Two of my favourite things

TWO of my favourite things, here in Vietnam, are iced sugarcane juice and hot fresh soy milk.

Gleaming silver sugarcane juicers are everywhere in southern Vietnam - mobile carts beside the street churn out frothy green goodness.
Sticks of sugarcane are stripped then repeatedly fed through a grinder until well and truly juiced and dry.

"Mia Da" in Thailand often comes in bottles – without ice – and is extremely sugary.
But here in Vietnam it’s mixed with a dash of lemon juice to cut through the sweetness, and is served in a mug stacked with ice. It’s the ultimate refreshment.

*Mmmmm, slurp*

But if you find yourself in the highlands, with the weather turning chilly, Mia Da is traded for "Sua Dau Nanh", soy milk.
Follow the steam and you’ll find pots of hot soy milk, sweetened to your liking with a strong beany flavour, sold beside the road with areas for sitting and pondering or on mobile trolleys with plastic bags for takeaway.

*Mmmmm, aaaaaah*

The following piccies (and the one above) were taken at Dalat - the home of Vietnam's best fresh fruit and veg, good coffee, tart strawberry jam, interesting artichoke tea, fabulous fruit lollies and some strange wine!