I think I've gained about five pounds here. One, because the food is great and two, because they keep feeding us!
One coffee break on the job site the group stopped working, but because of the heat no one was hungry. The ladies who catered our meals at the site were insulted. Their food was probably the best we ate, so we all reluctantly grabbed the ban mi (Vietnamese sub). Subway should be frightened. Jared should try these creations made by two ladies from the market. It’s the best food and probably the cheapest. Two snacks and lunch was four bucks per person.
Vietnam was run by France for many years, and that influence remains in their baked foods, their baguettes are fresh and crunchy. It is a foodie’s paradise.
With all this French influence, you might be surprised that you can't find cheese anywhere. In fact no dairy. I haven't had milk since I was home. A volunteer on the trip originally from Brunei says dairy products are way too expensive for the average Asian family.
The specialty in Hoi An is Cao Lau noodles. The noodles are made from rice flour and water taken from an old well in the center of town. The water is supposed to bring luck and prosperity to all who slurp up the long noodles. They add broth, meat, a huge pile of greens along with herbs like mint and cilantro. Crispy corn chips and a lime wedge top it off.
Yesterday we sat down to a bowl of Cao Lau, and being westerners we were given forks. I wasn’t sure what to do with this shiny metal object! After a week of chopsticks, my hands don’t want to use anything else!
