Tran Nhung shared, cooking is both her passion. Although working during office hours is very busy, she still tries to find time to cook in the evening. “ For many singles, after work, there are many ways to relieve stress, such as going to coffee with friends, going for a walk or simply wandering the streets, I choose to go to the kitchen to cook for myself meals. Simple, palatable. I think this is also a way to love yourself and relax more.” Nhung shared. She shared, her parents are very meticulous and careful in eating. For example, when cooking, a dish’s seasoning must be bought, but cannot be left without. When she was a child, her parents opened a popular rice restaurant in the district hospital, perhaps that’s why Nhung was exposed to dishes from a very early age. The first dish she was taught by her father was fried beans. It is the manipulations to create a simple but delicious dish that makes 9X fascinated, and love the kitchen all the time. Very eye-catching dishes. Currently living alone, Nhung mainly cooks alone. 9X confided, I don’t cook too picky and I like traditional dishes. “For example, in winter, there are braised fish and braised meat. In the summer, I often cook shrimp and crab soups with salted eggplant and salted figs. Nhung said. Due to administrative work and a fixed salary, Nhung has to pay for the week, the average meal a day is about 150,000. On weekends, she often prepares tomato and salted fish dishes in advance, then keeps them in the fridge for a week. If there is meat from her parents’ hometown, 9X will divide it into meals and freeze it, otherwise she will go to the morning market to choose fresh food to cook for the day. Tran Nhung said that every time she goes to the kitchen, she will pay attention to the way she chooses food and tips so that the dish does not lose nutrients and still retains its inherent freshness. That’s why 9X often goes to the market early in the morning, choosing familiar goods to buy. “My mother also taught me some cooking tips, such as how to fry onions, keep the color beautiful and crispy for a long time, when the oil is not boiling, add a little lemon. Or the trick to stir-fry bitter melon, if you want the melon to keep its green color for a long time when it’s done, then when you cut it, you should soak it in warm water with a little salt, then pour it into a basket to drain and then saute…” , Nhung happily revealed. Nhung admits she is not picky in eating, but once cooked, it must be delicious. That’s why she doesn’t like eating out. In the hot summer, the need for food also decreases. Therefore, Nhung chooses to cook many sour soups such as fish soup, shrimp soup, side dishes such as salted eggplant, salted figs, fried beans, etc. With some dishes that take a long time to prepare like Nhung crab, they will be saved for the weekend. After finishing, 9X divides the finished product into small bags, keeps it in the refrigerator, is available to cook whenever needed. Despite being alone, 9X still regularly changes the menu to reduce boredom, but the main food still revolves around ingredients such as fish, chicken breast, seafood, beef… “I don’t eat pork often, only about one or two meals a week cook pork-related dishes.” Nhung shared about her personal interests. Normally, on weekdays, I have to go to work, so breakfast 9X mainly eats cereals or drinks nut milk. Only on weekends, she makes vermicelli and pho dishes to enjoy. When sharing her trays of rice on social networks, Nhung was praised by many people. Everyone must recognize that 9X is brave, skillful and hardworking. Perhaps this is the motivation for the single woman to love the kitchen more and love to cook every day. “The single life working away from home sometimes has a lot of stress and fatigue. But the most peaceful for those who love the kitchen like me is probably still every night after work, coming back home next to the kitchen. When I was young, I cooked for myself simple but passionate meals, but for me, loving myself is also from these small actions.” 9X said.

