40 years of Banh Cuon Night in Ho Chi Minh City of a couple: Taking a day off to do something unexpected

The couple who own a banh cuon shop with nearly 40 years of experience in Ho Chi Minh City usually closes one day a month, the owner takes his wife on a motorbike to a Western province for a special reason.

That is the rice cake shop of Mr. Nguyen Hong Phuc (also known as Mr. Son, 63 years old) and Mrs. Ngo Thi Hao (64 years old), affectionately called by customers as Son Hao rice cake, after the couple's name.

Closed 1 day/month, couple "backpacks" the West

In the evening, in the middle of the week, I had the opportunity to pass by Ton Dan Street (District 4), I stopped by Mr. Son and his wife's rice cake and steamed rice paper stall. At 6 pm, he was busy setting up his stall, selling rice paper, and at 7 pm, his wife started pushing the rice cake cart out. At this time, only 2 dishes were sold.

Mr. Son and his wife sell hot rice rolls at 350 Ton Dan (District 4).

As soon as the restaurant opened, customers flocked to eat on the spot as well as buy take-away, making the owner busy and sweaty. Most of the people who came here to buy were "regular" customers who had been with the restaurant for decades. Mr. Son confided that his wife opened the restaurant nearly 40 years ago. Mrs. Hao's family is originally from the North, moved to Saigon before 1975 and sold this dish. Since she was young, she helped her family sell this dish, after marrying him, they opened a restaurant together, and have made a living from this profession for decades. "Here, there are many customers because we sell at affordable prices, 20,000 VND/portion, but people eat deliciously and are full," the owner said and "revealed" that the secret to the wet rice paper and rolled rice paper is the homemade ingredients and the dipping sauce is mixed according to a unique recipe that is unlike anywhere else. He said that it was easy for him to survive all these years, when Ton Dan is now a street lined with newly opened eateries. In addition, in the hot rice rolls section, the couple starts making the rolls as customers order, so the hot rolls are more delicious for customers. There is one special thing about the restaurant that I can feel, which is the affection that the two owners have for each other. When Ms. Hao sets up the stall, Mr. Son thoughtfully helps his wife arrange everything, not letting her do the heavy lifting. It is the attention and small but affectionate gestures that they show each other that make me admire them. Every month, the restaurant closes for one day, usually on the 18th of the lunar calendar. Mr. Son said that was the day he took his wife on a motorbike, "backpacking" to a sacred pagoda in Cho Lach (Ben Tre) to pray. That was also the time when he and his wife could travel here and there, away from the bustling city. “For the past 20 years, my husband and I have been making the same trip every month. Regular customers know our schedule,” Ms. Hao added with a laugh.

Customers love it because…

At first glance, Mr. Son and his wife's rice rolls are not much different from other restaurants I have eaten at. It is still a harmonious combination of hot rice rolls with shrimp cakes, pork rolls, raw bean sprouts, fried onions, etc. However, all are drizzled with a rich sweet and sour dipping sauce, making them delicious. In terms of flavor, I give the rice rolls here an 8/10. However, Mr. Nhat Duy (27 years old, living in District 4) gives this restaurant a 10/10, because it is a memorable restaurant that he has been attached to since he was very young.

The cake costs 20,000 VND.

“I eat here every week, partly because it's close to home, partly because the food is delicious and they take care of customers. A 20,000 VND portion is enough to fill you up, but a 30,000 VND portion is too much to eat. I usually buy it to take away, and only eat at the restaurant if I bring friends along," he added. Ms. Thanh Thao (24 years old) said this was the second time she visited this restaurant. The last time, a friend took her there to eat, and she found the taste to be to her liking, so this time, having the opportunity to travel from her home in Binh Thanh District to District 4, she stopped by to support the restaurant. Besides the taste of the food, what Ms. Thao likes most when eating here is the friendliness and enthusiasm of the owners. The space is not too large, but sitting next to the warm charcoal stove, watching the owners make each batch of cakes, is also an interesting experience for Thao.

Mr. Son and Mrs. Hao have a son, but he does not follow in his parents’ footsteps. He said that thanks to this restaurant, he and his wife raised their son to be the man he is today, and it has also been the breadwinner for the whole family since then. They are grateful to the customers who have supported them over the years, and will try every day to serve better to both strangers and regulars…

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