When we travel to a new place, it is better to do a research about the place, the people and the nature to get the first overview to behave properly and understand its culture. Media and movies seem to be the most effective way to achieve this target. Everyone knows about the Mekong Delta in Vietnam but they do not know clearly about the land either the people which are the two important factors that keep tourists coming back to this greenery land. Here is our recommended movies showing these beautiful factors of Mekong that you should watch before travelling to her.
Cánh Đồng Hoang- The Abandoned Field: Free Fire Zone
The Free Fire Zone is one of the most well-known movies of the Vietnam cinema of all time. Focusing on the daily life of a young couple in Mekong Delta from planting rice, catching fish, caring kid, etc, with the intervention of American helicopter raiding over the flooded field to spot guerilla soldiers, it not only reveals the tragic of the Vietnam war but also reflects the determination of Mekong people who try to protect their homeland and family while fighting back with American. Though the movie was in black and wild, you still can experience the beauty Dong Thap Muoi (Dong Thap province) in flooding season through every scene.
Link to the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBpZUCrAXTk
Mùa len trâu- The buffalo boy
The buffalo boy was introduced to the moviegoers in 2004. It mainly focuses on the life of Mekong people in the flooding season. They need to struggle to live with the high rising water coming every year. Water is the source of life but she also challenges humans to make them stronger and more mature. This movie exposes the different but unique aspect of Mekong than any 1-day Mekong classic tour that you may join.
Link to the Movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJH1Z-9D7do
Cánh đồng bất tận- The floating lives
Differed from the buffalo boy, the floating lives concentrate on particular group of Mekong people whose lives depend on the water all year round. They live on boats and travel all along the Mekong Delta to earn livings. All signature activities in the Mekong including fish catching, market meeting, swimming in rivers, etc. are described vividly in this movie. The intriguing scenes for anyone who used to watch this movie should be the yellow rice paddy fields and Cai Rang floating market, which are the two locations that have nurtured the locals for many years.
Link to the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95HVdrKES8c
Người tình- The lover
It should be considered as one of the most famous movies that inspires people traveling to the Mekong, especially French tourists as it is based on the famous novel by French writer Marguerite Duras. The Romeo-Juliet love story between a poor French girl and a rich Chinese man is classic but still wins the hearts of many movie lovers. The setting time was in the 1930s in the Mekong during the French colonial times when Vietnam faced a great change in society and culture. Every background scene from the busy ferry to the early local market or the local houses exude the simple and humble of Mekong country life but still add the romantic and peaceful vibe to the movie.
Link to the Movie: https://youtu.be/h_5u3gn8PiU
Hai Phượng- Furie
The action movie is about a single mom, once a gangster, try to rescue her daughter from a human trafficking group. Can Tho, the capital city of the Mekong Delta, was chosen as the main background. The movie depicts the ordinary life of the country people. One of the most captivating scenes is set on Cai Rang Floating market where all the local selling agricultural products on the junctions of Hau river, part of the Mekong river.
The chit chat from locals, sound from motorboat, colorful fruits, and delicious smell from meals describe the vivid soul of Mekong land. If you have never been to any floating markets, this movie is worth watching to get its’ latest view nowadays.
Link to the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvfjVB4yrRk
