Not too unfamiliar, that is the Hanoi Bun Cha restaurant of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Mai Lan's family (50 years old), located in a peaceful alley on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City). The restaurant has been around for 30 years, a familiar destination for many generations of diners.
Why doesn't the owner admit it's "rich people's vermicelli with grilled pork"?
Every morning, Mrs. Mai Lan's restaurant is full of customers. The fragrant smell of grilled meat wafts from the charcoal stove where the owner is grilling meat, making my stomach growl even more. At the restaurant, Mrs. Lan and two other women, her sister-in-law and sister-in-law, work together, each with their own job. Everyone is busy making the most dedicated dishes to bring to customers without having to wait long.
Ms. Lan inherited her parents' Hanoi bun cha restaurant.
Many customers were impressed that the restaurant was run by Mrs. Lan's three sisters, and there were no men. Looking at Mrs. Lan's youthful appearance, I and many other customers were surprised to learn that she was 50 years old. I thought to myself, perhaps because the owner was cheerful, smiled a lot, and was friendly with customers, she looked like she was in her 30s.
I was hungry, so I ordered a bowl of bun cha for breakfast. Many customers jokingly called this a "rich man's bun cha" restaurant, as each portion cost 80,000 VND, and if customers wanted more, they could order more, depending on their needs.
Regarding the selling price, Ms. Lan admitted that it is higher than the average. However, it is not by chance that despite selling at this price, her shop has still been supported by "regular" customers for many years.
Partly because of the unique flavor, unlike any other restaurant with the cooking method passed down from her parents, partly because the quality of the bowl of noodles is worth the price that customers pay.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai Lan, Owner 
The grilled meat is well marinated.
There is a special thing about the way the food is prepared at the restaurant, which is that the grilled meat is clamped with bamboo sticks, held in place by banana leaves and grilled over hot coals. This method is different from other restaurants I have been to, which are grilled on a grill or electric oven. When customers order, the owner starts to grill the meat, so the meat is brought to the table to customers hot and fragrant.
Mr. Ho Nam (34 years old, living in District 3) believes that this is one of the "secrets" that creates the unique flavor of the dishes here, which has kept him coming back for nearly ten years. Although the price is higher than the average, because he likes the Hanoi bun cha here, he accepts it.
"I've eaten bun cha here, but I've eaten elsewhere and found the taste not as good. I don't compare which restaurant is better than another, I just find this place has a very unique taste, delicious and can't be missed. The restaurant's atmosphere is cozy, so I often bring friends or family here to eat," Mr. Nam added.
Only do one job all your life
Not everyone knows that this restaurant was opened by Ms. Lan’s parents in 1993 to earn a living. They were both from the North, came to Saigon to live and work, so they chose to sell Hanoi bun cha.
In her twenties, Ms. Lan helped her parents sell vermicelli with grilled pork until now, when she took over this restaurant. The owner said that her whole life, she has only done this one job, it is also fate.
Meal cost 80,000 VND.
[CLIP]: The cheapest 'Rich Bun Cha' is 80,000 VND/portion, 30 years in the center of Ho Chi Minh City: The restaurant is... full of women.
“11 years ago, when my parents passed away, I took over this restaurant and continued to serve customers like when my grandparents were alive. My family has eight siblings, so it was fate that I was the only one who took over the business, everyone has their own job,” she added.
“Why has our restaurant been supported by customers for so many years, despite the high prices? Is there any secret?”, I asked. The owner immediately smiled and replied that she also did not understand why customers liked the taste of bun cha at her restaurant. Because, she only did it the way her parents had done it in the past, thanks to the profession that taught her the profession, she improved day by day.
The owner believes that when cooking with heart, with love for the food and for the customers, the customers will definitely feel it. It is also possible that it is the business fate of her parents and her. She is proud that her family restaurant is a place where many generations of diners come and go, some have been eating since they were little, now grown up, some families still come back to eat.
The meat is grilled with bamboo sticks. The owner only starts grilling the meat when the customer calls.
For Ms. Lan, this restaurant is not only the passion of her parents, but also her whole life and youth. She said that her happiness every day is to be able to sell the restaurant, until she no longer has the strength...
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