The 'unique' vegetarian food alley in Ho Chi Minh City: A 'strange' story happened after nearly half a century

The small alley 702, nestled and quiet on Hong Bang Street (District 11, Ho Chi Minh City) now has nearly a dozen vegetarian restaurants. After nearly 50 years, this famous "vegetarian food alley" has undergone many unexpected changes. What happened?

"Hu tieu xom Gia", anyone remember?

The "vegetarian food alley" at alley 702 Hong Bang is also known by the affectionate name "hu tieu xom Gia". Explaining this name, many people who have lived here for a long time remember that in the 80s and 90s of the last century, the alley had nearly 20 shops, mainly selling only vegetarian hu tieu.

- Ảnh 1. — Walking along alley 702 Hong Bang, District 11, you will see that most of the shops on both sides sell vegetarian dishes. That is the reason why for decades, the alley has been known as "vegetarian food alley".

Gradually, over time, the owners of this alley began to cook more vegetarian dishes to diversify, serving the increasing needs of customers. Since then, the "title" of the "unique" vegetarian street in Ho Chi Minh City has been associated with this alley until today.

For nearly half a century, this peaceful alley has remained the preferred choice for diners seeking serenity and lightness in their vegetarian meals. But not everything remains constant over time.

In the memory of Ms. Phan Thi Kim Chi (39 years old), the owner of a vegetarian restaurant with nearly 4 decades of experience located at the beginning of the alley, this "vegetarian food alley" used to have dozens of restaurants next to each other, crowded with customers every day, especially on vegetarian days.

Over time, the number of vegetarian restaurants has gradually decreased. Today, the alley has less than a dozen restaurants left, most of which are long-standing restaurants. Looking at the customers sitting at the tables almost full in the restaurant even though it is not a vegetarian day, the owner confided that she and her brothers in the family inherited the restaurant from their parents, Pham Thi Nga and her husband.

- Ảnh 2. — As one of the first vegetarian restaurants in this alley, Kim Chi's vegetarian restaurant is supported by many customers both on weekdays and on vegetarian days.

- Ảnh 3. — Chi's family inherited the restaurant from their parents.

Mrs. Nga, who is now over 70 years old, left her family property to her children. Her husband has now passed away. In the past, she and her husband also did business to make a living. Seeing her neighbor in the alley selling vegetarian noodles with many customers, she also opened a vegetarian restaurant with the thought "a hundred people sell, ten thousand people buy".

Yet, Mrs. Nga and her neighbors were able to sell and receive a lot of support from customers. Seeing this, many others also opened vegetarian restaurants, creating a bustling vegetarian alley that was famous far and wide. It was the support of customers that helped the restaurant survive until today.

Alley selling vegetarian food, surprisingly now has a restaurant selling… meat dishes

The family has 8 siblings, this vegetarian restaurant has helped Nga and her husband raise their children to adulthood. "When I was born, my parents sold it. In the past, selling was very hard, the tables and chairs were also wooden, the chairs were low, customers had to serve themselves. Now my father has passed away, my mother is old, I have inherited the restaurant, my brothers are helping. This restaurant is the business, the effort from my parents' time, so I have to continue it," she confided.

Next door, Chi's older brother also said that over the past few decades, the shop has changed locations 6 times. But no matter where it changes, it is still in this alley and not anywhere else.

- Ảnh 4. — Diverse menu of Chi's restaurant

- Ảnh 5. — Some other vegetarian restaurants in the alley are somewhat deserted on weekdays.

In the past, the restaurant was called Dung. Since the inheritance, the restaurant has been renamed Chi, after the owner. Currently, the restaurant has 20 diverse vegetarian dishes such as noodles, vermicelli, rice vermicelli, pasta, banh canh, spring rolls, etc. for customers to choose from.

Not far from Chi's restaurant, is the oldest vegetarian restaurant in this alley 702 Hong Bang - Thien Y. The owner said that in the past, most of the alley had dozens of vegetarian restaurants. Gradually, the number of vegetarian restaurants also decreased, some restaurants selling meat appeared, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic.

The owner of a savory restaurant here said that the reason they chose to sell savory dishes was partly to "not clash" with other restaurants, partly because it suited their cooking skills and also because they had customers who supported them.

- Ảnh 6. — Thien Y vegetarian restaurant is known as the first restaurant in this "vegetarian food alley".

- Ảnh 7. — In the middle of the "vegetarian food street", many people sell meat dishes.

Mr. Thanh Nam (26 years old), living in District 11, said that the alley is his familiar vegetarian place on the first and fifteenth of the lunar month and sometimes "no occasion at all". Since he was a child, his father took him here to eat and it is a place where he has many childhood memories.

"There are fewer and fewer vegetarian restaurants here, but my favorite ones are still there. That makes me happy. I hope this alley will last forever, as a familiar vegetarian place for everyone. On normal days, there are few customers, but on vegetarian days, it is very crowded," the customer commented.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hem-ban-mon-chay-doc-nhat-tphcm-chuyen-la-xay-ra-sau-gan-nua-the-ky-18525041820070156.htm