Customers eat next to the glowing charcoal stove.

That's Aunt Tư's (67 years old) vegetarian restaurant located on Tran Hung Dao Street (District 5, Ho Chi Minh City). On vegetarian days, it's always crowded with customers from the moment it opens until it closes.

Giving up selling lottery tickets to sell vegetarian food.

Around 5 PM, Aunt Tư and her nieces and nephews busied themselves setting up their stall and starting to sell. The simple vegetarian eatery had an old sign on the food counter that read "Vĩnh Phong Vegetarian." Pointing to it, she explained that the stall was named after her son. That's how we began our conversation.

Aunt Tư's vegetarian restaurant only sells food in the late afternoon and evening.

Today, not being a vegetarian day, the restaurant wasn't unusually crowded but rather steady. Aunt Tư calmly sat and greeted customers, telling me the story of how her vegetarian restaurant has been her family's livelihood for almost 15 years.

My aunt honestly shared that, back then, she and her husband sold lottery tickets to earn a living and support their two sons. Later, due to health issues, she decided to open a small vegetarian restaurant, while her husband continues selling lottery tickets to make ends meet in his old age without being overly dependent on his children and grandchildren.

"My two children are all grown up now. Next year, one of them will get married too. They're both well-behaved and filial. But I still sell because I'm used to this job, and as long as I have the strength, I'll keep doing it. I've been selling for decades, and I cherish and miss my customers. Taking a day off makes me feel like something's missing," she said with a gentle smile.

Aunt Tư's vegetarian restaurant, at first glance, seems simple and rustic. There are about 6-7 dishes on the menu, such as vegetarian dumplings, wontons, stir-fried rice noodles, and vegetarian stir-fried noodles… The soup and steamed dishes are placed over glowing charcoal stoves, radiating warmth that makes the chilly evenings in Ho Chi Minh City feel more bearable.

Aunt Tư's nieces and nephews help with the selling.

[CLIP]: Chinese vegetarian restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City that only opens at night: Customers eat next to the glowing charcoal stove.

Aunt Tư shared that she learned how to make these dishes herself, gradually improving her cooking skills through practice, and better catering to customers' tastes. She said that the biggest "secret" lies partly in the flavor, but also partly in the price, with each serving here ranging from 15,000 to 30,000 VND.

"If I see someone in need, I'll sell it to them for 10,000 dong. Sometimes, I even give it away for free to homeless children or people in need. Doing that makes me feel more at peace," the woman of Cantonese descent confided.

"I love Aunt Tư's vegetarian dishes…"

Having been a vegetarian for the past four years, Ms. Thanh Hong (28 years old, residing in District 8) said she has been a regular customer of this restaurant for almost a year. The first time she ate there, thanks to a friend's recommendation, Ms. Hong immediately loved the taste of the vegetarian dishes.

"I usually eat there 3-4 days a week because it's convenient on my way home from work. Honestly, Auntie Tư's vegetarian restaurant isn't as fancy as a regular restaurant, but it has a unique flavor that's unlike anything else. She's also kind and welcoming to customers. I usually buy takeout rather than eating there," the customer confided.

The vegetarian dishes at the restaurant are diverse and appealing.

Although not usually a vegetarian, on the 15th and 1st day of the lunar month, Mr. Ly Nhan (37 years old, residing in District 5) also eats vegetarian meals according to his personal preference. On those days, he says he will visit Aunt Tu's restaurant. He considers it his favorite because the prices are affordable and the food tastes better than many other restaurants he's tried.

Mr. Nhân said he enjoys the feeling of sitting and eating at the restaurant, admiring the streets of Ho Chi Minh City at night, savoring his favorite dishes, and chatting with the owner. The customer said that he finds peace of mind here.

"The menu here is diverse; every time I come, I order a different dish to try something different, and I even buy some to take home. My favorites here are probably the stir-fried noodles and the vegetarian dumplings and wontons, which suit my taste. I will definitely be a long-term customer of this restaurant," he expressed.

Despite her graying hair and declining health, requiring her grandchildren to help with the business, Aunt Tư's eatery has become an indispensable part of her life. It's not just a source of income; she finds joy in her twilight years…

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/quan-chay-cua-nguoi-hoa-chi-ban-chieu-toi-khach-an-canh-bep-than-hong-185231017160920502.htm