This cafe is a place of childhood, youth, and even old age now.
On a peaceful afternoon in Ho Chi Minh City, I stopped by a small alley on Vo Van Ngan Street (Thu Duc District), shaded by cool trees, to enjoy a bowl of my favorite pork noodle soup. The old, time-worn sign read "Mai Noodle Soup." The restaurant was small but clean.
This noodle shop, which has been around for over half a century, is well-known to many people in Thu Duc.
I was lost in thought, immersed in the old-fashioned atmosphere of the restaurant, when Ms. Lan (52 years old, also known as Auntie 7) cheerfully asked, "What would you like to eat, child? Chewy or soft rice noodles?" "Chewy, please!" I quickly replied, and in an instant, a steaming, fragrant bowl of rice noodles was placed in front of me.
The person who brought out the bowl of noodle soup was Ms. Anh (also known as Ms. 6), who is nearly 55 years old. Ms. 6 confided that this eatery has been around since her parents' time, before 1975. Back then, they sold noodle soup near Thu Duc market, mainly bun rieu and bun mang, and were known by many as "Ms. Mo's shop".
Later, her family moved here to sell noodle soup and vermicelli. The shop also serves as a home for many of her siblings.
The cafe has a small, cozy atmosphere.
"In the past, my family only sold rice noodles with chicken and duck meat. After that terrible flu epidemic, we switched to selling pork, and we've been doing that ever since. Since we were little, my siblings and I have helped our parents with the business, so this shop represents our childhood, our youth, and even our old age now," Auntie 6 said with a smile.
It was thanks to this eatery that Mr. and Mrs. Mơ raised nine children to adulthood. Mr. Mơ passed away 11 years ago, and Mrs. Mơ passed away 3 years ago.
With their parents gone, four of the siblings inherited the restaurant: the second, third, sixth, and seventh sisters. The other siblings work as photographers, tailors, etc., and are all living peacefully in their jobs; some have passed away.
The bowl of noodle soup cost 30,000 VND and tasted good.
"Whose name is Mai?" I asked. Auntie 6 smiled and replied that it was her aunt's name. She and her sisters had inherited and developed the family restaurant, but for many years now, due to poor health and spending time taking care of her grandchildren, she left the restaurant to her three younger sisters to run.
A favorite spot for late-night diners.
The noodle shop run by the ladies is a familiar late-night dining spot for many customers, both near and far, especially residents of Thu Duc, as it's open from 11 AM to 3 AM the following morning. Previously, the shop started selling at 6 AM, but since the grandmother passed away and the sisters are getting older, they've moved to selling later. The shop is very crowded in the evenings and early mornings.
"Back then, customers were people coming home late after going out and wanting a quick bite to eat. They were mostly night shift workers, and some were business travelers who stopped by on their way. A special thing about this place is that many customers who went abroad or married and moved far away always stop by to eat whenever they come back, to reminisce about the taste of the old days," Uncle 4, sitting next to me, added.
Many people are regulars at the restaurant.
Each bowl of noodle soup here costs between 30,000 and 50,000 VND, which is quite affordable. Depending on the price, the bowl of noodle soup may include pork, pork sausage, or meatballs. The broth is light, with a sweet aftertaste and a balanced flavor, satisfying customers with the quality of a bowl of noodle soup at this price point.
Auntie 6 also said that the recipe for their noodle soup was passed down from their father and has been preserved for many years. Because they sell until late at night, they take turns selling, so they don't feel tired the next day.
Mr. Hai (34 years old, residing in Thu Duc City) often comes here for lunch on weekday afternoons, saying it's been his favorite restaurant for the past 5 years, ever since he moved house. One time, after coming home late from a night out, he saw the restaurant still lit up, so he and a friend stopped by to try it and have been hooked ever since.
The sisters inherited their parents' restaurant.
"It wouldn't be excellent, but everything tasted just right. The restaurant's atmosphere is nostalgic and cozy, the owner is friendly and enthusiastic, and everything is so clean that it made my noodle soup taste even better. Personally, I'd give it an 8/10," the customer commented.
For Aunt Six, Aunt Seven, and the other siblings in the family, this restaurant is priceless because it holds memories of their childhood, youth, and old age. They tell themselves that no matter what, they will be determined to keep this restaurant running until they no longer have the strength, because it is the lifelong passion of their parents…
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