Yes, that is a cobra in the bottle of snake wine at the market in Cai Be. A cure-all for rheumatism, our guide tells us. Just don’t take too big of a sip or else you’ll end up with cobra belly. Maybe it’s safer to use a straw – or a mongoose.

A few readers have asked about internet access. 3G appears to be prevalent along the river in Vietnam (we won’t have 3G service in Cambodia, I am told.)

For now, however, I am using 3G to post from my Blackberry. La Marguerite routes the 3G network through a wireless network, which allows guests to access the internet on WiFi-enabled devices. The service is offered free of charge and can be spotty.