From Suq to Shuk: The markets of Vietnam, part II

12/08/2010

The markets of Vietnam, part II

While the last post featured some fresh produce, the majority of the photos displayed were of dried goods. This post will focus entirely on the fresh fruit and vegetables that we found in markets both in Saigon and in the Mekong Delta region. With globalisation on the rise, more and more of the items that were formerly quite exotic are popping up all over the West. The quality of the produce in Asia, however, is simply higher - the colours are brighter, the flavours and smells more intense. We saw myriad varieties of bananas and lychees, green and orange papayas, clementines, green and yellow mangoes, yellow pomegranates, giant persimmons, huge mangosteen and some others that we couldn't even identify. There was quite a few Western fruits and vegetables as well, that looked sort of strange amongst the exotic majority. Every kind of herb you can imagine, they had it fresh. Alas, I have no pictures of fabulous fresh peppercorns that were so ubiquitous throughout the region. I found neither the opportunity nor the courage to taste durian, whether in its giant or medium-sized variety but there it was nonetheless. What one could do if only one had access to a kitchen in this environment!