Huong Tra Women's Union makes Huong Can wrapped cakes. Photo: Provincial Women's Union.

Everyone is a propagandist.

Accompanied by Ms. Dao Thi Thanh Thuy, President of the Women's Union of Thuy Bieu Ward, Hue City, we visited a startup loan model in the ward. We were quite surprised to find that it was just a modest noodle shop on a small street in the ward, but it was proving to be very effective.

We had only just arrived, but customers were already coming and going in droves. To prove her point, Ms. Thuy searched online for information about Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Hanh's noodle shop, owned by a member of the Women's Union in Thuy Bieu ward. The reviews were "5 stars," showering this humble noodle shop with effusive praise.

Having traveled extensively and worked many jobs, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Ms. Hanh chose to return to her hometown. With a passion for cooking and a knack for preparing meals, she received advice from the Women's Union of the ward on a suitable startup plan and assistance in applying for a loan.

“With a 100 million VND loan to start a business, I rented a space and opened a noodle shop. I only thought about selling mainly to local people to earn enough income to cover my living expenses. But word spread, and with the active promotion and introduction by various associations, my noodle shop started attracting tourists . Unexpectedly, after eating and finding it delicious, they posted pictures promoting it on social media with very positive reviews and feedback,” Ms. Hanh shared.

Having only opened the restaurant less than two years ago, Ms. Hanh sells around 250 bowls of vermicelli soup every day, and the number of tourists is also quite high. This is an initial success that Ms. Hanh probably didn't even dare to imagine.

“It’s not simply about cooking ‘authentic Hue-style’ vermicelli, but also ensuring that the ingredients are always fresh and delicious every day. The vermicelli is cooked over a wood-fired stove and food safety and hygiene are strictly adhered to. Only then can the business last. Moreover, as tourists learn about and visit in increasing numbers each day, besides ‘making a living,’ I also have a responsibility to preserve the brand of Hue cuisine,” Ms. Hanh shared.

This sticky rice dish is simple yet distinctly characteristic of Hue cuisine.

Scrolling through Facebook, I saw a picture posted by a Women's Union official on her personal page of a packet of lotus seed sticky rice cooked by a member. Along with it were positive comments and many shares from friends on their personal pages, with statuses expressing "nostalgia" for the delicious Hue dishes shared by those who are far from home and those who have had the chance to visit Hue.

Or consider the case of a female official from the Provincial Women's Union whose meal was replaced by a bowl of clam noodle soup that she cooked herself and shared on her personal Facebook page, leaving those who had tasted it longing for its flavor. One person even commented: "This summer I'm definitely bringing my whole family to Hue, all because of that bowl of clam noodle soup you made." It's a playfully teasing comment, but surely anyone from Hue, or currently living in Hue, would feel incredibly proud and honored by the allure of Hue's cuisine.

Let's take Hue cuisine to a wider audience.

In the "Delicious Dishes of My Hometown" competition, organized by the Provincial Women's Union at the end of May, there were many delicious dishes that are specialties of various localities, such as crescent-shaped cakes, Huong Can wrapped cakes, snakehead fish noodle soup, and savory pancakes... Through the skillful hands of the women, the dishes were not only beautifully presented, but each dish also told an interesting story, connected to their homeland.

Ms. Tran Thanh Tam, a member of the Women's Union of Phuoc Vinh Ward, Hue City, said: "Thanks to participating in competitions and visiting the booths organized by the Women's Union, I've learned about many delicious dishes from different localities and realized how rich and diverse Hue cuisine is. The women are very skillful; they not only prepare visually appealing dishes but also have many interesting ways of promoting Hue's cuisine that are easy to remember and understand."

Huong Can's wrapped cakes are beautifully presented.

In recent times, the Women's Union, from the provincial level to the grassroots, has actively promoted Hue cuisine. Each member of the Women's Union is essentially the "owner" of their own family kitchen. It's not just about dishes participating in competitions; at any time, or even on the daily dinner table, simply presenting Hue's distinctive dishes with a little care and taking a beautiful photo to post on social media contributes to promoting Hue cuisine to friends around the world.

Ms. Tran Thi Kim Loan, Provincial Party Committee member and Chairwoman of the Provincial Women's Union, informed: Besides regularly organizing culinary competitions to introduce Hue's culinary culture and cultural identity to the world, the Women's Union at all levels also promotes and facilitates access to loans for members to develop their businesses; especially in startup ventures related to promoting Hue's cuisine. Furthermore, the Women's Union at all levels organizes numerous training courses to help members access information technology and learn how to promote Hue's cuisine on social media platforms...

Thanh Thao