Dec 15, 2011

Views from the Phu My Bridge

I drive over the bloody thing twice a day on my commute, and it's one of those things you take for granted; a sweeping vista stretching in one direction away to the south east where the Saigon River twists and empties into the Nha Be River. Cargo ships sail gently under the 150 meter high bridge leaving their lazy wakes in the dazzling early morning sunshine, occasionally the Vung Tau hydrofoil speeds by. From the other side, a view of Saigon's skyline from Phu My Hung to District Two. It's the best free view in the city. So as the sun was hanging low in the sky and the light dimming, I decided to pedal over the 2km bridge with my camera, as I had been meaning to for a long time.

The evidence of the industrial nature of the riverside is evident. There is warehousing, a large timber yard, a port and the Saigon Shipbuilding Industry Company.

Views from the Phu My Bridge
Ship building in progress


Views from the Phu My Bridge
Ship building in progress


Views from the Phu My Bridge
Warehouse, timber yard and port


Views from the Phu My Bridge
Timber yard, D7


The sky is huge and the landscape is flat, ships dot the horizon. There's not many places in Saigon that capture a sense of space and nature, a feeling of distance from the chaos.

Views from the Phu My Bridge
View down the river


Views from the Phu My Bridge
Sunset on the bridge


Heading back over the bridge from the other side, the view is of the river heading upstream, winding its way back through the city.

Views from the Phu My Bridge


And the district one skyline.

Views from the Phu My Bridge
District One skyline


So, grab your bike, take some snacks and head up to the bridge to enjoy the view with the locals at sunset. It's worth it.