#destinationvietnam

Tra Que Organic Farm 

Location: Hoi An, Vietnam

By Chopt Creative Director Julia Sherman

I like to describe my own gardening style as rogue, improvised, carefree. Historically, I have taken great pride in that loosey-goosey approach, that was before I visited the Tra Que organic farms outside of Hoi An.

Tra Que is a small farming community village 3km north of Hoi An’s Old Town. The village cultivates over 20 different varieties of herbs alone including basil, knotweed, Vietnamese mint, coriander, perilla, rau ram and more. Those piles of fresh herbs that are served with every meal have to come from somewhere! The scientifically placed rows of chives, herbs and mystery salad greens are so meticulously arranged, it’s hard to imagine they were put there by human hands, using organic farming techniques, no less. 

Touring by bike, we cruised through the succession of thriving plots, strategically built between the De Vong River and the Tra Que alga pond. This specific location creates especially rich soil and great access to water. The farmers don’t use chemical or fertilizers, instead they source algae from the lagoon, taking great pride in their completely organic and safe farming techniques. Tourists can sign up for organized tours of the farm, and even take cooking classes at the nearby Watermill restaurant, or, just rent a bike and cruise on through. 

Rose: Dumplings: The Street Food Of Your Dreams 

Location: Hoi An, Vietnam

We did it. We found the perfect street food. 

There is a dumpling that far surpasses all the rest. It is chewy, and light, fragrant and bit-sized. It is the Vietnamese rose dumpling, made with chewy tapioca and rice noodle skin, filled with shrimp or fresh bean paste. They are topped with toasted crispy garlic and served with a dipping sauce made from flavorful shrimp broth, hot chilies, lemon, and sugar. They are so elegant, it’s hard to imagine they are being served on the street corner fora dollar a serving. 

In the open air markets of central Vietnam, dense clusters of women squat on low stools, singularly focused on the tiny bowls cradled in their palms. Look for a large metal pot in the center of these parties, that’s always a good sign. And try them all, each vendor we patronized had their twist, their own variation on the filling, the chile sauce, even the shape of the dumplings themselves. It’s a wonderful world out there, start eating!