Rice Field – Homecooked Vietnamese Cuisine In addition to lunch sets including main dishes, vegetables, soup and drinks, customers can order quality family meals with many individual side dishes depending on their needs. – Rice dishes: white rice, seafood fried rice, salty fish fried rice, garlic fried rice cơm – Appetizers: lettuce rolls, seafood spring rolls, grilled snail rolls with Giang leaves, fried mussels with rice paper, surf tofu, Thai steamed clams… – Main dishes: La Vong fish cake, shrimp paste, boiled meat with eggplant, fried squid with fish sauce, fried red catfish, grilled chicken with salt and pepper, beef with lemongrass… Address: Ho Tung Mau, District 1 Price: 30,000-365,000 VND Business hours: 11-22 pm A hot meal with vegetables, meat, and soup makes you delicious. Photo: Ricefieldrestaurant. Diners commented: Thanh Truc Tat: “Squid squid stuffed with meat, salted egg sauce, salty, salty, fleshy. Mussels scooped up the rice cake quite a lot, seasoned to taste. The shrimp and lotus root salad was decorated quite eye-catching. The crab soup with jute vegetables was cool and suitable. Suitable for the elderly. The restaurant’s white rice is soft and flexible. The price is quite good compared to a delicious pure Vietnamese restaurant located in the city center.” Minh Ngoc: “I ordered 3 dishes with white rice including braised cotton fish, braised braised fish and classic shrimp sour soup for 2 people. The stock is made with a thick glue, not as liquid as many restaurants I have eaten. Sour has fresh shrimp, so it’s good to eat.” La Bu: “The rice is just right. The squid with salted egg sauce is strange. The squid is big and fresh, but the bell peppers are a bit too much to drown out the smell of salted eggs. The tubers in the beef dish are a bit pungent. The burnt rice is thick, not too crispy, so eat without sticking to the teeth. The stew has minced meat, greasy, spicy and spicy to catch the taste.” Eat Rice Drink Water If you want to enjoy the taste of Thai cuisine in the days when you can’t go to a cafe because of the complicated development of the Covid-19 epidemic, you can order food at this restaurant. – Type of rice: white rice, shrimp fried rice, fragrant fried chicken rice, beef rice or cinnamon leaf pork… – Other outstanding dishes: pad Thai, crispy bacon with Thai sauce, poached egg with tamarind sauce, fried squid with lemon leaves, mango salad with catfish… Address: Pasteur, District 1 Price: 50,000-200,000 VND Business hours: 10-22:30 The culinary flavor of the “land of the Golden Temple” is loved by Saigon diners. Photo: Ancomuongnuoc. Diners commented: Queendy Phan: “The meal consists of tom yum soup, catfish mango salad, one-day pork, grilled milk-soaked pork, poached egg with tamarind sauce, raw shrimp with spicy Thai sauce and 2 servings of steamed rice. 4 persons”. Thao Hien: “Delicious fried rice, no need to add fish sauce. Mango sticky rice is soft and fragrant like in Thailand”. Hoa Tu Ky: “Peach egg with tamarind sauce has a strange and spicy taste. Pad Thai is a bit crushed, with shrimp, lemon and chili powder in a corner, so if you don’t eat spicy, don’t mix it. Oysters fried with eggs are not prepared like this. I used to eat in Thailand, the sauce is extremely spicy. Mango sticky rice with coconut milk is a bit salty, fatty and fragrant. I don’t appreciate the restaurant’s food, the dishes are just okay. clean and beautiful, spoons, chopsticks and forks are all made from bagasse material”. Truyen Ky restaurant This rice shop is famous for its Chinese cuisine. – Rice type: white rice, Yangzhou fried rice, salty fish or seafood fried rice cơm – Other outstanding dishes: steamed chicken with salt, Dong Giang tofu, deep-fried animal spirit, pork belly, roasted pork taro, sautéed pork stomach with pickled cabbage, stir-fried pork ribs with soy sauce, three-colored eggs, salted duck seeds stewed meat, pork brain soup, chicken feet, pepper… Address: Ly Thuong Kiet, District 11 Price: 30,000-300,000 VND Business hours: 11-14h and 17-20h The dishes with Chinese flavors are suitable for you to change your taste. Photo: Nhu Y, Citastyfood. Diners commented: Cuong Tran: “Strange, nutritious, authentic Chinese food”. Truong Tran Nhu Y: “Steamed chicken with salt is the most typical dish of the restaurant. The chicken is tender, succulent, dipped with salt and pepper mixed with canola oil and chicken fat. Crispy fried animal spirit without oil, special sauce for This dish is rich and delicious. Tapioca soup is sweet but slightly bland. Dong Giang tofu consists of tofu and bitter gourd and chili peppers are prepared with a thick sauce.” Hanuri Korean Fast Food The meal with the following delicacies promises to satisfy your passion for enjoying Korean food. – Type of rice: rice rolls, mixed rice, spicy chicken rice, tuna kimchi rice, fried pork rice with vegetables… – Other outstanding dishes: fried vermicelli, mandu, black soy sauce noodles, fried chicken, tokbokki, kimchi hot pot, bulgogi hot pot… Address: District 3, 10, Binh Thanh, Tan Binh Price: 30,000-90,000 VND Business hours: 9-21:30 Mixed rice, spicy rice cakes, fried vermicelli… are typical dishes of Korean cuisine. Photo: Hanurikorean. Diners commented: Tran Minh Truong: “The dish is quite diverse, well seasoned, and the quality is suitable for the price range”. Linh Linh: “Mixed rice has a slightly bland taste. Sundubu hot pot is sweet and mildly spicy. Stir-fried vermicelli is rich in flavor, worth a try”. Pooh Luv Food: “The beef rice is seasoned to taste, the rice and meat are divided quite reasonably. The chicken is bought so the skin is a bit stale. The black soy sauce noodles are a bit light, not impressive”. Korean style blood cockle mixed rice This simple Korean-style mixed rice dish is worth a try if you need a taste of dinner.

