South East Asia Adventure | Morning at the Boutique Hotel

After the color, chaos, cacophony of car horns, hordes of people, neon, commercialism of HCMC and Van Tho the Boutique Hotel was an oasis if serenity.

Seven or eight one and two story white plantation style buildings surrounding a vast swimming pool - the kind where the water comes right to the rim and looks like a huge plate if glass.
After quick packing and showers (using the little pots of shower gel and shampoo you take out with a spoon) we headed straight for the endless soft deep sand beach about 100 yards away in front of the hotel. Great stretch for the hips and calves. A fisherman in his round basket boat made his way out through the high surf. Tough going. I'm sure he had to bail a few times on the way but he made it past the surf and disappeared in the waves. We returned to breakfast. Half the dining area sits in front of the main building in the midst of a massive lawn where viet women in their conical hats were sweeping up leaves. Blue straw lanterns in many shapes hung from the trees that look familiar – maybe Hawaii – with small white odourless flowers. Tables and chairs are in a modern style in dark wicker with off white cushions and umbrellas set off with grey and bronze woven place mats.

The breakfast buffet has been a typical feature of all the Vietnamese hotels but some have outdone themselves in scale and variety. The best part - Fruit bar includes: Watermelon, Pineapple, Dragon fruit, Papaya, Passion fruit, Banana, 4 dry cereals, 2 fruit salads, Grapefruit, Several different juices.
Then there is the Omelette bar made to order of course - Ham, Bacon, Tomatoes, Green onions, Waffles and pancakes. The Bread bar - many breads, a baked cinnamon toast, Croissants and French rolls

There is always the Vietnamese bar though this was not the best but today it included, Crispy rice balls, Chicken or shrimp congee, Noodles and vegetables, fried and steamed rice, Pork dumplings, Fried mushrooms. If you are hungry for standard american its there too, then a pile of salads – papayas, some greens we don't know, tomato and potato.

I can pretty much fill up for the entire day here, though we have yet to find a real latte that uses fresh milk so I usually leave with a hankering for my very own home made coffee.

All in all a great spot for our “rest” between big cities. ---M.