Luckily, she was supported by customers. There was a time when the owner was afraid that there would be too many customers because she didn't have enough ingredients for a portion of noodle soup to sell to customers.
10,000 VND also sold
Early in the afternoon, I walked through a small alley on Le Van Sy Street to Nguyen Van Troi Market (District 3, Ho Chi Minh City). The market has been around for decades, with bustling stalls selling food, drinks, etc.
A bowl of snail noodle soup costs 40,000 VND at Ms. Huong's restaurant.
Squeezing through the crowded area of people and vehicles, I stopped by Ms. Ngoc Huong’s noodle soup shop. It was past 10 o’clock when the shop opened. The owner and her only son were busy making noodle soup for customers to eat in and take away, in the bustling market space filled with people coming and going, laughing and chatting.
The small restaurant is also the home of Ms. Huong's family of 3. She has lived in this market since she followed her husband as a daughter-in-law. Her acquaintances all know that the owner has only opened this noodle soup restaurant for a little over a day, after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ms. Huong, Owner 
The restaurant is located in Nguyen Van Troi market (District 3, HCMC).
The reason she chose this dish is because the preparation is not too complicated, the selling price is cheap, suitable for workers in the market. From a fish seller, switching to selling food, at first it was a bit difficult for Ms. Huong. But thanks to the spirit of learning, exploring, always listening to customers' opinions and knowing how to change, the owner has had the perfect cooking recipe as it is now.
Ms. Huong's noodle soup is rumored by many customers to have delicious snails, chewy and crunchy. In the first days of opening, she was afraid of... large crowds, because on those days, if customers came early, there would be snails to eat, but if they came late, the snails would run out, so she was very hesitant.
“At that time, I just prayed for customers to come regularly so I would be happy. It would be strange if customers came and there was no dish they liked. Later, I had a stable source of snails and regular customers so I wasn't afraid of the crowds like before. When there were a lot of customers, I was happy," she said, smiling.
Quitting the fish selling job of 20 years, the owner sells noodle soup.
Here, the average price of each bowl of noodle soup is from 30,000 to 50,000 VND, depending on demand. However, if customers want to eat a bowl for 20,000 VND or 10,000 VND, she will also sell it. The owner also said that if customers like to eat something or don't like to eat something, just say so, she will accommodate them to the fullest.
The whole family sells together.
Hungry, I ordered a full bowl of noodle soup for 40,000 VND. I heard many people say that the restaurant's noodle soup meets the three criteria of "delicious - nutritious - cheap", but today I had the chance to verify it. In a moment, the steaming hot bowl of noodles was served on the table, steaming with a fragrant, attractive aroma.
The bowl of vermicelli soup is filled with crab cakes, cinnamon cakes, tofu, snails, water spinach... mixed with a light, sweet broth. Served with shrimp paste or some other dipping sauces available at the restaurant, I find the flavor here cannot be called excellent, but it is suitable for a simple lunch at the market in Ho Chi Minh City. Personally, I give it 8/10.
The ingredients work together in harmony.
Ms. Huong’s entire family depends on this restaurant. In the house, everyone has their own job. She cooks and sells. Her son helps his mother and also works as a delivery man. Her husband is responsible for washing dishes after each sale.
Mr. Chi Khang (34 years old, living in District 3) said that because his house is near Nguyen Van Troi market, almost every time he craves something to eat, he rides his motorbike to Ms. Huong's restaurant, sometimes eating there, sometimes buying takeout.
“Usually, I eat here 3-4 times a week. The restaurant used to open at 11:30, now it opens at 10. What I like most here is the broth with snails, delicious. And the prices here are also cheap. Sometimes I buy a bowl of noodles with only crab cakes, for about 20,000 VND, the owner also sells it,” the customer commented.
Ms. Huong is happy with her job.
Ms. Huong's happiness is that every day she can sell this restaurant with her husband and only son, and every day she can bring the best bowls of noodles to customers. Seeing the satisfied smiles of customers, seeing customers come to eat and become "regular customers", she has the motivation to continue working. Ms. Huong's restaurant adds a little bit of bustling atmosphere to Nguyen Van Troi market.
Nguyen Van Troi Market is located on Le Van Sy Street (Ward 13, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City), built in 1955 and rebuilt in 1993. Before 1975, the market was named Truong Minh Giang.
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