Chuyen Ky rice noodle shop Address: Ton That Dam, Ben Nghe, District 1, HCMC Price: 40,000-180,000 VND The shop is located in the Old Market on Ton That Dam Street, District 1. Chuyen Ky rice bowl has existed for more than 70 years, is considered the oldest in Saigon with the style of cooking rice in a small bowl. Thanks to the unique and sophisticated way of cooking, the rice here is flexible and fragrant. Compared to other rice noodle shops, the bowls at this address are made from a pottery kiln dating back decades, with old designs. Chuyen Ky Rice Shop sells dozens of dishes from beef, chicken, shrimp, fish, squid, pork kidney … processed in many different ways. In particular, the shop does not cook it, but where customers order it, they will cook it. Photo: Ancungbepcoha. Diners rate: Binh Phan: “The dish is very delicious, hot and delicious. Many traditional dishes, the portion is quite good for normal eating. Slightly higher prices.” Ten Ten: “Food is prepared according to the Chinese way but is reduced according to the taste of the Vietnamese people. The food is also varied. The price is ok in my opinion. I eat mixed fried noodles, boiled chicken, fried chicken with spinach + water is also 300,000 VND for 2 people. Ba Ha broken rice Address: Hung Phu, District 8, HCMC Price: 35,000-65,000 VND The shop has been operating for more than 20 years and is one of the most crowded broken rice restaurants in Saigon. Broken rice here is famous for fish cakes, salted eggs and chicken thighs. The highlight, attracting diners to the restaurant is two dishes with strange salted egg rolls and fried chicken thighs with rich fish sauce. If you want to try salted egg rolls, you have to come early. The shop opens from 16:30, but until about 5 pm, the egg rolls are gone. Photo: Hatmydiscover, Mysteriousaigon. Diners rate: Lan Nguyen: “Rice rice and salted egg rolls cost 47,000 VND, delicious marinated ribs, quite large. Salted egg rolls are like 1/4 large minced meat ball with salted egg in the middle, which is also quite delicious.” Hai Vuong: “In general, the meat is quite delicious, soft, not too thick. In addition, the dipping sauce is very tasty and not too sweet or salty. I visited with my friends to eat here twice, the next time I ate more special rice with salted egg custard. However, there is a parking fee.” Chicken fried rice with fat 142 Address: Ba Dinh, Ward 10, District 8 Price: 30,000-60,000 VND Located near the foot of Nguyen Tri Phuong bridge, the restaurant attracts a large number of diners to enjoy fried chicken rice. Chicken rice has big thighs, crispy skin, soft meat, fried rice is not sick. The space of the restaurant is airy, clean, and is highly appreciated by many diners. In addition to fried chicken rice, the restaurant also has a diverse menu such as fried noodles, seafood rice… Photo: Ansapsaigon. Diners rate: Biboaa: “The lunch box is super full. Chicken rice with garlic sauce is the most popular dish, the chicken thighs are super big, the meat is tender, the skin is crispy. Mixed seaweed soup with squid, kidney, pork liver, meat and beef balls, the taste of water depends on the day, I feel a bit salty.” Thy Nguyen: “Order many times, the quality is impeccable every time. Full delivery, food arrived still hot. Freshly fried chicken, not dry, a big piece is very filling.” Ba Ghien broken rice Address: Dang Van Ngu, Phu Nhuan District Price: 30,000-100,000 VND Ba Ghien broken rice is a familiar address for young people of the 9X generation. The restaurant is known by many people for its pork ribs overflowing with rice. Although the food is cheap, the quality of the food is highly appreciated by many diners. You can order more egg rolls, omelets, sausages, shumai balls, skins, pickles… The special thing is that the shumai section here is added with a bit of strange vermicelli. Photo: Cknhowmein, Motngaybabua__. Diners rate: Quy Dang: “Rice is small and ribs are plentiful. The taste is just right, the fish sauce is normal, the bitter melon soup or the vegetable soup is quite a lot. The price is quite high, a portion of rice with sausage ribs is 82,000 VND.” Khai Doan: “My rice restaurant was taken by a friend to eat since I arrived in Saigon more than 20 years ago, so far it still retains its own characteristic of a very large grilled rib.”

