Duong Dong

Of all the grocers that can be found in the Civic Centre square this is the mega mart with foodstuffs not just from Vietnam but its south-east Asian neighbours.

The boxes of fresh fruit, vegetable and herbs out front are always a-swarm with customers, stooped over to find the best snake beans, choy sum, durian, gourds, ginger and taro with not a plastic wrap or bag in sight. Inside the narrow aisles overflow with pastes, sugars, rice and rice paper varieties, sauces, noodles, salted and dried seafood, sauces and oils. And those looking to do their own steamboat will find everything they need here.

And there’s no need to travel far for fresh seafood - attached on one side is a seafood market which is self serve and stocks whole fish, crabs, squid as well as fillets.