Organic Veggies?

rwinn415 wrote:

Does anyone know of a shop (preferably in districts 4 or 7) where I can find organic vegetables?

Indeed, I did write that.

Real organic vegetables? With such a small demand?

Just buy any old veggie, and pretend it is organic - it's what Vietnamese retailers do. Oh, don't forget to mark the price up.

bluenz wrote:

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rwinn415 wrote:

Does anyone know of a shop (preferably in districts 4 or 7) where I can find organic vegetables?

That's strange it worked the first time?????

There is one on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street Dist 1,  I dont remember the number address of the shop, but its next to Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Bookstore.
Both of them are near the road- about.

Petite Giang wrote:

There is one on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street Dist 1,  I dont remember the number address of the shop, but its next to Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Bookstore.
Both of them are near the road- about.

That's a LONG ROAD/STREET!

The intersection (crossroad) is PHAM VIET CHANH.

But why bother - 'organic' veggies are simply ordinary veggies except they are the better looking ones. AND they cost more.

Usually organic veggies do not look that good..

Jaitch wrote:

But why bother - 'organic' veggies are simply ordinary veggies except they are the better looking ones. AND they cost more.

Jaitch wrote:

But why bother - 'organic' veggies are simply ordinary veggies except they are the better looking ones. AND they cost more.

Do you know the definition of the word "organic" in relation to foods? It concerns the methods used to grow them. For example, organic vegetables are not grown with an abundance of pesticides and not treated with preservatives. Generally, it is the non-organic vegetables that are treated with artificial coloring that makes them look fuller and more vivacious.

(Moderated: inappropriate)

Organic , or Toxic, it depends on what you can afford.

Exactly. But the fact is, most people in HCMC don't give two s***s about whether their vegetables are grown organically or traditionally. I do. I know it's sort of a niche market here, but there is a fairly large expat community in HCMC and I'm sure organic vegetable dispensaries exist. I would just like to know where. No more mean-spirited, and decidedly ill-researched, comments, please (I'm looking at you, Jaitch). And money is not an issue, so don't worry about that.

There is small shop called Organic Market at 132 Nguyen Cao, Phu My Hung( near by Coop Mart Nguyen Van Linh). Their vegetables are Organic certified by Euro control. also other organic groceries.Come and see for yourself if you do care what you eat. cheers

rwinn415 wrote:

Do you know the definition of the word "organic" in relation to foods? It concerns the methods used to grow them. For example, organic vegetables are not grown with an abundance of pesticides and not treated with preservatives. Generally, it is the non-organic vegetables that are treated with artificial coloring that makes them look fuller and more vivacious.

Of course I do, I take extraordinary care over my food sources (and restaurants). It's how I avoid the SaiGon Sh*ts.

You essentially answered your own question when you said "most people in HCMC don't give two s***s about whether their vegetables are grown organically or traditionally". You are wrong, people care, BUT the point you skipped over is that there is not a big enough market to warrant the effort.

But it's amusing watching holistic people looking for the Holy Grail. 'Organic' food, in VietNam, is usually just a label change from regular food - they have really good printers here and equally enterprising vegetable vendors who know how to exploit Foreigners.

And forget about the 'colouring' - they inject food with Chinese-made life extenders. Yum, yum, yum.

If you ever get to Hue, TTH, pop over to the small river separating An Cuu from the city - your 'organics' are all growing on the banks of the sewage laden river. Real healthy looking, too.

Of you want 'organic' go rent a patch of land in Cu Chi or Long An and grow your own. Seeds are available at Giants and so Co-Ops.

rwinn415 wrote:

I do. I know it's sort of a niche market here, but there is a fairly large expat community in HCMC and I'm sure organic vegetable dispensaries exist. I would just like to know where. No more mean-spirited, and decidedly ill-researched, comments, please (I'm looking at you, Jaitch).

Ill researched? Mean-spirited? (Try realistic) I, and a friend, have spent many early mornings following food trucks and vendors. That's how we know where certain 'vegetarian' store buyers get their food supplies, right here in TP HCM, along with all the other buyers from regular stores.

