This is the emotion that was engraved in my memory the first time I set foot at Mien Dong bus station. Lost and insecure, precarious as if walking on a bumpy slope. But the emotion in the early 90s of the last century was something full and hot, and this time it was a bit more profound. The only thing that has not changed and has become familiar is the coffee atmosphere that we can easily feel in any coffee shop in Saigon. Although I have settled in Saigon for more than twenty years, half the time in my homeland, there is no Landmark in Saigon that makes me remember much. The things imprinted in my brain are just nameless little things. For example, the General’s shrine is in a certain alley near Saigon station that I can no longer locate. The temple is just an altar in the style of Mr. Dia, located in the most spacious part of the alley. The shrine is modest, but the smoke of incense sticks out all day. Nearby is a toad cafe owned by an alley gang boss. Somehow, I got used to this “brutal” guy. Perhaps the naivety of a teenager from distant Quang Nam touched his heart? No, the reason is from the shrine. He told me that the General was “outside” everywhere. A few years ago, his junior brought back an old bag. It claimed “stealing” from an old man outside the station. Inside were only a few old clothes, a tin box containing a strange black powder. When he was depressed, another kid running from the station said that the old man was rolling around crying near death on the platform, his head was covered with blood. In the end, the senior had to go to the place to witness the incident and understand everything. That tin box contained something very sacred: remains. That old man was a son from Quang Nam who went to collect his father’s bones to bring back to his hometown and then it happened as we know it. The brothers and sisters forced the junior to return the bag and especially the tin box to the old man, but he claimed that it had already been spilled. The little black powder in the tin box was thrown down the alley, right where the General’s shrine is now. The junior thought for a while and then jumped out near the canal. After a while it brought back a pile of black soil… When the old man received his bag back, and especially when he saw that the tin box was still intact, he was as happy as if he had caught gold. As for the brothers and sisters, they found the altar and placed it right where the junior had dropped the bones. Since then, the temple has been taken care of by the whole gang, and smoked fruit incense all day. The General was also tolerant when he didn’t blame the people who pulled vertically, but also occasionally hit a few numbers. And he became famous from there. I once dared to ask “your hand” why did you call the General? “Hands and sisters” explained that to win such a lottery, it must be done by the General. The General’s Shrine and your coffee shop toads are what make me picture Saigon most vividly, in a way that nothing in this land can replace. Then there are so many places I have been, the roads I have walked, until now, I can no longer imagine. But the feeling they give me is still intact. A coffee shop toad disappeared somewhere under the floor of a building. An attractive road leading to Long An in the past, has now been replaced by a luxurious and busy urban area. Then Binh Dong wharf, which contains the development history of this land, now who has the strength to recall? But one thing that never dies is the emotion they sow in our brains. Saigon will forever be there no matter how many conspiracies across this land. For one thing, those who come first or come late, come in a friendly attitude or steal, will sooner or later be tamed by this land. As well as the very familiar coffee atmosphere that I encountered even in a strange place. We will remember the roads we have walked, and we will also remember the roads we have never walked. The emotion that Saigon sows in the souls of predestined people is immortal.

