In Ho Chi Minh City, there are vegetarian restaurants that sell vegetarian food for as little as 5,000 VND, and customers can pay as much as they want. The restaurant is always crowded, and in less than 2 hours, all the dishes are sold out. Behind that "strange" price is a warm story of gratitude towards life and humanity.
Thank life
At noon, the vegetarian restaurant of Ms. Vuong Kim Long (38 years old) located on Kenh Tan Hoa Street, Tan Phu District, as usual, nearly ten people were busy preparing, in order to serve customers at 11 o'clock.
Kim Long's 5,000 VND vegetarian restaurant
PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN
The special thing about this vegetarian restaurant is the "unbelievable" price of 5,000 VND/portion for dine-in customers and 15,000 VND/portion for take-out. That's the price, but the vegetarian restaurant is called Tuy Tam, customers can pay however much they want, according to the owner.
Talking about the "strange" prices at the restaurant, the owner confided: "I don't sell for 0 VND or for free, because here I buy and sell, the uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters pay to buy the food, not to beg or give. I don't owe anyone and they don't owe me anything." That is also the way Ms. Kim Long lets customers come to eat at the restaurant without having to worry about the price.
The restaurant is open from Monday to Saturday, mainly selling mixed rice dishes. On the Saturday I went, Ms. Kim Long was selling vegetarian broken rice, which is a favorite of many customers. Although it was not yet opening time, customers had already gathered in front of the restaurant, most of them were ordinary workers and people from difficult circumstances.
"You guys pay to buy food, not to beg or give," the restaurant owner shared.
PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN
At noon, the restaurant is crowded with customers.
PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN
The owner confided that the restaurant opens at 11am and currently serves nearly 300 servings of rice each day, and they usually sell out in about an hour and a half. However, she and everyone else have to wake up very early to prepare the meals in the most perfect way.
Not everyone knows that this vegetarian restaurant with special prices has been maintained for more than 5 years with 5 changes in location. The current location is rented by her and has been open for business stably for more than 1 year now.
9 years ago, while taking care of a relative with cancer in the hospital, she ate charity meals at the hospital for 3 months. That made her feel extremely admiring and grateful for those who have the heart to help others in difficult circumstances.
From here, she cherished the idea that one day she could do the same thing, helping people in some way within her ability. In 2020, that dream was realized by her husband and her with their first vegetarian restaurant, as the owner's way of repaying life. Through many difficulties and ups and downs, the restaurant has remained steadfast until today.
Vegetarian rice portion costs 5,000 VND at the restaurant
PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN
A customer in Long An stopped by to buy rice.
PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN
Many customers have been with the restaurant for many years.
PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN
A customer from Long An stopped by Kim Long’s restaurant to buy a takeaway portion. She said she had known about this restaurant for a long time, and had the opportunity to work in Ho Chi Minh City. She stopped by to buy some to support and also to see this well-known restaurant with her own eyes.
Bringing her two young children from District 6 to the restaurant, Ms. L. also confided that she has been attached to Ms. Kim Long's vegetarian restaurant for many years. "Wherever she moves, I follow. The vegetarian restaurant is cheap, but the quality is high, the food is delicious, so my children and I love it. I am grateful to the owner for the meals. My family is poor, so we have saved a lot thanks to this restaurant," she said.
Vegetarian restaurant only open 2 days/week, 2 hours per day
For over a year now, the vegetarian restaurant located on Nguyen Van Cua Street (District 8) has been a familiar destination for many diners in Ho Chi Minh City, famous for its price of 5,000 VND and only open 2 days a week, Thursday and Friday, from 11 am to 1 pm daily.
Ms. Phuc, the restaurant manager, said that the owners of this special restaurant are all philanthropists, including many groups and individuals who joined together to open the restaurant. She and everyone here are volunteers who go to the market, cook, and serve customers.
Special 5,000 VND vegetarian restaurant in District 8
PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN
Arriving here at 10:30, I saw the bustling preparations to welcome guests on time. Afterwards, full trays of food were placed on the counter, giving off an attractive aroma. The diverse menu of vegetarian dishes such as spring rolls, tofu, stir-fried noodles, braised king oyster mushrooms, stir-fried squash, stir-fried green beans, etc. were ready to serve diners.
Regarding the price of 5,000 VND, the restaurant said that this is the way the benefactors who set up the restaurant want to give customers confidence to come and eat. They come to the restaurant, pay for the food and are served like regular customers. Ms. Phuc and the staff at the restaurant also regularly visit each table to ask customers about the quality of the meal as well as listen to their opinions to improve the service.
"The smiles and words of thanks that customers give us are the motivation and joy, giving everyone here more energy. Myself and the people who maintain the shop all have their own jobs, during the week we put aside or arrange our daily work, and spend two days selling the shop. This job brings joy to me as well as everyone else," Ms. Phuc added.
The shop is only open 2 days a week.
PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN
Mr. Danh, a student, said that for the past six months, he has been coming here almost every week to eat, saving on living expenses. The young man said that the food here is delicious, fresh and to his taste. In addition, he is attached to the restaurant because of this special price. "The restaurant deserves a perfect 10," the young customer commented with a smile after his meal.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/quan-chay-gia-gi-ky-o-tphcm-5000-dong-mot-phan-2-tieng-la-het-sach-185250419123736916.htm
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