The idea of opening a zero-dong vegetarian restaurant of young man Bui Ngoc Nhu Phong in Buon Ma Thuot City ( Dak Lak ) started when he saw two lottery ticket sellers sharing a loaf of bread.
Handing out vegetarian meals to poor workers and taking care of the charity kitchen, that is how the owner of a car rental business in Buon Ma Thuot City (Dak Lak Province) and his group of friends have been working together to maintain the zero-dong vegetarian restaurant for over a year. This place not only provides free meals, but also shows love between people, and is a great source of motivation to help people in difficult circumstances.
 |
| Mr. Bui Ngoc Nhu Phong - owner of a zero-dong rice shop helps people in difficult circumstances in Buon Ma Thuot City. Photo: Truong Minh |
Mr. Bui Ngoc Nhu Phong (born in 1991) is the one who opened the zero-dong vegetarian restaurant at 40-42 Pham Ngu Lao, Thanh Cong Ward, Buon Ma Thuot City. He said that the idea started when he and his friend were drinking coffee and saw two lottery ticket sellers sharing a loaf of bread. At first, he and his friend pooled their money to buy ingredients and asked their family to prepare the meals, then brought them to people in difficult circumstances. After that, many people knew about his work, and they joined hands to contribute food and labor.
For over a year, the group has been providing free meals from Monday to Friday every week for people in need in the locality. As usual, at 4am every Monday to Friday, Ms. Dang Thi Le Nga (in Thanh Nhat ward, Buon Ma Thuot city) and her sisters have been busy preparing ingredients and cooking vegetarian dishes for the zero-dong restaurant. Ms. Nga said that the free vegetarian restaurant has been maintained for over a year: “At first, we cooked more than 100 meals, then increased to 150 meals, then 200 meals, but it was still not enough. There were times when after distributing the meals, people still came, we felt very heavy-hearted and worried, and tried harder to do it. Instead of spending the same amount of money to make only 150 meals, we put in the effort, processed everything from AZ to increase the amount of rice as much as possible” - Ms. Nga shared.
 |
| Every day, the restaurant serves about 250 free meals. Photo: Truong Minh |
Currently, the restaurant serves 250 free vegetarian meals every day. The menu is changed regularly to ensure a variety of savory dishes, stir-fries, soups, etc. People who come to the zero-dong vegetarian restaurant are mainly lonely elderly people, low-income workers, lottery ticket sellers, etc.
As usual, after a morning of selling lottery tickets, Mr. Nguyen Van Nam (61 years old), residing in Tan Tien ward, Buon Ma Thuot city, stopped by the "zero-dong kitchen" to receive rice, then continued his journey to make a living. Holding the meal in his hand, Mr. Minh choked up: "For those who sell lottery tickets to make a living like me, life is very difficult and deprived. Therefore, having everyone in the kitchen take care of delicious meals with full nutrition is truly the most precious thing."
 |
| Delicious, nutritious rice dishes at the zero-dong kitchen for workers. Photo: Truong Minh |
In a very special case, Ms. Loi was seriously ill and had to be treated in the hospital for over a year. Her husband drove a motorbike taxi to support two small children, life was very difficult, so when she went to the kitchen, she also took the opportunity to ask for extra meals for her husband and children to save money, reduce expenses and save money to buy medicine. Since she learned about the zero-dong vegetarian restaurant, she has had the feeling of "eating at home".
As for Ms. Cao Thi Huyen Nhung (65 years old), in Thong Nhat Ward, Buon Ma Thuot City, the zero-dong vegetarian restaurant has helped her ease her difficulties as her family is poor, and her main income comes from collecting scrap metal: “Every day, I come here to get rice to eat, because I don’t have money to buy rice. The uncles and aunts who distribute rice here are very enthusiastic, and the rice here is delicious. I’m happy to be able to eat it every day,” Ms. Nhung emotionally shared.
 |
| In addition to serving at the restaurant, young people in the volunteer group also bring free rice to workers in Buon Ma Thuot City. Photo: Truong Minh |
Mr. Huynh Ngoc Dung (69 years old) from Quang Ngai province came to Dak Lak to find a job to make a living, but due to poor health, his job is very unstable, he mainly wanders around to ask for help from people to make a living. Holding a free meal from a vegetarian restaurant, he confided: "Although it is vegetarian food, the kitchen cooks it very well. This is the 5th day I have eaten here, the restaurant changes the menu every day. For workers far from home, whose lives are still difficult like me, a free meal like this is extremely valuable."
Upon learning about the activities of the zero-dong vegetarian restaurant, many benefactors actively donated food, helped with packaging and distributing rice. The members of the volunteer group, each with different circumstances and living conditions, however, they met in the spirit of volunteerism and shared the desire to share difficulties with the poor. Mr. Bui Ngoc Nhu Phong said: “The restaurant has been maintained for more than a year, and has helped many people in difficult circumstances. Up to now, I feel very happy and really hope that benefactors and brothers and friends will support the zero-dong vegetarian restaurant, so that it can operate for as long as possible.”
Quiet but meaningful, charity kitchens like the zero-dong vegetarian restaurant are spreading joy and goodness in life. With the belief that “giving is forever”, we hope that these charitable activities will continue to be extended to share love and give many good values to the community.
Comment (0)