Ms. Sao Ly (right) prepares free pho for the poor in TGCC.
Arriving at Co Ut Hai Hien pho restaurant, located at the corner of Le Thi Hong Gam and Le Thi Rieng streets, we saw that even before 5 a.m., a large crowd of customers had already gathered to enjoy the free pho. Mr. Nguyen Thai Binh , the owner, was busy outside, arranging parking for customers, while inside, his wife and kitchen staff were bustling about preparing to serve the customers. “To have 100 bowls of pho ready for early morning, my wife and I have to simmer the bones the night before. Everyone here is a poor laborer, so they come to eat before going to work early. We start serving the free pho at 6 a.m.,” Mr. Binh shared.
For over two years now, Cô Út Hai Hiển's pho restaurant has not only been a familiar address for people in Sa Đéc but also a destination for special customers on the 10th day of the lunar month. They are called special customers because they only visit once a month, and most of them are street vendors, low-income individuals, or those facing difficult circumstances in life.
For example, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Truc Mai and her daughter, who live in Tich Thien commune, Tra On district, Vinh Long province, have to rent a room in Sa Dec to sell lottery tickets for a living. Therefore, saving on daily expenses is her top priority. That's why, on the 10th of every month, the two of them often go to the free pho restaurant. Mrs. Mai shared: “My daughter and I sell lottery tickets all day, but we don't make much profit, so we can't afford to eat pho. A bowl of pho like this costs us to sell 40 lottery tickets just to cover our food expenses. That's why, when we found out about the free pho, my daughter and I make sure to come here every month. Even though it's free, the owners put the same amount of meat as the regular pho, and it's very delicious.”
The free bowl of pho, given away by the owner, is worth the same as the regular bowls of pho sold for 40,000 VND.
For example, Mr. Nguyen Van Hai, residing in Hamlet 3, Ward 1, Sa Dec City, is over 70 years old, lives alone, and earns a living by selling lottery tickets. Since the pho restaurant started serving free pho, he has been a regular customer. Mr. Hai shared: "As an old and frail person, selling lottery tickets doesn't bring in much profit each day, so getting a free bowl of pho like this is very precious. I am very grateful for the kindness of the owners of this restaurant. I think this is a very meaningful act…"
Our ancestors often said, "It's not the gift itself, but the way it's given." Although it was a free bowl of pho, its value was no different from any regular bowl. The owner still warmly welcomed customers, and they were served attentively; both the pho and iced tea were free. Because of this, in just over half an hour, all 100 bowls of pho were given away to the local people.
Ms. Huynh Hong Anh, 72 years old, residing in Hamlet 1, Ward 1, Sa Dec City, works as a scrap collector and has enjoyed free pho at this restaurant more than a dozen times. What she appreciates about this pho restaurant is not only the delicious taste of the pho but also the kindness of the owners. “I collect scrap, and neighbors give me bottles, cans, etc. I only earn a few thousand dong a day, which isn't enough to live on, so I take whatever rice or porridge they give me to eat, but I wouldn't even dare think about eating pho. The owners of this pho restaurant are so kind-hearted; I'm very grateful for this. To be honest, I don't have the money to even think about eating pho…”, Ms. Hong Anh said.
Many poor people came to enjoy free pho in Sa Dec city .
Ms. Le Tran Sao Ly, owner of Co Ut Hai Hien pho restaurant, said: "Regular customers know that on this day they won't come to the restaurant but will give way to special guests. We start serving free pho here from 6 am until we finish 100 bowls, then we close. That day is like a day off for us to relax."
Regarding the idea of giving away free pho to the people, Ms. Le Tran Sao Ly shared: “The Hai Hien pho brand has been present in Sa Dec for over 50 years. I am my mother's youngest daughter, and she came from a poor background and often did charity work in many places, so I wanted to continue her work. Many people choose to give gifts or money for charity, but I think if I give people 100,000 dong, they might not even dare to spend 40,000 dong on a bowl of pho. So I thought of giving a bowl of pho as a gift so that people can occasionally enjoy the delicious taste of our family's pho.”
The meaningful work of Mr. Binh and Ms. Ly is not only appreciated by the local community but also receives the support and companionship of the kitchen staff and servers of the restaurant. Every year on this day, everyone gathers at the restaurant to serve free meals, hoping to bring joy to the poor and contribute to spreading the beauty of mutual support and compassion in life.
Thanhnien.vn
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/pho-0-dong-am-long-nguoi-ngheo-o-sa-dec-185240925113659635.htm
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