In recent days, a series of videos have appeared on social media about a flooded restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City. Accordingly, diners are sitting and enjoying their food amidst the rising water, while staff wade through the water to serve them.

Coming to this address on a weekend afternoon, VietNamNet reporters saw a lot of diners already there. Many of them watched the video on social media and were curious to experience it.

Wooden tables and plastic chairs are arranged along the rows of ancient trees. The water is up to half of the calves. Diners enjoy the food while happily soaking their feet and splashing around. The space here is quite cool, even during the peak heat of Ho Chi Minh City.

The unique space at the restaurant reminds many people of the West during flood season.

The owner of the restaurant is Mr. Le Hoang Khiem (born in 1989, District 12). Mr. Khiem said: This unique restaurant model was conceived and prepared by the family for a year and officially opened in March.

As a native of the Mekong Delta, born and raised in Kien Giang, Mr. Khiem's ​​childhood was closely associated with the flood season. "My childhood was spent wading through water to go to school and hang out with friends, so I really want to bring these beautiful memories far away, specifically to Ho Chi Minh City, so that people from all over have the opportunity to experience and feel something about the flood season in the Mekong Delta," Mr. Khiem shared.

To realize the idea, Mr. Khiem built a rectangular concrete frame about 100 square meters wide, smooth and clean. Every day, water will be pumped inside, about 20cm deep.

“I pump water once a day, from about 8am to 4pm. It takes 30-45 minutes to pump water into the yard,” Khiem described.

Instead of using corrugated iron roofs, the restaurant uses "natural roofs" from large tree canopies, creating a cool, close-to-nature feeling.

"The reason I only fill the water during the day is because Ho Chi Minh City is at its hottest. Pumping water during this time helps diners enjoy lunch outdoors while still feeling comfortable and cool. It is also safer for customers and staff to move around in the water during the day than at night. After 4 p.m., the water is drained, cleaned and dried, waiting for customers in the evening," said Mr. Khiem.

Previously, when the video of this restaurant went viral on social media, many people said that soaking your feet in water for too long could cause blisters, odors, and even skin problems. Many people were also concerned about the cleanliness of the water source. They said the water was pumped from a large lake right next to the restaurant.

In fact, at the restaurant, diners can choose to eat in the onshore area or the flooded area, depending on their preference. The restaurant owner confirmed that the water is pumped up and drained during the day, there is no such thing as leaving it for a long time causing a foul smell, and no lake water is used. The lake next to the restaurant is used to store and drain used water.

"Pumping water every day will cost more but ensure safety, cleanliness, and make customers happy and satisfied," said Mr. Khiem.

Yen Nhi (born in 2000, Ho Chi Minh City) and her friends came to the restaurant to experience it after watching a video on social media. "We are not from the West, so we are very interested in this unique model. The restaurant has a cool space like a garden in the middle of Saigon. The food is delicious, the service is good, and the prices are reasonable," Nhi said.

Ngoc Duy (Go Vap, Ho Chi Minh City), another diner, said: This model is new and unique, but the male diner is very afraid of dropping food, phones, and wallets into the water. "I'm also worried that soaking my feet in water for too long might not be good for my skin," Duy said.

Mr. Hoang Khiem's ​​"Nuoc Noi Quan" has a diverse menu, but mainly familiar, easy-to-eat Western dishes. The two dishes the owner is most confident in are herring salad and grilled chicken with o thum.

"When I first opened, I was also hesitant and worried, afraid that people would not accept it and would have to face many opposing opinions. However, I try to learn and improve every day, hoping to bring an interesting experience to diners," Mr. Khiem shared.

Linh Trang - Nhu Khanh