Remember "Bun Bo Ba Ba"...

There are many popular eateries in Phan Thiet city and each attracts a certain number of customers. It is this number of regular customers that has contributed to "affirming" the brand of the restaurant in the most natural and genuine way.

Even when the restaurant is no longer in operation, the familiar culinary address still remains in the hearts of those who have been attached to the restaurant owner and the dishes they have always loved. From a cultural perspective, this is also a simple beauty in the daily life of the provincial capital city. The restaurant "Bun Bo Ba Ba" below is one of such lovely cases.

The restaurant is located in an alley on Le Hong Phong Street (formerly Nguyen Hoang Street) - Phan Thiet, next to the State Bank of Vietnam - Binh Thuan Branch. It is called "Quan" but there is no signboard with the name of the restaurant, it is mainly "word of mouth" from one person to another after customers have enjoyed the beef noodle soup, cooked by Mrs. Ba. The restaurant has existed for a long time but it is not clear exactly when. No one cares to ask about the origin of this popular restaurant. Even the real name of the restaurant owner, not many people know, everyone calls her affectionately "Aunt Ba". Once, a close friend whispered to me: "I have been eating beef noodle soup here since Mrs. Ba's eldest daughter was very young, until now, I have a family and have children, I still come here to eat regularly". Of course, my family is also one of the "sources" of regular customers of Mrs. Ba's beef noodle restaurant. And, also in this small alley, I met many close friends, colleagues who share the same "passion" for popular cuisine. Surely some people will wonder that there are many popular beef noodle shops in Phan Thiet city, why do we have to come here? So what is the appeal of Ba Ba's beef noodle shop?

In my opinion, it is mainly because the quality of the beef noodle soup is quite delicious: fresh beef, simmered until soft but not mushy; the seasoning is just enough to soak in, blend into the meat, creating both the quality of the broth and enough to seduce the taste buds, very hard to resist. Fresh vegetables with mung bean sprouts, look "eye-catching" and importantly, safe; the price is reasonable, suitable for the budget of workers and poor officials and civil servants. In addition, the service attitude is attentive, friendly and natural like a child in the family. Therefore, despite its disadvantageous location (in an alley), all year round, Mrs. Ba's beef noodle shop is never empty of customers. Especially on weekends (Saturday, Sunday), anyone who is subjective and leisurely arrives late will have to endure... or reluctantly turn around and find another place. At this humble restaurant, I personally have many memories, among which the most memorable are the many times when friends and relatives "paid for us" - sometimes openly, sometimes secretly - in a very cute way (in the affectionate way of Southerners). So much so that one time, Aunt Ba (my husband and I used to call her Aunt Ba) couldn't help but blurt out: "... you work, you must know a lot of people, because I see many people coming here to eat, everyone paid for you..." Oh! Just a simple, sincere sentence that comes across, but why does it always make my mind flutter and emotional every time I sit across from Aunt Ba's steaming bowl of beef noodle soup?

Since Mrs. Ba stopped selling beef noodle soup because of her old age and her health did not allow her to stay up late and wake up early; every time we were “addicted” to eating beef noodle soup, my whole family remembered Aunt Ba with some regret. And I guess (probably not too subjective) that many people also miss Aunt Ba’s beef noodle soup as much as we do. Since my retirement, I have not often traveled south of the Ca Ty River, but whenever I have to stop by the Le Hong Phong post office intersection for work, I do not forget to look into the alley - where Aunt Ba used to sit and sell beef noodle soup every morning. And immediately, Aunt Ba’s gentle face, with her kind and affectionate smile, appeared in my mind as vividly as if we had just met yesterday.

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