Saigon River
By day
We have only seen a small part of the Saigon River, during our strolls through town.
Bikes along the boulevard of Saigon River.
The river is mainly a ‘working’ river and nothing to marvel about (for tourists).
To make a river picture without garbage in the river I really had to make an effort.
It can even be quite smelly during the day due to all the waste.
That is one of the more interesting spots along the river, thanks to some local cruise that ly there.
The biggest one does not sail out, it is an event place and restaurant.
By night
At night it has a bit more appeal, due to the lit up skyline, but again: nothing to really be wowed by.
At night that same restaurant boat is lit up and it looks prettier then.
OK, good enough for a welfie.
Take a river tour
I read however that it’s interesting to do a river tour, to see the secret city canals where the locals live, or to go to the famous ChiChi tunnels or to the Mekong Delta.
River toilets in the Mekong Delta
The first time I was in Vietnam, we did a private three-day Mekong tour. Just my boyfriend and me, a driver and a guide. It was amazing.
We traveled the Mekong Delta per (small) boat, which brings you through villages, houses on stilts and floating markets. I particularly remember the ‘squat over the river’ toilets. Even getting to them looked like a challenge (=walking over two round poles over the river)!
Get an idea of what I mean through this video about these kind of toilets:
Review of The Deck at the Saigon River
A beautiful place with good food….
The upscale restaurant we went to to enjoy a ‘lunch with river views’, called The Deck, had beautiful, clean restrooms, thank god.
The whole place looked gorgeous: the garden (or patio), the decor inside the restaurant and the little deck at the river.
Arriving at The Deck. Beautiful architecture and ambiance!
What a photogenic place!
It was a super hot and sunny day, which you can tell from my squinting eyes and Frits’ sunglasses.
It was nice and relaxing to sit and just stare at the river.
The small deck. Very cute.
A working river, as I said earlier.
The food was great, but I would not go back to this place.
… but the service was disappointing and ‘cold’
First of all I hate it when restaurants refuse to hand out ice water, but instead force expensive bottled water on you.
But more important was the staff.
During our meal they were ‘ok’, but there was absolutely no warmth or friendliness in their behaviour.
After we paid, no one even looked at us to say thank you or goodbye. To me that feels like “We got your money, now get lost.”
Have you been to The Deck? How was your experience?
Are you sensitive to the way you are treated in a restaurant?
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