Three hours on the water as the lights come on

Dinner and transfers are included. A private table suits anniversaries and small celebrations; we can arrange a cake or flowers if you tell us in advance.

The river is breezy after dark and usually a few degrees cooler than the streets. In the wet season a shower may drive everyone inside for twenty minutes, and the dining room is covered. Smart casual is fine. Bring a light layer for the deck and insect repellent. The boat is stable and seasickness is rare on the river.

Timing depends a little on the season. Sunset in Saigon moves only between about half past five and half past six through the year, so the boat always leaves in daylight and returns in the dark. From December to February the sky is usually clear and the colour lasts; in the wet months cloud can bring an early dusk, but the lights reflected on a wet river are their own reward.

Travellers wanting a quiet, intimate boat for two should ask about a private boat, which costs more; this is a shared dinner boat with other guests and music. It is also not a food experience in the way the street-food evening is — the menu is good, but it is a set dinner rather than a tour of the city’s cooking. Families with toddlers may find three hours at a table long, even with the deck to walk on, and anyone who has already done a river boat in Ha Long or the delta should weigh whether an evening in the city itself would be the better use of their last night.