"Traditional charm" in the heart of the city.

“Fortunately, amidst the hustle and bustle of today, there are still some familiar corners where everyone can come to reflect and reminisce about their childhood,” exclaimed Mr. Nguyen Van Hao (a native of Tan Chau, the “silk land”) as he told me about his hometown. Compared to the past, Tan Chau town is now vibrant, developed, modern, clean, and beautiful. In this process of change, centuries-old temples, ancient houses, markets, and shops still quietly endure the passage of time. Many people adapt to the changes, while others choose to preserve their original style, considering it a unique identifying feature; the culinary scene alone is a long list of examples.

Perhaps that's why Tu Tho's filter coffee shop (Long Hung Ward, Tan Chau Town) has survived to this day. Located on Nguyen Trung Truc Street for over 40 years, its old-fashioned charm is evident in its signboard, with its simple, faded lettering. Unlike filter coffee, where you wait for each bitter drop to fall slowly, some people think filter coffee won't be as flavorful. But no! Ms. Diep Thi Kinh (the owner) reveals the secret: the water in the kettle is always kept boiling on the stove, and the coffee brewed through the filter is poured back in, steeped for a few minutes to extract the pure, rich, and distinctive aroma. Each cup of coffee sold in the morning is always fresh, hot, affordable, and always popular—convincing proof of its enduring appeal.

Casual, street-side eateries remain popular among many city dwellers.

Nestled in a small corner in front of Nguyen Du Primary School, Hai Lieu ice cream shop is a beloved spot for those living in Long Xuyen, even those who have only visited the city a couple of times. The owner, Mr. Duc, has been running the family business for decades. Despite being a street vendor, the ice cream is far from simple or commonplace; it's meticulously prepared with carefully selected ingredients, all homemade. Each scoop is freshly made daily, combined with sticky rice, sweet corn, chewy coconut, crispy dried coconut jam, pineapple jam, peanuts, and more, creating a rich, sweet, and creamy flavor that's just right. This is the shop's strong point, even though the ingredients are frequently changed to create different versions.

Anh Duc said that to make it easier for his children to study, his family decided to move to Long Xuyen City. Initially, he invested in a fairly well-equipped shop with an upper floor and a wide variety of drinks to serve many different types of customers. However, he realized that customers only preferred his family's traditional ice cream when enjoyed in a simple, comfortable setting. Once again, he switched back to the sidewalk model as in the old days. Although there were some inconvenient days due to the weather, customers still came regularly. In Chau Doc City, Anh Duc's mother maintains her family's traditional sidewalk ice cream business, which is equally popular.

“When I was a child, Long Xuyen was a luxurious city in my eyes. I motivated myself by saving my weekly allowance for snacks. When I got high scores on tests or exams, I would reward myself with my favorite treats. Even now, both sides of the Duy Tan bridge still have quite a few of my long-standing favorite eateries, including coconut ice cream, chive cakes, broken rice, fried dough, and spring rolls…” - shared Mr. Nguyen Tan Duc (from Thoai Son district).

Many long-standing eateries, quietly surviving through the ups and downs of the bustling city, have suddenly become popular again thanks to social media. Whether they have names or not, diners remember them by heart through popular names: "Banh canh hidden in the alley," "Banh canh in alley 5," "Fish noodle soup at the secondhand market," "Crab noodle soup at the fruit market," "Chessboard-style coffee at Xeo Trom," "Rice with grilled pork chop at Ong Bac Pagoda," "Soybean cart near the university," etc.

Looking back, several decades have passed. These eateries have not only maintained a steady stream of customers thanks to the traditional flavors of their dishes and drinks, but also offered affordable prices to suit the tastes and habits of their patrons. Life will continue to change, but they – those connected to the old-fashioned style – have created a familiar image for the city, deeply etched in the memories of many.

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