There's a dessert stall next to Saigon Square.

At 83 years old, Mrs. Pham Thi Mai is still busy scooping tea, getting chairs, and inviting passersby to stop by her simple carrying pole, selling tea so she can earn money to support her children.

Grandma Mai happily packs cups of tea into bags for customers - Photo: HO LAM

On a corner of the sidewalk on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Ben Thanh Ward (formerly District 1), Ho Chi Minh City, right next to the bustling "shopping paradise" Saigon Square, there is a pair of unmarked tea baskets carried by an old woman who has been sitting quietly for over 30 years.

Under the unpredictable weather of sunshine and rain, she sat silently, occasionally turning the teacups with her hand while waiting for a customer.

That's "Grandma" Mai, "Grandma" being the affectionate way passersby, whether strangers or acquaintances, often call Mrs. Mai when they learn more about her circumstances.

Ngoai Mai is grateful for the kindness shown to her.

Every day, Mrs. Mai wakes up at 4 am to cook sweet soup. Then, around 9 am, she and her sweet soup stall travel by motorbike from Binh Thanh District to District 1 to sell. Around 2 pm, she goes to Ben Thanh Market and wanders around selling to customers until everything is sold out, sometimes not until evening before finally going home.

All the ingredients in the dessert are prepared by her own hands, from buying and soaking the beans to making the coconut milk. She spends the most time preparing and cooking the apple and peanut dessert. The dessert she makes has a subtly sweet flavor, not overly strong.

Her carrying pole was simple and unpretentious, containing only a few pots of sweet soup, a few cups of sweet soup placed on the lids of the pots that she had meticulously prepared, a small ice bucket, and a few small plastic chairs enough for two or three people to sit on.

Mixed sweet soup with royal beans costs 20,000 VND - Photo: HO LAM

At her dessert stall, customers can find many familiar desserts from their childhood, such as corn sweet soup, mung bean sweet soup, black bean sweet soup, and apple sweet soup, all priced at 10,000 VND per cup, while mixed sweet soup with royal beans costs 20,000 VND.

A few young customers walked by, greeted her loudly, and said, "Grandma Mai! Please sell us about 30 or 40 cups so we can share them with our colleagues at work!"

Mrs. Mai's eyes lit up with joy, mixed with a touch of warmth. She recounted that recently, several young people have been regularly coming to eat, take photos, and help promote her "no-sign" dessert stall on social media. Thanks to this, she has become known, appreciated, and supported by many people.

"I'm grateful to you all, and I always want to thank those who have helped me. Even if they didn't buy tea, sometimes they would sit down and help me scoop the tea, tie the bags, chat, and confide in me. Those acts of kindness made me tell myself I had to try my best to earn an honest living. Even if it's hard, I have to try my best to provide for my children, whatever happens, happens," Mrs. Mai confided.

The cups of sweet soup were prepared in advance by the woman and meticulously arranged on a tray - Photo: HO LAM

The beans were soaked and cooked by her own hands. Pictured is black bean sweet soup with a subtly sweet taste, not too overpowering - Photo: HO LAM

He's 53 years old, but that's his fate, I have to keep trying.

Ms. Mai, originally from Quang Ngai province, has been living in Ho Chi Minh City for a long time. She currently lives with a nephew and devotes herself entirely to selling tea to earn money to support her sick son. She sends most of her earnings back home to her son, saving a small amount for herself.

With four children, three sons and one daughter, at her age she should be able to rest and enjoy time with her children and grandchildren, but due to unforeseen events and constant worries, she is forced to persevere and struggle in the world.

Mrs. Mai's eyes always well up with tears when she talks about her children - Photo: HO LAM

Her eldest son married and lives far away, occasionally sending money back to help his mother. Her second son has suffered from mental illness since he was 23 years old. And her daughter is about to get married.

Her youngest child, who was also the one closest to her, suffered from a congenital heart defect and passed away not long ago.

The pain of losing her child has never subsided, but Mrs. Mai tries to suppress it so she can focus her energy on caring for her remaining children.

"My youngest son loved me very much, but he passed away too soon. And my second son is 53 years old, but that's his fate. Those two young boys, so pitiful. That's why I have to try even harder," Mrs. Mai said, her voice trembling.

Back to the topic

Ho Lam

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ben-hong-saigon-square-co-mot-ganh-che-2025071415425655.htm