MEKONG DELTA SERIES - PART 2 LAND USES AND SURVIVAL

The Mekong delta ranks second in the list of the area of world deltas. The scaled map on the title page provides an opportunity for students to recognise the area (almost 100,000 square kilometres. This unit has a focus on the major land uses which are the basis for the survival of just over 18 million people. The main activity is growing the staple crop of rice. This is carried out by thousands of farming families on small areas. Rice is marketed within the delta but Vietnam is a major exporter of rice. Rice is milled within the delta and moved out of the delta via road to Ho Chi Minh City or by ship from the delta distributaries to overseas markets. Linked with the two large delta urban areas (My Tho over 800,000 population and Can Tho 1.4 million population) are market gardening areas producing a range of fruit and vegetables. These larger urban centres ara also areas of light industry.Vietnam also exports quantities of fish caught in the fresh waters of the distributaries or in the brackish waters of the mangrove swamps. Of particular significance is the raising of shriimp either in the water cannals and ponds of the rice fields or in the saline waters among the mangroves. The attachment is provided to promote class discussion. It could be handed out as a worksheet. This unit can standalone but it is also part of a series which, when completed, will give a broader understanding of this significant area.