Hang around the toll gate in An Lac and see how many food inspectors work overnight.

There are approximately 100,000 Foreigners in all VietNam and given a population of 84/90-million total, do you think there is a sufficient market for the 'holistics'. Sure their are people growing fertiliser free vegetables but just what do you think the sewage they use to grow the plants is other than a mix of manure and chemicals?

You are fresh off the boat and new to VietNam and you, no doubt, haven't done much 'research' at all.

Perhaps I should hire someone to run a stand with a huge notice saying 'Organics Only' then overcharge for regular produce! Could make a fortune and the s******* will go away delusional but happy.

That's it! We're all doomed. Doomed I say. The muỗi has spoken. There's no organic veg in Vietnam. The dark clouds are gathering (filled with Chinese colouring to make the silver lining toxic). Unclean, unclean I say. Buy only frozen veg from METRO and their cheese (I say, I say, I say this cheese is rubbery! - Ooooh fang yew werry mush).

There are many small suppliers around Saigon who will supply you with organic veg. But you have to go looking and you have to check the buggers as they will try to cheat you. My missus gets fresh veg every day from suppliers who don't use pesticides and colourings. We also get supplies sent down from the families farms in the C Highlands - the fresh ginger we get sent down blows yer socks off.

Expat site already have a few threads on this topic. Just search for it. The following is the longest one with basic answers:

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=101494


If you want to have someone to show you where are some of the possible places, then Chiara might be able to provide the answers. I have been in contact with her. She will show me a couple of places in D7 when I arrive in VN next month.

https://www.expat.com/en/classified/asi … uinzi.html

If you want to eat at a possible organic restaurant, then below are three places I found. I don't know if they are legit until I set foot on the ground. I highly doubt they are 100% organic.

cucgachquan.com.vn/en/a-vietnamese-family-moment/menu
the-organic.vn/index.php?trang=home.php&lang=1
wrap-roll.com/

Below is also a list of organic places in D7 someone listed and a supposedly good butcher in D7:

hello-saigon.com/2014/05/12/healthy-phu-my-hung/
travysbutchershop.asia/

With all that out of the way, I advise you not to get your hopes up in maintaining your lifestyle. From what I have gathered, there is no organic meat. The fruits and veggies are anyone's guess. We have to pick the best of the worst. Jaitch said the quality assurance certs can be printed by anyone. To increase the odd of not overpaying for conventional food marketed as organic and/or safe, stick to big supermarket like Lotte or Gaint?

I also have the same issue here in the USA finding organic vendors. There are only a handful of local farmers to chose. Places like Whole Foods is overrated. The market niche is so small. I don't expect much of VN since the target market for organic food are foreigners, which is not even a tiny fraction of US population. Foreigner in VN who eats organic I believe is resulted from fear of poor quality food instead of as a lifestyle. I can be wrong.

The only option I see is to prepare for the worst. Grab along extra bottles of enzymes, probiotics, oxypower or any antioxidant to neutralize those free radicals, oral chelation, or just a single bottle of IntraMax from Global Healing Center. Making the best of the situation by picking out the food with the least toxin is all one can do. We'll live. It is like picking between another Bush or Hilary Clinton for President. We can't go wrong with an illuminati.

My customer just refer another one in ThaoDien,D2. It s called Organik, they have Euro control sticker on their veggies. The website also said they are accredited. Gotta check this one out when I get back this weekend.

artichoke wrote:

My customer just refer another one in ThaoDien,D2. It s called Organik, they have Euro control sticker on their veggies. The website also said they are accredited. Gotta check this one out when I get back this weekend.

Good information - I am contacting all the authorities they claim to be members of/subscribing to.

I saw this statement on the Organik web site: Note: Organically Grown products are grown according to organic standards but without certification.

Well done Jaitch. I guess I have to go there and see them myself then. Will give you an update once I find out.

Uhmmm, I went on there website and found this:
http://organikvietnam.com/contents/en-ca/d286.html