In the commune of Thuong Phuoc, where the annual water-rising season typically arrives early, residents are not only fishing the Mekong's bounty — they are opening their doors to visitors eager to witness it all firsthand.

For the second consecutive year, the local Farmers' Union and Women's Union, alongside villagers from Giong Bang Hamlet, are running a unique seasonal tour aimed at showcasing life during the floods.

The experience includes visits to the Thuong Phuoc international border gate and hands-on activities like setting traditional fish traps for linh fish (Siamese mud carp), paddling slender wooden boats through waterlogged fields, and harvesting dien dien (Sesbania sesban) flowers — a delicacy of the delta.

"We want visitors to see how we really live during the flood season," said Tran Van Binh, a resident of Thuong Phuoc. 

"It's about giving people a taste of the work we do, the foods we eat, and the culture we're proud of."

About 10 households in Giong Bang now collaborate on the tour, each taking charge of a specific role: paddling guests through canals, cooking seasonal dishes, or guiding fishing activities.

More than just a cultural showcase, the tour provides additional income to local families during a time when traditional farming is paused.

One such livelihood includes a local aquaculture model in which villagers stock native fish in enclosed floodplains — both for sale and for conservation purposes.

Not far from the tour route, in a watery stretch of white lotus fields, Le Thi Trinh has found her own way to make the most of the flood season.

On her roughly half-hectare plot, she cultivates white lotus for its elegant, fragrant blooms.

"Two months after planting, the flowers are ready," she said, as she gently gathered a bundle for market delivery. 

"At peak season, I can sell up to 2,000 lotus stems a day."

Wholesale prices run around VND3,000 (US$0.11) per bloom, with retail prices nearly double. 

The venture has grown so profitable that Trinh is already planning to hire additional workers and expand her fields once the waters recede.

For travelers, the flood season in Dong Thap offers more than just scenic views. 

It's a chance to taste rural Vietnam through an ever-changing, water-shaped lens. 

Regional specialties such as fried Siamese mud carp, climbing perch, mud loach, snakeskin gourami, shark minnow, tiny river shrimp, and savory dishes made with native herbs and flowers are highlights of the experience.

Several eco-tourism spots — including Hoang Hao in An Hoa Commune, Go Thap Lotus Fields in Thap Muoi Commune, and My Phuoc Thanh in My Tra Ward — offer guests a chance to enjoy these dishes while immersed in the region's seasonal rhythms.

As the Mekong's waters continue to rise and fall, so too do the opportunities for sustainable tourism in Dong Thap — where the floods are not a hardship, but a celebration.