City at night: Food scene awakens.

As night falls, Ho Chi Minh City takes on a dazzling and bustling appearance. When the city lights up, the aroma of delicious food spreads, awakening the taste buds of many.

At nearly 1 AM, Mrs. Pham Thi Chau's (70 years old) A Chay noodle shop on Pham The Hien Street, District 8, Ho Chi Minh City - near Ba Tang Bridge - was still brightly lit and bustling with customers. For the past 40 years, this noodle shop - started by Mrs. Chau's mother, then passed down to her sister, and now to her - has been a familiar destination for many diners.

Preserving the family's traditional flavor.

Ms. Pham Thi Chau said that since childhood, she has helped her mother sell traditional dishes from the North to Ho Chi Minh City, and they have been well-received by customers. According to her, the secret to attracting customers is meticulous preparation and authentic flavors. "We prepare it the way we eat it," she revealed.

What makes A Chảy restaurant special and attracts customers' attention is its large, round meatballs, initially hand-ground manually, but later made using a machine as Mrs. Châu got older. "The large, round meatballs have been a signature feature of the restaurant for decades. For them to be delicious, they must be hand-ground," Mrs. Châu explained.

The reason A Chảy is open from late evening until early morning is because in the past, few restaurants sold late-night food, while people in the surrounding area usually woke up early to go to work or the market. Each bowl of vermicelli costs about 40,000 VND, and customers can add toppings as they like.

A Chảy's vermicelli soup with meatballs restaurant attracts not only locals but also tourists . Mr. An (a Vietnamese-American) enthusiastically remarked: "The first time I tried A Chảy's vermicelli soup with meatballs was through an online recommendation. The flavor is delicious and unique." Diners love the rich flavor, fresh ingredients, sweet broth, and chewy, crispy meatballs. According to the owner, 1 kg of meatballs only yields about 25 meatballs.

For over 25 years, Mrs. Chau has been dedicated to her noodle shop, working tirelessly day after day, regardless of the weather. She says that despite the hardships, she loves her job, seeing it not only as a means of livelihood but also as a way to preserve her family's traditional recipe. She doesn't force her children to follow in her footsteps, understanding the difficulties involved in this work.

"Business is very tough when it rains and is windy, worrying about both the goods and the customers. It's okay if my children don't follow this profession, as long as they find suitable jobs," Ms. Chau expressed. She affirmed that she will continue to be dedicated to the restaurant and the bowl of vermicelli soup with meatballs, as long as her health permits, in order to preserve a part of Ho Chi Minh City's culinary memories.

Mrs. Pham Thi Chau's vermicelli soup restaurant has been a familiar destination for many diners for the past 40 years. (Photo: KHAC HIEU)

Heartwarming moments for workers

Open for only 150 minutes each day starting at 3 AM, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Phuong's (61 years old) pork rib porridge stall on Hoang Dieu Street, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City, is always bustling with laughter and conversation. For the past 38 years, Mrs. Phuong's stall has been famous for its delicious pork rib porridge at affordable prices, becoming a familiar destination for early morning and late night workers.

"I sell at unusual hours, from 3 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. Luckily, the landlord is kind and doesn't charge rent, so I can sell at a cheap price to the locals," Mrs. Phuong confided. A bowl of plain porridge with fried dough sticks costs only 15,000 dong, while pork rib porridge is 30,000-40,000 dong; she sells as much as customers want.

Despite rising prices and multiple increases in pork prices, Ms. Phuong remains determined to keep her selling price unchanged. "Every time the cost of raw materials increases, I worry about how to ensure that people can eat well without spending more money. We have to balance things out, because raising prices again would be unfair to the workers," she confided.

At this late-night porridge stall, customers serve themselves, from getting their own chairs, chopsticks, and spoons to receiving their own change. Ms. Cam Dao, a regular customer, admitted: "I feel a sense of emptiness whenever Ms. Phuong isn't selling. Every morning I stop by here for a quick meal before going to the market. All the customers here are happy to serve themselves; they know the owner keeps the prices low and doesn't raise them, so they really appreciate her..."

As the city begins its day, Mrs. Phuong cleans up her stall. For nearly four decades, she has quietly dedicated herself to the nightlife, warming the hearts of poor laborers with bowls of compassionate porridge. (To be continued)

A part of the soul of Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City at night is not just about dazzling lights, towering buildings, or bustling crowds. Hidden behind that lively atmosphere is another "specialty": food stalls and restaurants that work tirelessly all night to serve locals and tourists, creating a unique and unforgettable nighttime culinary culture.

Unlike many cities, Ho Chi Minh City never seems to "sleep." The city's nightlife remains vibrant and colorful, with food playing a nearly dominant role.

From narrow alleys to main avenues, you can find brightly lit food stalls everywhere, offering a variety of enticing aromas. These could be the clattering sound of noodle carts on the street, the bustling activity of snail vendors, or the cozy yet affordable eateries serving vermicelli, pho, and broken rice dishes.

The late-night eateries in Ho Chi Minh City are not just places to fill your stomach when you're hungry. They are also meeting places, where people can share stories after a long day, where poor laborers find a warm late-night meal, and where tourists can discover a part of the soul of Ho Chi Minh City.

What makes Ho Chi Minh City's nightlife so appealing? First and foremost, it's the diversity. You can find everything from traditional to modern dishes, from hearty meals to snacks, from familiar flavors to innovative variations.

It's also about the down-to-earth, intimate atmosphere. You don't need to go to a fancy restaurant to enjoy delicious, quality food at affordable prices. Moreover, the cool, airy night air makes the meal even more enjoyable.

Behind the bright lights and bustling atmosphere of those eateries lie stories of life, of quiet struggles for survival. There are the diligent shop owners who stay up late and wake up early to prepare ingredients, the street vendors who roam the roads, and the laborers who stop by for a quick bite before their shift. They are an indispensable part of the nighttime scene.

Ho Chi Minh City, contributing to the city's vibrancy and warmth.

And so, as the city lights up, the night food stalls come to life, giving Ho Chi Minh City a different look and a different flavor. Nighttime culinary delights are not only a cultural feature but also an integral part of the city's soul.

Ho Chi Minh City is something that anyone who has experienced it will never forget. And when you leave, you remember not only the delicious food but also the atmosphere, the people, and a city that is truly impressive when night falls. It is a city of sharing, connection, and a rich sense of human connection.

Bao Ngoc

Source: https://nld.com.vn/thanh-pho-ve-dem-am-thuc-thuc-giac-196250323204322991.htm