Shinbi's Smile - 2K VND Rice Meals Warm the Hearts of Poor Patients

For just 2,000 VND per meal, the eatery not only provides nutritious meals but also spreads a spirit of sharing and empathy among strangers facing similar difficulties.

Human kindness amidst the struggle for survival.

quan-nu-cuoi-1(1).jpg

Patients eat at the "Shinbi Smile - 2K Rice" restaurant. Photo: TM

Around 4 PM every afternoon, from Monday to Friday, a large crowd gathers in front of the "Shinbi Smile - 2K Rice" restaurant. Most are cancer patients and their family members walking from the Tan Trieu branch of K Hospital. Without pushing or rushing, everyone patiently queues, holding their numbered tickets, their eyes shining with anticipation for a hot meal.

Amidst the crowd, Mrs. Pham Thi Hoa, from Ung Hoa commune ( Hanoi ), slowly walked into the restaurant. Her face was weathered from months of caring for a seriously ill relative, but when mentioning the 2,000 dong meal, she couldn't hide her joy. Her relative had just undergone surgery for cancer, making mobility difficult, while living expenses were increasing daily. "The cost of living is very difficult for someone hospitalized for a long time; every penny saved is precious. In these times, a 2,000 dong meal is worth a hundred times the value of money," Mrs. Hoa said.

While waiting for her turn to get her meal, Ms. Hoang Thi Hue, from Ninh Binh province, shared that when she came to the hospital, she saw that all the patients were struggling, having to scrimp and save every penny. Therefore, charitable meals, like the 2,000 VND per serving offered by Shinbi restaurant, are very precious. Precious in terms of money and, more importantly, in the kindness shown. "These compassionate meals from the restaurant have warmed the hearts of poor people and those in difficult circumstances like us, giving us encouragement, support, and more spirit to fight against illness," Ms. Hue said.

Heartwarming smiles from patients receiving meals from the "Shinbi Smile - 2K Rice" restaurant. Photo: TM

Indeed, for many poor and disadvantaged people, a 2,000 VND meal not only saves money but also brings a feeling of being cared for and shared with. The meals here include rice, meat, fish, green vegetables, soup, and even dessert. The menu changes daily, the food is cooked cleanly, and presented neatly, no less than other budget restaurants. And what's very special is that the team of volunteers serving at the restaurant deeply respects the patients; they transmit positive energy to help patients cope with the pain and fatigue that weigh heavily on their hearts.

As evening approached, the number of customers increased. Inside the restaurant, volunteers were busy but working in a coordinated manner: some greeted customers and handed out numbers; others served rice and soup; and still others cleared tables and washed dishes. All of this formed a neat, self-contained workflow. Despite the continuous work, everyone maintained a friendly smile and gently inquired about each customer's well-being.

Despite being busy with her business, Ms. Le Thi Thanh Loan still makes time to help out at the restaurant. From handing out tickets and preparing food to cleaning up, she's always ready to assist. "Doing these things makes me happy because I'm helping people in need," she said.

The "Shinbi Smile - 2K Rice" restaurant officially opened in March 2023. Prior to that, the location housed another charitable rice restaurant, but it couldn't continue for various reasons. Ms. Nguyen Tra My and Mr. Vo Tien Lam decided to rent the restaurant and maintain the model of providing affordable meals for patients and their families. On average, the restaurant serves between 300 and 650 meals each afternoon, with peak days reaching up to 900 meals.

According to Ms. Nguyen Tra My, even though the price is only 2,000 VND, the quality of the meal is always prioritized. "We always tell ourselves that we are cooking meals for the sick and those with weak health, so the food source must be guaranteed and the meals must be nutritious. Our wish is for everyone who comes here to feel like they are eating a family meal – a place of empathy and sharing," she shared.

In the bustling streets of Hanoi, where everything is expensive, that small eatery is like a warm haven, helping patients alleviate some of the burden of making a living and giving them more strength in their fight against illness.

On the Zalo page "Shinbi Smile - 2K Rice", many accounts expressed their gratitude to this special rice restaurant. Account Quangcuong wrote: "Today, my mother and I finished our radiation therapy at K3. My mother and I sincerely thank Shinbi restaurant. Thank you to the benefactors and especially to the staff who worked so hard to provide everyone with delicious meals. Wishing the management team, staff, and collaborators always good health, joy, peace, and happiness"...

