For nearly a month, rising waters have turned rice fields in the border province of Dong Thap into vast natural 'swimming pools', drawing crowds of locals for an afternoon dip.
One popular spot lies along a dyke near Ca Sach Market in Binh Hoa Thuan Quarter, Thuong Lac Ward. Its vast expanse and deep, clean water have made it a popular natural swimming area, attracting visitors from Dong Thap as well as neighbouring An Giang and Tay Ninh provinces.
Most visitors are young people and students. Taking advantage of the rising waters, locals have begun offering life jackets, swimming floats, motorboat rides and stand-up paddleboarding. The services can bring in several million dong over about five hours.
Thai Thi Truc Giang, a Thuong Lac resident, brings about 50 life jackets and floats to the site each day. Life jackets cost VND 20,000 (USD 0.76) for adults and VND 15,000 for children, while floats rent for VND 30,000 each. She also offers motorboat rides for VND 20,000 per person.
Giang said life jackets and swimming floats were the most popular rentals as visitors sought to stay safe in the water.
Her husband, Dinh Minh Canh, had just taken a group on a 15-minute motorboat tour covering about half the flooded area. "Each boat carries around 10 passengers. The service is also popular, and during the recent September 2 holiday I made about three to four trips each afternoon," Canh said.
Visitors enjoy motorboat rides across the vast flooded fields, passing fishing traps set by locals to catch fish and other aquatic species during the flood season.
Visitors take motorboat rides past fishing traps or paddleboard across the flooded fields. The water is nearly two metres deep and is expected to rise further in the eighth lunar month, drawing more swimmers.
Le Thanh Phong, head of the Binh Hoa Thuan Quarter's community affairs committee, said the flooded field attracted about 1,500-2,000 visitors during the recent five-day holiday. Local authorities deployed security and traffic personnel to ensure safety and remind swimmers to leave after dark.
The Mekong Delta's flood season not only replenishes local fish stocks but also creates unusual recreational spaces, while providing seasonal jobs and extra income for local workers.
