The most noticeable thing coming from westernized Thailand to a UNESCO World Heritage site in Central Vietnam is the complete lack of modern convenience stores, western fast food outlets and packaged, processed crap. That 'stuff' people in the so-called-developed-world erroneously call 'food'.
Here in Hoi An, Vietnam, we are talking fresh food, freshly cooked in the way it's always been done. Everywhere. Which means bustling early morning fresh markets to get the freshest foods before the heat of the day hits.
The natural medicine of fresh food simply can't be overstated. Glowing, abundant natural health arguably starts here, at the fresh market.
So 7am Sunday, it was on in full swing.
Greens are a huge part of Vietnamese cuisine and are on sale everywhere. The occasional local Gac fruit could still be seen, despite being close to out of season.
Apart from the established vendors lucky enough to have pavement space, there are many vendors quietly squatting in the middle of the hugely busy market, selling what little they have harvested or caught.
How fresh are the prawns and fish? Some are caught literally 500 metres away in the river estuary where Hoi An is nestled about 5km inland from the sea front.
Early is ESSENTIAL to get the best and freshest produce. By 8.51am, quite a few of the more popular vendors were close to sold out.
It's a REALLY NICE FEELING as my friend Kate and I are preparing to go out for an early evening meal (actually everyone eats early here) to KNOW that the freshest food is on offer, and that it's NORMAL here to shop daily, cook daily and eat the local, natural goodness. A healthier paradigm.
My endless @naturalmedicine mantra is #foodismedicine And it was SUCH A PLEASURE to see the richness and diversity on offer. And now I'm HUNGRY and heading out to eat.
BlissnBlessed & enjoying my travels in Vietnam.
Contributing to the @earthtribe. Cos it MATTERS.
