Young men keep the flame alive at the free noodle shop in Ho Chi Minh City.

Once a week, the "Zero-Cost Noodle Shop - Hoc Mon Boys" lights up its stoves to serve hundreds of free meals to poor laborers, lottery ticket sellers, street vendors, and those in difficult circumstances in Ho Chi Minh City. No registration or proof of circumstances is required; anyone who stops by is welcomed with a hot bowl of noodles and genuine generosity from the volunteers.

Many people visited the free noodle shop to enjoy the food.

Heartwarming bowls of noodles filled with kindness.

One afternoon in late May 2026, the kitchen behind a temple on Song Hành Street, Hóc Môn commune ( Ho Chi Minh City), was busier than usual. Today, the group decided to change things up, cooking nearly 500 portions of Hue-style beef noodle soup to serve the local people.

From early afternoon, the members were busy preparing the ingredients. Some seasoned the steaming broth, others sliced ​​meat, washed vegetables, and arranged tables and chairs. Every step was carried out quickly and smoothly, like a familiar cycle.

The volunteers were busy preparing the vegetables.

Mr. Phan Quoc Bao, leader of the "Zero-Cost Noodle Shop" group (on the left), checks the steaming pot of broth.

Ms. Dieu Truc, a member who has been with the noodle shop since its early days, shared that what keeps her with this business model is the joy of contributing to helping the community.

"Although the meal costs nothing, it contains so much love from the volunteers and benefactors for the local people. There are no fixed jobs in the group; whoever feels a need for something helps out, from picking vegetables and boiling meat to cooking broth," Ms. Truc said.

The volunteers sliced ​​the meat and placed it in individual trays.

Around 6:30 PM, hundreds of steaming bowls of beef noodle soup were quickly prepared and served to customers. A long line of people stretched from Song Hành Street all the way to the temple courtyard, patiently waiting for their turn.

Volunteers neatly arranged tables and chairs in the temple courtyard.

Around 5 PM, many people had arrived early and lined up to enjoy the free meals.

Mr. Tran Huynh Long, a lottery ticket vendor near Hoc Mon, said he regularly visits the free noodle shop after each day's work and considers it a familiar stop. For him, the hot bowls of noodles not only fill his stomach but also bring a warm feeling thanks to the friendly and sincere service of the volunteers.

Meanwhile, Ms. Le Thi Lien, a street vendor, said this was her first time visiting the shop after she happened to see many people queuing for free meals. "Seeing so many people, I decided to try it. Unexpectedly, the food was delicious, and the staff were very enthusiastic and friendly," Ms. Lien shared emotionally.

Sustained through community collaboration.

According to Phan Quoc Bao (born in 1993), the group's representative, "The 'Zero-Cost Noodle Shop - The Hoc Mon Boys'" started operating in May 2024. The idea originated after the members coincidentally saw a volunteer group in the former District 12 distributing free noodles to needy people.

"Seeing the meaningful model, my friends and I decided to follow suit. Initially, we just hoped to contribute a little so that poor laborers could have a warm meal after a day of hard work," Bao shared.

The volunteers prepared the meals.

The portions were generous.

Currently, the group has about 20 members of various ages. Each week, the noodle shop moves to a different location to serve customers, mainly on Thursday evenings. On average, the group prepares 350-500 meals per shift, including instant noodles, Hue-style beef noodle soup, or other noodle dishes.

To keep the group running, the members initially contributed their own funds. Later, many benefactors provided food, spices, meat, and vegetables. However, the group agreed not to accept cash but only in-kind donations or direct support from suppliers.

Steaming bowls of Hue-style beef noodle soup are served to the locals.

People lined up, waiting for their turn to enjoy the food.

Steaming bowls of Hue-style beef noodle soup are served free of charge to the public.

According to Bao, the biggest challenge right now is transportation because the group changes locations every week. Previously, a small tricycle was enough to carry supplies, but now they have to rent trucks to transport tables, chairs, pots and pans, along with hundreds of portions of ingredients.

Despite the increased effort, the members still try to maintain a regular weekly schedule. "Every time we see the villagers enjoying their meal and chatting happily, it gives us more motivation to continue," Bao shared.

With no restrictions on who can be served, the free noodle shop is always open to everyone. For many poor laborers after work or those selling lottery tickets and street food, a hot bowl of noodles in the evening not only fills their stomachs but also brings a feeling of being cared for and shared in the vast city.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/nguoi-tot-viec-tot/nhung-chang-trai-tre-giu-lua-tiem-mi-0-dong-o-tp-ho-chi-minh-20260525233510645.htm