Surprise Pearl Find in Vietnam - Spicy Clam Dish

by Sharon
(Victoria, Australia)

I spent a day travelling with a Vietnamese family in the Hoi An area in Vietnam. We stopped for lunch at a beach side eatery, and several seafood dishes were ordered. A large fresh steaming bowl of clams with fresh herbs and asian dipping sauce was placed on the table.

I used the customary chopsticks, and started picking the clam meat from the shells. I suddenly felt a 'hard bit' in my clam meat, and thought that it may have been a 'host crab' that sometimes live in shellfish. I spat it out onto my hand, and saw a round white ball. I didn't immediately think 'pearl, more like stop somehow in cooking dish. I handed it around the table. None of the old-timers knew what it was. I wrapped it in a napkin and put it in my purse.

When I got back to wifi, I started a search of 'clam pearls' and it seems that i may have come across a naturally forming 6mm button pearl with no blemishes.

I am not sure what I will do with this yet - maybe incorporated in a design on a small necklace pendant. It was certainly a surprise find and one that I will treasure.