Long Khanh Countryside - Thi's Home
Ist September 2018
As we have already visited Ho Chi Min City, Vung Tau, Nui Dat and other sights in and around this port, the guide we have previously had, suggested a trip to her village in the countryside. it is located in an area which played a strong defensive role for Saigon during the Vietnam War.
Once collected we were driven through and past orchards, rubber and coffee plantations to visit a local fruit and food market. Thi pointed out various tropical fruits, vegetables, live poultry and fish. I couldn't get over how everyone wanted to say hello and wave to us. Many requested I take their photos!. When wandering around the street we had to be mindful of the many scooters and motorbikes driving along beside us. We were always looking behind and in front of us, listening for the beeps closer to us. Thi bought some fruits for us to try at the visit to her sister's house and walk around the garden. dragon fruit, rambutan, lychees, jackfruit, custard apple and more. I tell you now after our visit to Vietnam that night I found myself very regular! (not diarrea though).
The street where all the stalls selling fresh produce. Watch out for motor scooters!
Hello! Lots of smiles, waves and good wishes from locals.
Hmmm..not sure about buying meat like this. There was a 'blowie' on the meat!
Live fish, frogs, crabs, squid and cockles.
Colourful display of vegetables.
Live chooks, ducks, rabbits and more.
Scooters everywhere!
We had local made coffee made with condensed milk, at a cafe nearby. I was a bit concerned by the ice which was used in the drink. (was it boiled?, safe to drink for 'outsiders'...Bali Belly comes to mind) but luck or better sanitation, we had no after effects. It was yummy anyway.
Vietnamese style coffee
Thi's sister's front gate
Her sister had 20 guard dogs to alert them for people stealing from them. They were all chained to various shelters scattered around the maybe 3 acre block where the house was situated in the middle with the fruit trees to side and front and pig sheds at rear. Thi explaned her sister and bro-in-law slept outside the house in three sided garage.
Pineapples planted in various areas around garden. Also different fruit trees alongside each other.
Clean piggery with around a dozen pigs at different stages of life. All the fruit and meat is sold at the markets to supplement their income.
Next stop took us to Thi's family home. A two story house built and completed about 12 months ago. Thi was very proud to show off her family house which she and her other siblings had helped to pay for. Thi lives in an apartment in H.C.M City but returns home for some weekends and Chinese New Year to be with her family. A couple of siblings and their families live there permanently during the week. Two of her sisters and brother cooked our banquet for lunch....wow, we could not eat it all and most of it, I assume, would have been eaten later that day after we left.
Banquet of Vietnamese Food
Thi's family home.
Next day Vietnam celebrated its National Holiday, so a lot of the roads were lined with red and gold flags, representing the blood and a gold star with 5 points. Each point symbolizing farmers, workers, soldiers, and two others I can't remember. I will check it out later on.
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