Broken rice shop owner quits business to travel... abroad: Netizens say 'do it for passion'

Located in a rather large alley in the bustling Ben Thanh Ward (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City), Com Tam No. 1 restaurant has long been a familiar address for many customers who love this dish, including overseas Vietnamese and famous artists. The restaurant is over 50 years old, open from 6am to 12:30pm every day.

In recent days, social media has seen a notice posted at this restaurant: "Com tam temporarily closed from May 19, will resume sales in September. Thank you." Many people shared that every year the owner of the restaurant closes for months, but regular customers still remember and come back when it reopens. Many people left happy comments, saying that the owner sells because of her passion.

Broken rice restaurant temporarily closed for many months, surprising netizens

PHOTO: SCREENSHOT

Account Huy Manh wrote: "I wish I could also take a few months off, go on a trip abroad, then come back to work like the boss." Thuc Anh expressed: "I'm sure the boss doesn't have to sell because she's worried about making ends meet, right everyone?"

According to Thanh Nien , yesterday morning, May 19, the broken rice restaurant closed as previously announced. Some people who did not know still came to the restaurant but were reminded by the staff to come back in September.

"The owner went to Australia to visit her daughter for about 4 months. She started her trip on the afternoon of May 19 and will return around mid-September, when she will reopen. Every year, the owner takes several months off to go abroad, and customers are used to this. We let them know in advance so they don't have to come," the female employee shared.

The temporary closure notice is posted in front of the shop door.

PHOTO: DUONG LAN

Morning of May 19, broken rice restaurant closed

PHOTO: DUONG LAN

Previously, people often told each other a funny "anecdote" that one year the owner went to Australia for 6 months, selling for 6 months because... she felt sorry for the customers. The owner, Ms. Lan (70 years old), once shared: "My children are abroad, I stay home and sell rice for fun. I went to visit my grandchildren and my children refused to let me go home. I'm old, so how can I book a plane ticket to go home by myself, so I had to act grumpy to go home. When I come back, I sell rice again, mainly to make customers happy. Some people said they waited for me too long, so when I came back, I had to stop by to eat broken rice."

Ms. Lan said that in 1968 her mother started selling broken rice. Every day she helped her mother sell in the morning and went to school in the afternoon, so her mother taught her many secrets.

Every year, Ms. Lan takes a break from selling to go abroad. Photo taken of Ms. Lan in 2022

PHOTO: DUONG LAN

Mrs. Lan's broken rice is loved by many people.

PHOTO: DUONG LAN

After 1975, she decided to follow her mother's footsteps and stick with the broken rice restaurant. The broken rice restaurant at 1/150 Nguyen Trai was "named" by diners as broken rice number 1 and from then on became famous far and wide, supported by everyone until now.

"I'm old now, and my daughter is abroad. She doesn't let me sell, and keeps saying, 'Why are you always selling?' But I can't stand it when I stay home and do nothing. The greatest joy is meeting customers, very precious customers. I remember each and every one of my regular customers, even the food they eat," Ms. Lan shared.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chu-quan-com-tam-nghi-ban-di-choi-nuoc-ngoai-dan-mang-noi-lam-vi-dam-me-185250519103604731.htm