This a tiny market. But there are plenty of South East Asian women shopping at this Vietnamese store behind Sterling Plaza. They raid the various chill cabinets for the stock of unusual fresh herbs, like several kinds of mint, several kinds of basil, including the peppery Holy Thai variety, and Vietnamese cilantro.

It carries the usual dried goods, noodles, rice, canned goods and jars of sauce. But it also stocks crockery for the Asian table and a woven contraption which I think is for scooping rice, except that it's huge.

You need fresh blood? Here's where you'll find it for your very own black pudding and blood sausage-making.

It's a friendly store, with helpful customers as well as staff.

Phuoc Loc Tho, 22360 Sterling Blvd (behind Sterling Plaza), Sterling, 703 406 8804.