Free hanging rice in Thu Duc City, everyone feels warm

Free hanging rice box on Le Van Viet street, Thu Duc city - Photo: HIEN ANH

In front of the shop, the owner had placed a table with a plastic box containing free rice and iced tea. Afraid that people didn't know about the hanging rice, the shop also posted several signs from the box to the tree next to it: "Hanging rice. Sent to uncles and aunts who are in need. If you have any, please take it and use it. Enjoy your meal."

Talking to Tuoi Tre Online , Hieu said that the hanging rice model was implemented by his friend's restaurant on Le Van Viet Street, Thu Duc City (HCMC) for 2 days. On the night of May 29, the restaurant gave 3 free meals to technology car drivers, scrap metal sellers, and lottery ticket sellers.

"Seeing situations like that, students like us feel very sorry. That night, during the meeting, we heard the owner say he needed a few people to help watch the rice box for 2 hours, so that the rice box doesn't run out. We immediately said: 'This is our help, you don't have to count the cost.' Although we are students and don't have much money, we still want to contribute a part to help the hanging rice model be replicated," Hieu said.

Hanging rice at the restaurant is open at 2 time frames: Lunch from 11am - 1pm. Afternoon from 5pm - 7pm. The rice portion at this restaurant is also very diverse. Sometimes it is rice with ribs, sometimes it is chicken rice, depending on what the restaurant has available at that time.

The attentive staff do not put too many lunch boxes in the bins for fear that the rice will spoil quickly if left outside. They only put in 1-2 boxes at a time. The staff will take turns looking around to see if any customers come to pick up their lunch. If the rice runs out and the kitchen has not finished cooking yet, the staff will proactively invite the customers inside to sit in the cool air.

"It only takes a few minutes to make a portion of rice. That's why the rice is very hot. We sell the same rice as the one we give to customers. The staff also eats rice from the restaurant, 1-2 times a day. Every portion of rice is delicious and of good quality. However, in hot weather, rice will spoil quickly. If it spoils, we will throw it all away and not sell or give it to customers. Rice left for about 3 hours will already have an unpleasant smell," the staff member shared.

Seeing a free lunch box and iced tea, Mr. Tran Duc Chinh (70 years old, living in Thu Duc City, a motorbike taxi driver) pulled over immediately. He opened the lunch box and took out a hot lunch box that had just been brought out from the kitchen.

This afternoon, Uncle Chinh had free rice - Photo: HIEN ANH

"Before, I always got charity rice from pagodas or near hospitals. Now that I know about the free rice box near my house, I'm very happy because I don't have to spend money for lunch today. I wish there were more rice boxes like this in Ho Chi Minh City so that drivers or those in need can also have free rice," he said.

The owner, Mr. Huynh Tan Minh (36 years old, living in Ho Chi Minh City), said that this hanging rice model originated in Canada. Here, customers will pay in advance to invite a stranger who cannot afford to buy a cup of coffee. Inspired by this idea, he happened to see a video on TikTok about a restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City that also made "hanging rice" to help others.

He suddenly thought that he also had a restaurant and could implement this model. "I saw many people in difficulty passing by here, so I wanted to contribute something. For now, I will support 10 portions every day and invite more friends to support.

I told the staff that if they see anyone in need on the road, they should invite them to stop by the shop to get food. My husband and I did the same. On the first and second days, although many people in need didn't know about it, I think that as they pass by, they will gradually notice the sign," he said.

The process of making hanging rice is the same as selling rice - Photo: HIEN ANH

Previously, Ms. Truc Mai (Mr. Minh's wife) made "hanging hamburgers" for the needy. Seeing students, lottery ticket sellers... passing by, she waved them over and asked: "Want a hamburger? I'll make it for you for free?".

After giving the hamburger, she whispered: "When I'm not here, just go and tell Ms. Mai that the staff gave you the hamburger . We won't charge you, don't be shy."

Having opened the restaurant for 3 years, Tan Minh and his wife have also been doing free buffets for everyone for over a year and a half. At first, they made a card that said: Students in need, just let them know, the restaurant will give them free meals. However, for a whole year, no student contacted them. So they decided to do a free buffet.

Close-up of delicious hanging lunch box - Photo: HIEN ANH

Here, there is rice, soup, ice cream, and dessert completely free. Many people say: "There is too much rice, I will be full until the afternoon". Therefore, when opening the hanging rice model, the couple told the staff that on days when there is a buffet, they should invite customers to eat at the restaurant, because many people do not know that the restaurant offers free meals.

"I was inspired by my aunt. She often gives out rice at the hospital, several times a month. There's no need to hang a sign saying it's free rice, people still come to eat. I hope more people will know about this rice box so that no one will go hungry anymore," he said.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/com-treo-mien-phi-tai-tp-thu-duc-ai-thay-cung-am-long-202405310841231.htm