I Didn’t Expect to Run Low on Fuel… 192 Hours to Complete This Cargo Journey!

As soon as my cargo ship was finally full of wood, I started the engine and began the long journey toward the delivery point. As usual, I continued traveling through the night, following the waterways of the Mekong Delta while most people were asleep. By morning, I reached a very narrow passage that required my full attention. With a heavily loaded cargo ship, there was little room for error, so I had to steer slowly and carefully through it. Then I discovered something I hadn’t expected. When I checked the fuel tank, much more fuel had been used than I had calculated. During the loading process, I had moved my ship many times between different wood-loading sites, and all of those extra movements had consumed more fuel than I realized. Normally, on previous trips, I could travel much farther—almost to the Cần Thơ area—before needing to refuel. This time was different. The canals around this part of Cà Mau are shallow near the banks, and with my ship heavily loaded, I couldn’t safely pull alongside a fuel station. So my husband took our little motorboat and went to buy extra fuel, bringing it back in 30-liter containers so we could continue the journey. That little boat may look small beside my cargo ship, but at moments like this, it becomes an incredibly useful part of our life on the river. Later, the weather changed suddenly and a powerful rainstorm arrived. My husband took over the helm because he didn’t want me sitting there soaked and cold. My steering area is still very exposed, so when strong wind and rain arrive, almost everything around me gets wet. Unfortunately, our living area isn’t much better yet. During heavy rain, water can find its way inside, and I sometimes have to place basins and containers around the cabin to catch the leaks before the water spreads everywhere. This is one of the reasons I hope to upgrade our living area after the next cargo trip, when our finances allow. I cannot improve everything at once, so my husband and I will continue making this ship better little by little through our own work. After the long journey, we finally reached the charcoal kiln, and unloading began soon after my ship arrived. Watching the workers carry those heavy logs again reminded me just how much physical effort stands behind every completed cargo trip. When a small food boat passed by selling steaming bowls of bún riêu, I waved it over and bought some for the workers. Each hot bowl cost only about $1, but seeing everyone happily enjoying a warm meal made this small gesture feel much more valuable than its price. I thought the unloading would continue normally, but another period of waiting began. The workers had already promised to finish another ship first, so my cargo ship had to wait for five days before they could return. During those quieter days, I prepared salted ba khía crab, a traditional specialty from the mangrove region of Cà Mau. It may look unusual if you have never seen it before, but eaten with simple white rice, it is absolutely delicious to me. Have you ever tried salted ba khía crab? On the fifth day, the workers finally returned and continued unloading. They worked hard until darkness had completely fallen, determined to finish the job for my ship. And at last, this long cargo journey was complete. From traveling through the night, an unexpected fuel shortage, refueling by little motorboat, heavy rain and a leaking living area, to another five days of waiting at the destination—this journey reminded me that cargo life on the Mekong River rarely goes exactly as planned. But every difficulty eventually becomes another part of the journey we have overcome together. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for staying with my husband and me through the long nights, unexpected problems, quiet waiting days, and finally the happiness of completing another cargo trip. Your companionship makes these long journeys feel much less lonely. ❤️ Diễm An