Drinking Dragon Fruit Juice in DaNang

It was another early start to our Vietnam trip today. Courtney and I took a quick flight to DaNang, located in the southern part of the country. The city of 700,000 people, sits on the southerly curve of a vast, well-protected bay. It has developed into central Vietnam's dominant port and its third largest city.

We brought rain with us from Hanoi, which resulted in our checked luggage being soaked! Que, Sera, Sera. We boarded a boat, wet luggage in tow and traveled to Cham Island, off the coast of Vietnam. Cham Island is a very unique palce due largely to the spectacular coral reef that rings a portion of the Island. It is also home to a new soy microenterprise and expansion on a previous soy project.

Last year, NSRL partnered with the U.S. Vietnam Foundation to provide technical assistance to FaifoSoy to create a soy-based microenterprise in the DaNang area. FaifSoy sent a team to NSRL to receive hands-on training in the production of soymilk, tofu, yogurt, ice cream and all types of soy used in baking applications. After returning to DaNang, the FaifoSoy was visited by NSRL technical experts that assisted the FaifoSoy team with further training at their new production site. That microenterprise continues to produce the soy products for the local market in DaNang City as well as for donation to local schools. FaifoSoy has also expanded their efforts to a new brand located on Cham Island. This is a location that the family behind FaifoSoy has long been involved and well invested. They have worked to help create a conservation center on the Island and assist with local efforts to help protect the coral reef.

The Island is lovely and attracts many tourists which present vibrant and lucrative marketplace for the expansion of the FaifoSoy soy baked products. In addition to this, the new FaifoSoy branch is also providing products to the Islands' schools as part of their social responsiblity program. We had timed our visit well and were able to participate in the distribution of the soymilk to the local children. They drank the milk over ice and through straws. They all gave us a "thumbs up" on the taste. The children receive soymilk produced by FaifoSoy twice a week.

We returned from Cham Island and traveled to the original FaifoSoy production facility to meet with the manager and his team. It was great to see him again and to see the exciting progress that continues at FaifoSoy. They have added multiple new soy dairy and soy-enhanced baked goods. We tasted their new soy yogurt, a refreshing treat on such a hot afternoon! We also had a chance to see that the FaifoSoy microenterprise is prospering due to the dedication of the FaifoSoy team.

We returned to our hotel for a cold serving of dragon fruit juice. This stunningly beautiful fruit, also known as pitaya, is an intense color and shape with delicious taste and magnificent flowers.
The hotel had an amazing presentation in serving the delicacy. The fruit, which is a beautiful hot pink color with curly green edges, about the size of a softball, was resting in a small wooden chair. Sweet! A very refreshing way to end the day and it made us forget just for a moment about our soaked luggage!

Regards,

Bridget