Mekong River Cruise

Ho Chi Minh City Day 2 - Thus Begins the ABD

I have yet to adjust to the time zone so I am up early. 

After breakfast we meet in the lobby for a bus ride to the Mekong Delta. The traffic is bad and this becomes a three hour journey. But it is interesting to see the scooters and shops and the hustle and bustle of daily life. 

In Vin Long we met our Sampan and soon set off for its leisurely cruise on the busy waterways of the Mekong Delta.

The Mekong (Mother of Waters) is the world’s 12th longest river and the second longest in Asia. The river starts in the Tibetan Plateau running to the South China Sea. We are told it has a great bit of bio diversity, yet the delta area we are in is populated and busy, thus not so much wildlife. I did see one heron. 

We were offered cold towels and served fresh fruit and coconut water in the coconut.  Yes it is hot and humid. 

As we sailed, we observed the daily life playing out. Goods being transported, family living next to and on the water, large boats carrying rice, yes a very busy water way, with some development continuing. 

We made a stop at  Phu An Hamlet and visited local workshops to observe the traditional process of making coconut candy and puffed rice (the local equivalent of popcorn). There was also a still where rice wine was produced.  Samples were had and shopping was available. 

Yes Lynn is braver than I 

Puffed Rice 

Back to our sampan to continue the cruise to Le Longanier Restaurant. Set in a lush tropical garden by the river and surrounded by fruit plantations, Le Longanier is a gorgeous two-story villa modeled after a turn-of-the-century French colonial home, recreating the refined atmosphere of traditional Indochina.

Our lunch was an Elephant Ear Fish, I can best describe it as a crappie kind of fish, a soup with corn and various other veggies, a pork spring roll and a caramelized pork with veggies rice. Dessert was a steamed banana cake with coconut cream. 

We then cruised back to our originating dock and started the long traffic jammed ride back to the hotel. 

Arriving late we had a few minutes to clean up for dinner. 

Situated 200m above the ground, EON51 Restaurant & Lounge offered us a unique experience in a truly amazing setting. Here as we dined we admired the spectacular cityscape. 

Here we enjoyed a set menu of hand cut fries, tomato and basil pizza, fettuccini with wild mushroom and beef cheek, glazed duck breast,  deep fried spring roll, prawn mousse on sugar cane, lotus stem and prawn salad and grilled beef in pepper leaf finished with a dessert sampler plate of fruit,  mung bean cake and banana cake. All was excellent. 

We opted to walk back to the hotel to see some more street life and the  glittering lights set up for the new years celebration. 

Back at the hotel for a rush pack job  before going to bed.