However, before he had time to prepare the ingredients, Man heard from his neighbors that the alley in front of the house had been blocked off after a person living here was positive for SARS-CoV-2. “At that time, everyone was surprised, did not understand what happened. However, knowing that the epidemic situation is complicated, all of them strictly follow the instructions of local officials and medical staff.” Like Mr. Man’s family, most of the households in alley 287 are trading and trading in food. At the time of the blockade, many households had prepared cooking ingredients, and breakfast shops that had just moved out had to be cleaned up immediately. “A few stalls of ready-made rice, porridge, and soup cakes that can’t be sold are shared by everyone in the neighborhood, each family taking a few portions to eat. They’re all neighbors, and they both work as wholesalers, so they all try to support each other,” Mr. Man said Zing . Alley 287, Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City was blocked on the morning of May 20. Photo: Chi Hung. “Rescuing” food in the blockade area During the outbreak from April 27 to now, Ho Chi Minh City has recorded 6 positive cases of SARS-CoV-2 and is blocking 9 areas in Go Vap District, District 10, District 3, District 7, Binh Tan district and Thu Duc city. Although quite surprised by the blockade information, people living in these areas remained calm and complied with epidemic prevention measures. Especially for business and trading households, despite facing many disadvantages, they still show their concern and help the community when they switch to distributing food and free food to people in isolated areas. Alley 287 Nguyen Dinh Chieu connects with alley 270 Vo Van Tan about 500 m long with 70 households living. In addition to the large concentration of business households, shops, and restaurants, this alley is the place where Ve Chai market is held every morning. Ms. Linh, a fish seller in the market, said that on the morning of May 20, when her family and many other people had finished packing, the ward officials announced the disbandment, no market meeting and quickly erected a fence to blockade the surrounding area. around the alley. People in the blockade area share food with each other. Photo: Nguyen Nhuong, Trang Anh. Both domestic and foreign, fresh food traders like Ms. Linh choose to give free vegetables, fruits, meat and fish to neighbors to bring home to store refrigerators and gradually eat them during the quarantine days. However, what surprised Ms. Linh was that everyone who visited her shop also offered to pay instead of receiving free items. “Many people say that when they sell, people buy to support them, but when they give, they don’t dare to accept them,” she said. Similarly, Mr. Man’s beef noodle shop was also “rescued” by many familiar neighbors. However, because he did not prepare much and did not suffer much damage, Mr. Man refused. “The first day, everyone in the neighborhood kept ‘rescuing’ from one shop to another. Everyone hopes no one gets hurt much. Like my family, we also run to the market to support the sisters selling fish, selling vegetables and at the same time having food for the coming days.” “Health comes first, money comes second” Ms. Pham Minh lives in block A1, Sunview Town apartment building (Hiep Binh Phuoc ward, Thu Duc city, Ho Chi Minh City) – a place under lockdown after recording a Covid-19 case on May 18. Previously, Ms. Minh sold fruit and some drinks online. However, after the block was blocked, she switched to making smoothies and juices to cheer up her neighbors who were quarantined like her. “Every day, I make about 20-30 glasses of juice and smoothies to distribute for free to neighboring households. It’s not much, but it’s also a way to spread positive energy and optimism to everyone around,” Minh said. On each glass of juice, Ms. Minh sticks sticky notes with words of encouragement and encouragement for the recipient. “The epidemic has also affected my business a lot. However, for now, health is still first, money can be earned later.” Parts of bread and sticky rice were distributed free of charge by Mr. Bui Hoai Thanh’s group to people in the blockade area in Thu Duc City. Photo: Bui Hoai Thanh. Although he does not live in Sunview Town apartment building, Mr. Bui Hoai Thanh still regularly delivers food to people in the blockade area for the past 3 days. On the first day, Mr. Thanh’s group distributed 100 servings of sticky rice, on the second day 180 loaves of bread and on the third day 150 portions of spicy rice cakes. “I have a bakery near the apartment building and have been in business since 1992. Many of my regular customers are living in this apartment, so when I heard the news of the blockade, I immediately thought of helping people,” Mr. Thanh said. know. In the past few days, temporarily putting aside the business, every day Mr. Thanh and his group of friends prepare ingredients and make dishes from morning to 5 pm to deliver to the apartment. “We are planning to make 100 more jars of braised fish sauce to support people to bring home to eat with white rice. Everyone is affected by the epidemic season, but I believe that with the spirit of solidarity and the efforts of each individual, we will all win the pandemic together again,” Thanh shared.

