I agree it looks very upmarket but still very affordable. We were seated next to the kitchen the first time, and you could see how they prepared the food. looked very clean and professional. Though doesn’t seem like they do a lot of actual cooking – more like putting dishes together, focusing on fresh food?

We accidentally ordered the rice cakes the second time. and the second time wasnt as good as the first time. I liked it though!

I was wondering when the restaurant was going to move. Was it really busy? When we went, there were lines out the door…!

Yah, its upmarket by HCMC standards but we still found it pretty cheap…! It was refreshing to find clean quality food in Vietnam. LOL

Didnt see the long tubes, but i saw cranes digging deep into the earth bringing up sands!

I also sent to the restaurant you recommended. Was really nice! its moved. kinda upmarket place, lots of “corporate types” there.

Our tour guide explained that the boats were pumping soil from the riverbed. The soil is taken to Ho Chi Minh to be made into cement and other construction material.

The thing that was on my mind re this was the environmental impact of the siphoning..!

Whilst it may be a cheap and convenient resource, I understand that this practice is destroying the marine ecosystem of the river. The riverbed is an important source of nutrients for the river wildlife.

The people of South East Asia from Laos to Vietnam believe in a mythical creature called the Naga. Its kinda like a big giant sentient snake…

Westerners can liken it to a Water Dragon.