That is how residents at 20 Thuoc Street (now Hoang Dieu Street, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City) show the way for diners to Mrs. Ngoc’s restaurant. Nested next to the alley wall, the shop has only one stall, 3 folding tables and 2 neat rows of plastic chairs. Every day, the shop only sells from 6am to 10am, then makes room for other people to do business. With no address, no signboard, the restaurant of Ms. Ngoc (73 years old) is still crowded with customers to eat. Beef noodle soup owned by Mrs. Ngoc is nestled next to the alley on 20 Thuoc Street (District 4, Ho Chi Minh City). “For 20 years in the business, I just put up a board to let people know what I sell. This is a small item, sitting on the street, so I don’t need a sign. Whoever wants to eat will come by himself”, the owner just said. with Zing , just quickly scoop up soup for new visitors. “No cutlery” noodle shop In 1984, Ngoc took her small family with her, leaving Hue to go to Saigon to do business. 10 years later, instead of trading dishes as in her hometown, the owner chose to sell Hue beef noodle soup as a livelihood. “Many years of trading are many years of ups and downs, nothing has been done,” she said. In the early days of the business, Mrs. Ngoc’s restaurant was even smaller than the present, with only 2 tables and chairs arranged around. “Back then, I just dared to make it small. I sat close to the alley, the shop did not have many customers to know it, so just that was enough”, the owner said. Ms. Ngoc’s business is still troubled many times due to opening a shop on 20 Thuoc Street – a place notorious for robbery and gangsterism in the past. About 15 years ago, every time she opened the goods, she was anxious to fear that someone would steal things and fight at the shop. Furniture, pots and pans used for trading can be stolen at any time. Years of trading in a place that is notorious for robbery and arguing in Saigon made the owner in the habit of storing knives and scissors under a drawer of raw materials. “Back then this place was called the Gypsy district, the people living here were also very badly known. Actually, there were this person, that person, not everyone in Kho 5, area 20 Thuoc, alley 148 Ton Dan. , Oxi Brick village, Dua village … are all bad people “. In addition, afraid of people on the street causing fights, riot and then taking cooking utensils to fight, Mrs. Ngoc was forced to hide all knives and scissors. Now, when order and security has been ensured, the owner still keeps the habit of storing knives, pulling down the cabinets containing the ingredients. “In recent years, this area has completely stopped robbing and fighting. Even so, I used to hide the cutlery, so it was not used to leave it on the table”. Standard noodle bowl with Hue flavor Originally from Hue, each bowl of vermicelli is carefully cared for by Mrs. Ngoc from broth, cake fibers to rolls, vegetables. To have a delicious, flavorful broth, she has to get up at 3 o’clock every morning to cook broth, stew and season to taste a typical fish sauce. Other ingredients such as beef, crab cakes, beef rolls … and herbs are all well known to be Mrs. Lanh (age 60), sister-in-law and also the owner of the woman who sells and goes shopping early. With carefulness in the cooking process, the bowl of vermicelli when served to customers is always hot, delicious and hygienic. A bowl of Hue beef vermicelli made by Mrs. Ngoc has a strong taste, aroma of fish sauce and full of ingredients. “Each cook can give different flavors, but delicious or not by the customer. Therefore, I always try to make a reasonable change according to the taste of the user.” Share with Zing Many diners at the restaurant, Ms. Ngoc, said that the standard taste of Hue and the warm attitude of the owner are the reason why they often come to eat. Many people even become customers, being the owner of the owner, remembering their face and their taste. Ms. Loan, residing at Ton Dan Street (District 4, Ho Chi Minh City), considers herself “a match” at Mrs. Ngoc’s restaurant. A few years ago, she came to this store with an ad from her grandmother – who lived in the opposite alley. “The owner tastes it well, but in the afternoon, the guests are very demanding. I have eaten here for a long time, used to the taste, so sometimes I will come to eat,” she said. Not only welcoming patrons, the noodle shop also attracts many curious visitors to enjoy. Hoang Le (22 years old), a student from Hanoi, shared with Zing that the food Mrs. Ngoc made has a different taste than the vermicelli bowls she has eaten in the capital. The difference is not only in the ingredients but also in the rich, sweet soup. “Hue beef vermicelli in Hanoi is very different, there is no crab roll and a lighter broth. Each place has a way of processing, but I really like the taste of this bowl”, she complimented her friend. Thanks to delicious food and a welcoming owner, this noodle shop has become the “gourmet restaurant” of many diners in Ho Chi Minh City. “As for strength, I still cook beef noodles” For the past two decades, Ngoc has led the noodle shop business with her sister-in-law. Food vendors, drink shops, and the two sisters rely on a small alley to do business. For several years now, due to their high age, two women have had to ask their sons to push the trolley to the point of sale. At that time, the hostess sisters arranged neat furniture and tables to welcome guests to eat. A full bowl of spring rolls is sold for 40,000 VND, but the price may vary depending on the level of diners. Even the owner often sells cheaply to poor customers who lack money. “Someone who doesn’t have enough money but wants to buy a bowl of vermicelli 10,000 dong, I also sell it. I have a fixed price, if there are customers who want to eat but don’t have money, it is very bad!”, Aunt Ngoc shared. “Selling very good food, the children do not want to follow the profession. As for me, I will still cook beef noodle soup. Working by myself, I have money for myself to spend, and have the opportunity to mobilize hands and feet, no one is happy. Blessed with me, “said Ms. Ngoc. Over the past 20 years, Ms. Lanh (left) has always helped her sister-in-law to do business in Ho Chi Minh City.