After more than 2 decades of trading, the restaurant is still loved and supported by generations of Saigon residents thanks to stable cooking skills, enthusiastic service attitude and reasonable prices even on the expensive central street. red. The chicken rice shop of Mr. Phat and his wife is located in the alley 31 of Ly Tu Trong Street (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City). Popular chicken rice Twenty years ago, the fat chicken rice shop owned by Mr. Phat (70 years old) and Mrs. Hanh (66 years old) was located under an old apartment building at 23 Ly Tu Trong Street (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City). Share with Zing , the owner revealed that at that time, the shop was just a modest sidewalk restaurant, packed with a stall, some plastic tables and chairs for diners to eat. Ten years later, when the apartment block was cleared, the couple moved to the 31st house on the same street to continue their business. In 2019, the rice shop retreated to the house inside this 31 alley. Mr. Phat (70 years old) and his wife always try to maintain an affordable price so that everyone can eat. Although located in the alley, the restaurant of Mr. Phat’s family is quite spacious, spacious, with about 11 tables in both the house and the yard. The shop only sells business at dinner time, from 16:30 to 20:30 every day because of the elderly grandparents. However, on weekends, the salon may run out sooner than usual. Many people were excited to bring their friends and relatives to dinner, but had to leave pity when the owner announced that the meal was finished. “It usually takes 20pm to run out of rice, but now weekends, families come to eat a lot! Each table 4-5 people, some families even ask for more to bring back so there is no food left. I feel so embarrassed for everyone. ! “, Mr. Phat said while seeing off his guests. The owner said the restaurant’s recipe for making fat chicken rice was not picky, but focused on the quality of ingredients. After many years in business, the most typical and favorite dish at the restaurant is the fat fried chicken rice. The boss told Zing that the recipe is not fussy, just “good quality ingredients”. “My shop usually imports chicken and vegetables from reputable local cooperatives and enterprises. Every day, my family imports about 20 kg of meat, 7-8 kg of vegetables to cook with soup.” It’s all sold out, sorry, please stop by tomorrow, “said Mr. Phat. A full plate of rice includes fatty chicken, fried rice and vegetables, served soup. In addition, the shop also has more dishes such as fish ball or beef, each plate costs 45,000 VND. Share with Zing , Mr. Phat said that even though it is located on Ly Tu Trong Street – the golden land, located in the central district of Saigon, the shop still tries to maintain the most affordable price. “Twenty years ago, my rice plate sold for 7,000 VND, then increased to 15,000 VND, and now it is 45,000 VND. All years ago, guests came to eat free cars, comfortable drinks”, the owner said. The shop of many diners More than 20 years in business, the fat chicken rice shop number 31 Ly Tu Trong has become a familiar place for generations. Customers come to the shop of all ages, all professions, all social positions. Many people know this place thanks to friends and relatives and have been with the shop for many years. Ms. Hau and her son are both customers at the restaurant for more than 10 years. Mr. Quan, who is the mainstay of Mr. Phat’s restaurant for more than 10 years, still comes back to the restaurant once or twice a month. “The first time I came here to eat was more than 10 years ago, at that time Mr. Phat was still selling at the shop on the street. The food here is very good, for years the price is still affordable, so I like it. ! “, the guest shared. Ms. Hau (born in 1974) is also a customer of the shop for more than ten years. Many years ago, when her child was still at the Children’s Hospital 2 nearby, she often bought chicken rice to make dinner for the mother and daughter. “Since then, my child has grown up and still loves the food of Mr. Phat, Mrs. Hanh has done a lot. Now she has extra lessons, so I bought it and brought it back to him. Luckily, I left early so I still have a meal there.” , she shared. In addition to the guests who have been with the restaurant for nearly a decade, many young people also follow recommendations from friends or watch reviews on social networks to experience. “I heard people say there was a delicious chicken rice shop, right in District 1, so I came to try it. Chicken is fragrant, soft, and skin is crunchy, so I like it,” said Nguyen Loc, living in Binh Thanh district. Many young people who know Mr. Phat’s chicken rice shop ask friends and relatives to recommend or review the review on social networks. Share with Zing, Mr. Phat said that he had received many guests, they later brought their family and relatives to support and gradually became close like friends. Even many young people still remember his face, when meeting on the street will greet him warmly. “Honestly, I do not remember all of my customers. But on the way, whenever anyone greeted me, I knew immediately,” said Mr. Phat with a laugh. Received a lot of support and trust, but the owners are always humble and enthusiastic to each customer. Everyone was greeted by the owner and staff from the moment they entered the shop until they left, with a warm and friendly attitude. “My wife and I have maintained their business so far, thanks to the support from our guests and thanks to their blessings. If we have been doing business for a long time, we must be more careful and attentive to not waste the money people love,” the uncle said.