Le Thi Kim Dung's account wrote: "Thank you to the restaurant for supporting patients and their families with warm, humane meals. I wish the restaurant continued strength to accompany the warriors, and I also wish all the warriors who remain strong to overcome their illnesses."

Where seeds of kindness quietly spread.

More than just a support system for patients, "Shinbi Smile - 2K Meal" is also a gathering place for benevolent hearts of all ages, professions, and regions.

The 2K restaurant serves nutritious meals to patients. Photo: TM

For over a year, Pham Thai Le, a literature teacher at a school in Hanoi, has consistently volunteered at the restaurant. She considers her contribution "very small" compared to many charitable activities in society and hopes to help spread awareness of this compassionate place. Her work at the restaurant begins early in the morning, from preparing food and cooking to selling meals in the afternoon, and she's always short of staff.

Some days, when she's busy or tired, Teacher Le wants to rest, but thinking of the volunteers, some 70-80 years old, who are still working diligently, she goes to the shop. Some days, right after her teaching hours, she goes straight to the shop, not hesitating to do any work...

Through her work, she gradually spread the spirit of volunteerism to her family and friends. Her daughter accompanied her to the shop to help, friends contributed money, food, and even directly participated in serving customers. "Naturally, all good things just spread," Ms. Le shared.

Having been associated with the restaurant, she can't forget the haunting stories. There's the look in the mother's eyes as she brings her young patient to the last "year-end celebration" before the hospital sends them home. There's the father's dismissive wave of the hand during the Mid-Autumn Festival, knowing his child is on medication and can't play with toys. Or the image of a young family from Ben Tre coming to Hanoi for treatment, their baby only 6 months old, the mother suffering from kidney failure and having to be weaned early, volunteers taking turns holding the baby so the father can eat.

The staff at Shinbi Smile - 2K cafe have given patients the energy to overcome their illnesses. Photo: TM

"Without anyone telling us to, we all tried to keep smiling, because everyone felt they needed to spread more optimistic energy to help people forget about their illnesses, and it also lived up to the name of the shop, 'Shinbi Smile'," Ms. Le said.

Besides the volunteers, the restaurant also receives the silent support of many generous benefactors. Some contribute money monthly, some invite the locals for a regular meal once a week, and others donate bottles of fish sauce, vegetables, or desserts. One farmer from Hung Yen province wakes up at 3 a.m. to harvest fresh vegetables and bring them to the restaurant. Others bring a few kilograms of pork in bags and quietly leave without leaving their names.

Among those who contribute are elderly volunteers. Mrs. Nguyen Thi Nu, 79 years old, still regularly participates in preparing vegetables and meals. For them, the rice restaurant is not only a place to give but also a place to receive joy, connection, and meaning in life.

Many patients come to the restaurant not only to receive meals but also to receive empathy. Some, despite their own difficulties, share their food with others. Some patients, receiving flowers for the first time in their lives on occasions like March 8th and October 20th, were deeply moved and teared up by the loving and sharing hearts of the people.

According to Ms. Pham Thai Le, every person has the seed of goodness within them, which will sprout when given the right conditions. "A little from each person, a helping hand from each, and with many hands clapping, it will make a sound. Learning to be a decent person is a lifelong lesson," she shared.

As one account on "Shinbi Smile Restaurant - 2K Rice" expressed: "Shinbi Smile Restaurant charges 2K per meal to gather human kindness, not to collect money for the food. The generosity of Tra My, Vo Tien Lam, and the staff at the restaurant is noble, boundless, and imbued with compassion. I've eaten at the restaurant many times and I see that the rice here is rice of meaning and love. Everyone who comes here understands that the effort and money of the restaurant are fleeting, so I can only express my gratitude, thank you very much to Tra My, Tien Lam, and everyone else!"

In the heart of the capital city, the "Shinbi Smile - 2K Rice" restaurant not only sells affordable meals but also steadfastly supports poor patients and their families throughout their arduous treatment journey, quietly sowing seeds of kindness and spreading smiles that warm people's hearts.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/nu-cuoi-shinbi-com-2k-am-long-benh-nhan-ngheo-727104.html