Daughter-in-law inherits father-in-law's job of making clear broth

Located right on the prime street frontage of To Ngoc Van Street (Thu Duc), the beef noodle shop of Ms. Ly Huong Lan's family (60 years old) is still burning bright every day, continuing the story of previous owners.

The restaurant has been "quiet" through 3 generations of owners.

One summer afternoon, Ho Chi Minh City was filled with warmth and sunshine. I rode my old motorbike 20 kilometers back to Thu Duc, where I spent 4 years as a student, going along the alleys to eat, study, and hang out.

Quán hủ tiếu ở TP.HCM 50 năm nước lèo trong vắt: Con dâu kế nghiệp cha chồng - Ảnh 1. — Ms. Lan's restaurant is located at 3 To Ngoc Van Street (Thu Duc City).

Whether it was intentional or not, I stopped my car in front of Ms. Lan's noodle shop, which was a "luxury" for us students at that time. Every time my parents sent money at the beginning of the month, or when I first received a scholarship, I would invite a few close friends to have a bowl to "please" my stomach.

Seeing me stop by to eat, she greeted me warmly, even though she didn't remember who I was because it had been a long time, 3-4 years, since I had returned to this restaurant. The restaurant wasn't too big, with a few tables neatly arranged in a family space, which was also the home of Ms. Lan and her husband's relatives.

Quán hủ tiếu ở TP.HCM 50 năm nước lèo trong vắt: Con dâu kế nghiệp cha chồng - Ảnh 2. — The shop has been around since her father-in-law's generation. After her husband passed away, Lan and her brothers-in-law and children in the family sold it.

[CLIP]: Nearly half a century old beef noodle shop in Thu Duc.

Customers like beef ball noodle soup the most at the restaurant.

In front, stands out a wooden noodle cart that was owned by her father-in-law, a Chinese man, before 1975. After many renovations, the cart is somewhat newer, but it is still the same cart that commemorated the year. Just like the premises of this restaurant, after nearly half a century with 3 generations of owners, it still "lies" in the same place waiting for customers to come.

Currently, each meal here costs 50,000 - 60,000 VND/bowl. I ordered the special portion. At that time, Ms. Lan's brothers-in-law were busy helping her prepare the dishes. She said that in 1981, she came here as a daughter-in-law. Since then, her life has been attached to this noodle cart as an indispensable part.

My father-in-law sold the shop before 1975. I became his daughter-in-law and helped him, along with my husband and his 8 younger brothers, sell this shop. More than ten years later, my father-in-law passed away, leaving the shop for my husband to manage. In 2017, my husband also passed away. I continued to sell after my father, my husband and my younger brothers!

Ms. Lan, Owner

The day her husband was no longer in this world, Ms. Lan was devastated. She said that he was a gentle, kind person, very friendly to customers. Since he passed away, customers kept asking about him, and every time they did, she missed him, and the memories of the two of them together all their lives at her father's noodle shop.

The broth is so clear that customers say they can see all the way to the bottom of the bowl.

Normally, she just stands there selling. Since her uncle passed away, she and her husband's brothers have had to take care of everything inside and out. Instead of selling from morning to night like before, now she only sells from 2pm to evening. She said inheriting this restaurant is both a pressure and a joy.

Quán hủ tiếu ở TP.HCM 50 năm nước lèo trong vắt: Con dâu kế nghiệp cha chồng - Ảnh 5. — The broth is clear.

“I feel like I am following my father-in-law and husband to preserve and develop the restaurant. But I also feel my responsibility is great, to preserve the traditional flavor over the years without changing so that the customers who come to support the restaurant will not be disappointed," she confided.

A moment later, a bowl of hot beef ball noodle soup was placed before me, fragrant. The familiar noodle soup consists of beef balls, beef brisket, beef tendon with a little green onion, coriander, pork rind, and ground pepper sprinkled on top to enhance the aroma. The noodle soup here is also famous for its clear broth, many customers jokingly say that sometimes you can see all the way to the bottom of the bowl.

Hu Tieu here costs from 50,000 - 60,000 VND.

The broth is clear, sweet, and the Chinese noodles are soft and chewy, combined with tender beef brisket, beef balls, and beef tendons, dipped in a little bit of the restaurant's dipping sauce, it's truly "top notch". Personally, I find it delicious, and give it an 8/10 rating, worth a try.

Mr. Ngoc Nhan (36 years old, living in Thu Duc City) said he ate here since he was still in school, when his father took him there. Because his house is close by, since then, whenever he craves noodles, he stops by.

Now that I have a wife and children, I often bring them over to eat. I have been eating there since my uncle was still alive. For me, the beef noodle soup at the restaurant is not exceptionally delicious, but it has a familiar and nostalgic taste that is hard to forget. I will definitely eat it until the restaurant runs out of it!

Mr. Ngoc Nhan, Diner

Ms. Lan’s happiness every day is to stand at this noodle shop, bringing each portion of noodle filled with passion to diners near and far. That helps her feel that her father-in-law and husband are still by her side, giving her health and motivation to maintain the family’s traditional restaurant…

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