The
villagers were very welcoming and shared some of their businesses- rice saki
distillery where they make saki and use the byproduct to feed the pigs, families
that made products to burn during festivals in honor of their ancestors, and
bamboo weavers making life size animal decorations for their festivals. After a
quick shopping stop, we headed back to the hotel and had a free
evening.
Respectfully submitted,
Marlin Nilsson and Danci Baker
for Hong Kong by bus where we split our group and 22 of us continued on to
Hanoi, Vietnam. The rest spent their final day in Hong Kong before departing for
home Wednesday morning. The group in Vietnam were treated to a traditional
Vietnamese supper at the Banana Flower restaurant.
Wednesday morning
we met with Vietnam Farmer’s Union (VFU) where five officials were able to join
us and share information about Vietnam agriculture as well as answer some
questions. VFU is headquartered in Hanoi and has a 10 million members in 63
provinces. Of the 87 million people in Vietnam, 60% are farmers. They raise
predominately rice (seven different varieties), crops and vegetables, and
seafood. Vietnam exports rice, coffee, pepper, and seafood (catfish) and imports
fruit and milk products. They are very passionate about promoting agriculture
and teaching safety and ag production within their country. They have an
advancement program for women to promote gender equality and development as 40%
of their membership is women. We extended an invitation to them to visit South
Dakota and showcase our ag industry as well as share the SDARL program
curriculum. After a delicious Vietnamese lunch, we had the opportunity visit our
tour guides home village. The farmer we visited rents 10 hectares from the
government and raises ducks, pigs, and fish. We also got to see water buffalo
tethered on the road, rice nurseries, and rice being planted in the paddies. The
villagers were very welcoming and shared some of their businesses- rice saki
distillery where they make saki and use the byproduct to feed the pigs, families
that made products to burn during festivals in honor of their ancestors, and
bamboo weavers making life size animal decorations for their festivals. After a
quick shopping stop, we headed back to the hotel and had a free
evening.
Respectfully submitted,
Marlin Nilsson and Danci Baker
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Photos,
Monday, February 13
At the vegetable market
Load of corn at the vegetable market
Rosedale Hotel
At a Buddhist temple
At the temple
Jorge Sanchez from Agriculture Trade
Organization
Organization
Jorge and class members
At the grocery store
On Pearl River cruise
Denny, Jan, Michelle, Rae, Dan
(Posted by Cheryl for Dan and Michelle)
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