Tree Cat Shop and the warmth of the people of Da Lat

A tiny little rice and noodle shop, filled with the heartfelt generosity of the mountain town's residents towards the community. Cat Tree - Hanging Noodles, meals offered to those in need with genuine kindness, in a small corner of the street.

Mr. Nguyen Van Cat Tuong and the Cat Tree shop.

• CAT TREE SHOP - HANGING NOODLES

“Hanging noodles and hanging rice are terms for meals donated by others. Like at my hanging noodle shop, customers pay in advance and donate a few meals to those in need. Those in need who come later receive meals donated by others. This isn't charity, but rather the kindness of the community,” shared Nguyen Van Cat Tuong, the young owner of the “Mèo Tree” brand.

A very small fried rice and chicken noodle shop at 400 Xô Viết Nghệ Tĩnh Street, opposite Đống Đa Secondary and High School, is doing daily business with fried rice and chicken noodles at a uniform price. The owner, a young 27-year-old, Nguyễn Văn Cát Tường, shared: "In a tourist city like Da Lat, street food isn't cheap. After the COVID-19 pandemic and completing my military service, I came to Da Lat to find work, and it was very difficult for me to find an affordable meal. I actually had to eat vegetarian sandwiches for many days; the initial period of starting my business was very challenging. Fortunately, I received help and generosity from many people in Da Lat." Tường recalled that the owners of a pho restaurant often saved bags of egg whites for him, and some gardeners gave him cabbage and Chinese cabbage. His first customers helped him get through each day.

“I started my business supplying fresh chicken, so I'm also known as Tuong “the chicken supplier”. The chickens are sourced from farms in Lam Ha and Di Linh, supplying many restaurants as well as home cooks in Da Lat. Luckily, the chickens sold well, and gradually I was able to stabilize my life, open a restaurant, get married, and have children. Once I was stable, I began to think about giving back to Da Lat. That's why the braised chicken noodle shop was born, with a fixed price of 20,000 VND per bowl. As long as I can, I won't raise the price. This is my way of repaying the land that nurtured me and gave me the good life I have today,” Nguyen Van Cat Tuong confided. He also said that because the chicken is sourced from farms and the vegetables are from his own garden, the prices are low, and he has enough resources to provide customers with meals without fear of losses.

• HUMANITY IN THE MOUNTAIN TOWN

Starting from the heartfelt initiative of a young shop owner, Nguyen Van Cat Tuong's noodle and rice stall unexpectedly received enthusiastic support from the Da Lat community. “Initially, I only sold noodles at a flat price of 20,000 VND. Many people came to eat, saw how cheap it was, and asked if I offered to ‘hang’ the noodles, sending money to donate the meal to those in need. I agreed, and many people ‘hang’ out portions of noodles.” Since then, the shop's sign clearly indicates how many portions are still available. Students, lottery ticket vendors, and passersby can all come to the shop and receive a portion of the “hanging” noodles and rice without paying, as these portions have already been donated by previous customers. “The shop isn’t giving out free meals; we’re a bridge connecting the kindness of good people to those in need. Therefore, you can feel free to receive the hanging noodles and rice because someone else has already paid for them,” Cat Tuong shared.

“The people of Da Lat are truly kind, warm-hearted, and generous. Many customers come to buy food and leave behind 20-30 portions of rice or noodles. Many rice shops and vegetable wholesalers donate rice and vegetables for the noodle shop to cook daily,” said Tran Quang Tho, a waiter at Meo Tree restaurant. Tho himself came from afar to Da Lat to find work. Working in such a friendly environment with such sharing hearts, Tho feels like he's found a family and is very enthusiastic about his job.

Not only Mr. Nguyen Van Cat Tuong and Mr. Tho, but many people in Da Lat have been joining hands to help the Cat Tree restaurant operate. Every day, the restaurant can offer 100-150 portions of rice and noodles, a gesture of kindness from good-hearted people to those around them. Ms. Nguyen Hien, the owner of a rice shop on Hai Ba Trung Street, who regularly "offers" and gives away meals, is also someone who left her hometown to start a business in Da Lat. Having been welcomed by this new land, she readily joins hands with Cat Tree, donating meals and bags of rice to help the restaurant maintain its operations.

“Someone asked me what the name of the restaurant, Cat Tree, means. Cat Tree, when reversed, means 'hanging noodles.' This is also a name a customer gave the restaurant, and I found it so meaningful that I kept it as the official name,” Mr. Cat Tuong shared. He said that the mountain town is full of human kindness, a place that has given him and many others a home. And, Cat Tree is a thank you to Da Lat, a thank you to the generous hearts in this misty land.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/kinh-te/202506/tiem-meo-tree-va-tinh-nguoi-da-lat-1c21171/