These days, Flip: 48H it is the movie that is most interested in, the “dominant” Vietnamese box office. The film received the passionate love of the audience by converging many advantages: the action scene, dramatic, thrilling movie circuit, but still filled with many levels of emotions. Especially, after the movies Flip: 48H Full of humanities, the audience learned many meaningful lessons for life. Self-reliant, must save yourself After being injured, martial arts athlete Hien (Vo Thanh Tam) retired and began a difficult life with his wife and children. Despite suffering from heart disease, Nga (Oc Thanh Van) still tries to do more jobs to help her husband take care of her daughter. Difficulties piled up and difficulties, but the couple Hien – Nga still love each other very much and try their best to take care of the small home. Watching Hien prepare to eat rice still stood up immediately to deliver the goods when he heard the boss’s call, which made the audience feel sorry but also admired his self-reliant spirit to rise. During the years of struggling and miserable, Hien still retains her honesty and is always aware of having to overcome her circumstances. When he fell into the trap of gangsters, he also fought with them himself to protect his loved ones. Before everything, Hien always determines based on herself first. This helps him become a real man, worth giving his life in the eyes of viewers. Family is a safe anchor for each person When she was injured, Hien had a very difficult time, but he overcame thanks to the love of his wife. Standing on the line between life and death when tattered by the gangsters, a great source of strength suddenly appeared in Hien’s body, helping him to resist and escape danger. That source of strength comes from remembering her wife and children – the loved ones Hien needs to protect. Hien’s wife is also able to do extraordinary things such as: having a heart disease still holding her child and escaping from gangsters chasing by motorbike, climbing from a high-rise building to the ground or defeating A Dem (Huynh Dong) … If it weren’t for the love of her husband and her boundless love, a sick woman like Russia wouldn’t be able to turn into Wonder Woman in such danger. It can be said that the family is the place for each to return, a safe place to avoid the storms in society and also a source of strength to help each member become strong. The fact that Nga blamed Hien for not discussing it with her has made the couple think. For a husband and wife to go together for a long time, love is not enough, and it is necessary to have sympathy, understanding, sharing and respect for each other’s thoughts. After Flip: 48H Surely, the couples will want to open their words to each other more, because “they are mutually convenient, slapping the East Sea is also dry”. Close brotherly love, mutual tribulation The love of brothers – close friends like flesh, tribulation are also willing to hold hands is a human story that touched the audience after watching. Flip: 48H. At first, Lam thought that Hien and his wife came down to their house to play, so they were very happy to welcome them. When he knew that his brother was chasing after Gypsy, he was not afraid of himself being involved, on the contrary, he wholeheartedly wanted to help Hien and his wife escape. Lam and his wife showed the audience their sincere heart in mid-life tribulation. It turns out that not only those who are blood of the large intestine can love each other wholeheartedly, there are still many non-profit friendships that are as closely tied to family affection. Kindness is everywhere Flip: 48H also helps the audience to have more faith in human kindness in the midst of a busy life. On the journey to try to escape from an aggressive enemy, the couple continuously received help from strangers who accidentally met on the road. The whole Hien family was carried away by uncle Tu (Ly Hai) who rode his bicycle with all his might. Tiet Cuong’s character accidentally saw the chase also quickly rushed to beat the gangsters to help Hien and his daughter escape. Even a laborer who is not sure of the situation is willing to use a garbage truck to shield Hien’s family from the eyes of the enemy. Or the jovial receptionist played by Hoang Meo, even though he was afraid of the fierce fighters coming to the hotel, he was still determined not only to give them the number of rooms but also the Hien family. The audience also had heart-pounding moments when a car slipped into the river when the ferry left the station. Everyone is trying to keep the car and save as many people as possible. The car driver skipped his best escape just to rescue the girl who was injured in a non-movable leg. In the end, everyone was dumbfounded when they saw the whole car and he sank into the river. Lucky smiled at the last minute as he narrowly escaped the car. All the characters and honesty of the situation Flip: 48H showed viewers the good things that always exist in life. At the end of the movie, each person feels more cherished for the safe and happy moments they are enjoying. Flip: 48H Currently being shown nationwide.