Heading into the Colonial River Port of Sa Déc
Sa Déc had been one of the largest cities in the delta prior to the 19th century, but has become a rather low key river town with a nonetheless thriving business as an agricultural center and canals extending its reach further inland.
Setting of The Lover
You’ll be forgiven for not being familiar with Sa Déc’s international claim to fame as the town where the real life story behind French novelist Marguerite Duras’ autobiographical novel The Lover played out. Above is the family home of the young Chinese man, son of a wealthy businessman, with whom she had an affair as a half-orphaned, impoverished, French teenager born and raised in Vietnam. His father did not approve. Ah, the scandal, but an interesting house. The Chinese found success in Vietnam as traders and businesspeople, but have been subject to a lot of resentment for their success and suspicion as people from a very powerful neighbor.
Wandering through the Market in Sa Déc
Stopping by Cái Bè, a Village with Interesting Offerings
Curiously, no one accepted the very kind and multiple offers to try one’s hand at these tasks, perhaps on account of the somewhat elevated temperature in the open air workshop, something around more or less 100°F.