Vietnam is the planet’s tropical fruit mecca. You will find the vast variety of sweet goodness at Mũi Né markets and street vendor stalls. It is worth tasting as much as you can, so be adventurous and dive into the fascinating world of Vietnam’s fruits! We will guide you through its wonders with some info and tips.
Passion Fruit
Some believe that Christian missionaries gave the climbing vine its name, as they had concluded the flowers resembled teachings about the resurrection of Christ.
Passion fruit has a thick, waxy rind that becomes wrinkly when the fruit ripens. Inside it is filled with a gelatinous pulp full of seeds. The seeds are edible, but somewhat tart.
Passion fruit is a good source of iron, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium and B vitamins. When you buy passion fruit, look for the one that feels heavy and is purple or yellow on the outside. The more wrinkled is the skin, the riper is the fruit!
Longan
The Vietnamese name of longan is "long nhan". It translates as "dragon eye". When you remove the fruit's skin, the round black seeds and white flesh seem to look like small eyes. This may sound somewhat unappealing, but the taste will not disappoint you! The fruit is sweet and delicious.
Longan is reach in vitamins and vital minerals, such as vitamin C, copper, iron, and Riboflavin. It can help to strengthen your immune system and your bones.
Dragon Fruit
The dragon fruit got its name because of its looks. It seems to resemble a dragon head, doesn't it?
The flesh of dragon fruit comes in two colors: red (or rather vivid pink) and white. The little black seeds are also edible and good for your digestion. Both types of the fruit taste similar - succulent, with a slight sour note, but still sweet at the same time. An interesting fact is that the red fleshed fruit is said to contain double the amount of vital nutrients and vitamins as the white one.
Nevertheless, both of them are rich in vitamin C, B1, B2, and B3, and contain minerals such as iron, calcium, and phosphorus. Dragon fruit is believed to be able to protect you from heart problems, aging skin and acne.
Mango
Attention! The imported mangoes you can buy in non-tropical countries taste nothing close to those grown in Vietnam.
There are many different types of mango here, but the most famous seems to come from a small town of Hòa Loc in the Mekong delta. It usually weights about 400 grams and has an oval shape with golden yellow skin and pulp.
Mango is a great source of vitamins A and C, folate, B6, and iron. It may help to prevent cancer, lower your cholesterol, improve your skin and eyesight and boost the immune system.
You cannot help being amazed at the countless number of colorful fruits available in Mũi Né, and we have only scratched the surface! Stay tuned for the next part of the Mũi Né Fruit Guide!