Non-touristy tour. Is sustainable travel possible?

We are not tourists, we live a nomad work lifestyle which means living and working remotely, but sometimes we do the tourist thing as part of being in different parts of the world. 

Being in Ho Chi Minh City for the second time and also believing in sustainable travel, we purposefully chose an “untouristy Mekong Delta tour in Vietnam so that we could get a real picture of the "rice bowl" of the country. We saw firsthand how it not only produces over half of Vietnam's rice but is a key source of fruits, vegetables, and fish. In a small riverside patch where we had lunch, there were 8 different types of fruit that we could see and about the same number of herbs and vegetables growing wild. 

But the delta isn't just about farming as the waterways are lifelines for connecting communities and transporting goods. Home to over 17 million people, the delta is bustling and busy. Its famous floating markets and fishing industry are central to local life and economy. 

We were told that the delta's unique network of rivers and canals supports an incredible variety of wildlife, including more than 1,000 animal species and rare birds found nowhere else. Sadly all we got to see were chickens. 

Climate change hits hard in this vital area, as the delta is vulnerable to rising sea levels and extreme weather. Regular flooding, while important for crops, also brings problems that need smart and sustainable solutions. In the meantime, the delta's mangrove forests play a crucial role in preserving the resilience of the area by protecting the land and wildlife from erosion and environmental threats.

Protecting this diverse environment is tough, and even with laws in place to safeguard the delta, illegal fishing, resource overuse, and pollution remain ongoing threats. 

We were lucky enough to explore a relatively quiet tributary in the delta but we weren’t alone. There were other tour groups on this “non-touristy” tour. How does Vietnam battle against the rising tide of tourists and the literal rising tides because keeping the Mekong Delta healthy and productive is essential for both the people who live there and the environment. 

Is sustainable travel possible?