'Grandma' Mai happily puts cups of tea into bags for customers - Photo: HO LAM
On a sidewalk corner of Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Ben Thanh Ward (old District 1), Ho Chi Minh City, next to the "shopping paradise" Saigon Square, which is always bustling with people, there is a pair of sweet soup poles without a sign, owned by an old woman who has been sitting quietly for more than 30 years.
Under the weather that changes from sunny to rainy, she sits silently, occasionally turning the teacups while waiting for customers.
That's "grandma" Mai, "grandma" is the affectionate way that passersby, whether strangers or acquaintances, often call Mrs. Mai when they know more about her situation.
Ngoai Mai is grateful for the kindness
Every day, Mrs. Mai wakes up at 4am to cook sweet soup. Then around 9am, she and her sweet soup stall "take a motorbike taxi" from Binh Thanh District to District 1 to sell. At around 2pm, she goes to Ben Thanh Market to sell to customers until the sweet soup is sold out, sometimes only finishing the pot of sweet soup to go home in the evening.
All the ingredients in the pot of sweet soup are prepared by her, from buying, soaking beans, cooking coconut milk. With the apple sweet soup, she spends the most time preparing the ingredients and cooking. The taste of the sweet soup is sweet, not too strong.
Her shoulder pole is also simple and plain, consisting of only a few pots of sweet soup, a few cups of sweet soup placed on the pot lids that she had carefully prepared, a small ice chest, and a few small plastic chairs enough for two or three people to sit on.
Mixed green bean sweet soup costs 20,000 VND - Photo: HO LAM
At her sweet soup stall, diners can find many familiar sweet soups from their childhood such as: corn sweet soup, green bean sweet soup, black bean sweet soup, apple sweet soup all priced at 10,000 VND/cup, and mixed sweet soup with royal beans costs 20,000 VND.
A few young customers passed by, loudly greeted her and said: "Grandma Mai! Please sell me about 30 or 40 cups so I can share them with my colleagues in the company!"
Mrs. Mai's eyes lit up with joy, mixed with a bit of warmth. She said that recently, a few young people often come to eat, take pictures, and help her introduce her "signless" sweet soup stall on social networking sites. And thanks to that, many people know, love, and support her.
"I am grateful to my children and always want to thank those who have helped me. Even though they may not buy tea, sometimes they sit down to help me scoop tea, tie bags, chat, and confide in me. That kindness makes me tell myself to try to earn money properly. Even if it is hard, I have to try to take care of my children, come what may," Mrs. Mai confided.
The cups of sweet soup were scooped out and meticulously arranged on a tray by her - Photo: HO LAM
The beans are soaked and cooked by her own hands. In the picture is black bean sweet soup with a sweet taste, not too harsh - Photo: HO LAM
The boy is 53 years old but that's his fate, I have to try
Mrs. Mai is from Quang Ngai and has been living in Ho Chi Minh City for a long time. She is currently living with a nephew and is focusing all her attention on selling sweet soup to earn money to support her sick son. She sends most of the money she earns back home to her son, and saves a little for emergencies.
Having four children, three boys and one girl, at this age, she should be able to rest with her children and grandchildren, but because of the constant incidents and worries, she has to struggle and go out into the world to work.
Mrs. Mai's eyes are always red and teary when talking about her children - Photo: HO LAM
Her eldest son got married and lives far away, and occasionally sends money back to help his mother. Her second son has been mentally ill since he was 23. Her daughter is about to get married.
Her youngest child, who was also the closest to her, had congenital heart disease and passed away not long ago.
The pain of losing her child never subsided, but Mrs. Mai tried to hold back her grief to save her energy to take care of her remaining children.
"My youngest son loved me very much, but he died too early. My second son is 53 years old, but his fate is the same. Two little boys, pitiful. That's why I have to try even harder," Mrs. Mai said with a trembling voice.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ben-hong-saigon-square-co-mot-ganh-che-2025071415425655.htm
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