"Free Noodle Cart" - Sweetness of Love, Fragrance of Sharing

STO - Holding steaming bowls of noodles, the students beamed with joy at receiving a delicious meal with meat and eggs. Many of them ate and praised the food, saying: "It's been a long time since I've eaten something this delicious"; "I came home from school hungry, a bowl of noodles is wonderful"; "My bowl of noodles has so much meat, it's very tasty"... These were the common feelings of the students at Phu My Junior High School (Phu My commune, My Tu district, Soc Trang province) when enjoying a bowl of noodles from the "Soc Trang Traffic Police Youth's 0-Dong Noodle Cart".

For many people, a meal with meat and eggs is perfectly normal. But in difficult circumstances, meals consisting only of pickled vegetables, fish, and greens are barely enough to get by, making a bowl of noodles or vermicelli a luxury for many families. Understanding these situations, the Youth Union of the Traffic Police Department of Soc Trang Provincial Police has implemented the "Zero-Cost Noodle Cart of Soc Trang Traffic Police Youth" model, aiming to provide delicious, free meals to people and children in ethnic minority areas.

Preparing ingredients for bowls of noodles to be served to students at Phu My Secondary School (Phu My commune, My Tu district, Soc Trang province). Photo: NGOC HAI

Captain Tran Thanh Phuong, Secretary of the Youth Union of the Traffic Police Department, Soc Trang Provincial Police, said that the "Zero-Cost Noodle Cart of the Soc Trang Traffic Police Youth" model was implemented in early March, in response to the 2025 Youth Month. The purpose is to provide delicious and nutritious meals for people and children of ethnic minorities in Soc Trang province. Periodically, each week, the Youth Union of the Traffic Police Department cooks 200-300 servings of noodles for the people. In addition, the Youth Union also opens a zero-cost clothing stall where people can choose clothes to take home. To date, this zero-cost noodle cart has visited four locations (Dai Tam commune (twice) in My Xuyen district, Phu My commune, and Thuan Hung commune in My Tu district), cooking 1,400 servings of noodles for people and children. In the future, the noodle cart will continue to travel to other communes in Soc Trang province. And the Youth Union of the Traffic Police Department will try to bring the noodle truck to all districts in the province.

Regularly on weekend afternoons, the officers and members of the Traffic Police Department's Youth Union become busier preparing the necessary equipment, including stoves, pots, ingredients, tables, chairs, bowls, and chopsticks, loading them onto vehicles to cook noodles for everyone. According to Captain Tran Thanh Phuong, the funds for purchasing cooking utensils, ingredients, tables, and chairs come from contributions from the staff, with additional donations from benefactors. Those who know how to cook work in the kitchen, while those who are not skilled help with preparing ingredients, setting up tables and chairs, and serving noodles. Throughout the process, everyone wears gloves to ensure food safety and hygiene. The Youth Union aims to provide delicious and healthy meals for the people and children in ethnic minority communities.

The "Free Noodle Cart of Soc Trang Traffic Police Youth" model embodies the warmth of sharing. Photo: NGOC HAI

The noodle cart was very popular, with almost all the servings sold out within about 30 minutes of opening. Some students ate two servings of noodles, while others finished all the broth but still found it delicious and hoped the cart would come again. Lam Anh Duy, a 9th-grade student at Phu My Secondary School, shared: “I was very surprised to see the free noodle cart in front of the school gate after school. The bowl of noodles had plenty of vegetables, meat, and egg, and I found it very tasty. Besides noodles, there was also watermelon and a drink. My stomach was full because of today's meal.”

Sitting next to him, Ly Chi Tai, a 6th-grade student from Phu My Secondary School, added: “This bowl of noodles is the best I've ever had. I finished one and now I want another. I really enjoy eating with my classmates and schoolmates. I find the traffic police officers very friendly and enthusiastic in cooking these noodle meals for us.”

Meanwhile, Duong Lam Yen Phuong, a 6th-grade student at Phu My Secondary School, shared her feelings: "The traffic police officers have worked so hard to ensure traffic safety. Now they even took the time to cook delicious noodles for us to eat."

The "Free Noodle Cart of the Soc Trang Traffic Police Youth" model not only provides delicious meals to the people and children of ethnic minorities but also brings warmth and sharing from the Youth Union of the Traffic Police Department to those in difficult circumstances. In addition, the Youth Union of the Traffic Police Department also incorporates propaganda and reminders to traffic participants to comply with traffic safety regulations. This is considered a successful model of public relations, raising awareness and encouraging voluntary compliance with traffic laws, contributing to curbing and reducing traffic accidents and limiting violations that are potential causes of accidents.

NGOC HAI

Source: https://baosoctrang.org.vn/xa-hoi/202504/xe-mi-0-dong-ngot-yeu-thuong-thom-chia-se-2714fde/