Not delicious, sloppy eating but really, sometimes when I’m not around the office during lunch time, I still remember that industrial spring roll strangely. It’s not that eating a lot becomes a habit, but perhaps because of that spring rolls, it reminds a lot of memories. During the days in Hanoi, also without this snack, a delicious banh gio is really the “splendid paradise” of the stomach. Especially on winter afternoons, when it’s a bit drizzly, let a hot piece of spring roll melt in your mouth. Away from Hanoi for more than 20 years, I don’t know if the “guerrilla” banh mi shop at the corner of Tran Xuan Soan – Ngo Thi Nham intersection, near Hom market, is still for sale or not. Once upon a time, it was our snack mecca, literally. In the afternoon, despite the hustle and bustle of people, we young people stopped by, kicked the car against the car, “pleased her for a cake” and sat down on a small wooden chair and sipped. Hot, fragrant cake, add a little spicy chili sauce, enough to dispel the cold of the drizzle. If the day is “sizzling”, add a piece of cinnamon rolls, it’s really delicious, not only at the level of “warm hearts of soldiers” anymore. By the time he entered the south to set up a business, at first, many times when he wanted to eat spring rolls, he was exhausted. But it’s hard to find a banh gio in the right style of Hom market. Then also discovered that Minh Chau spring rolls house sells delicious spring rolls, North standard. But unfortunately, in Minh Chau, only a few minutes in the morning, the spring rolls are gone. Later in the afternoon, they also sell but they sell out soon. Buying spring rolls there often turns out to be a miracle. Eating a piece of fragrant, soft, greasy, rich spring rolls, I suddenly remembered my childhood. Opposite the house, there are Mr and Mrs. Chi who specialize in selling spring rolls. Their son was the same age as us, loved like a thin egg. We still tease him: “Everybody in your family is muscular when sitting. When you stand up, your thighs are like toothpicks”. The reason there is such a joke is also because of the sight of them sitting and pounding their legs with their hands all day. Two hands swinging the pestle continuously. Working like that, biceps are not billowing. But sitting in one place forever, hands are sometimes bigger than legs. Referring to the profession of spring rolls, when it comes to banh gio, we must admit that our ancestors calculated real talent. Their basis is enough to be the standard and most basic lesson of those who do business and production in any era, any business model. The tiny spring rolls, held in the palm of the other hand, turned out to have a great meaning. It is full use. It is a product that brings added value in the whole production cycle of the people who make spring rolls. Remember the story about a teacher who filled a glass jar with gravel and asked his students, “Is the jar full?”. When the student replied “It’s closed”, the teacher poured sand into the jar again. Continue, after the sand is water. That story we certainly heard boring ears. But in this “spring roll lesson”, it’s not boring at all. The house making spring rolls will definitely use the ingredients of meat and leaves to wrap the cake. A pound of pork has a fairly large volume, with its diameter also having to be about 10cm and the length of the cylinder also having to be 20 to 25cm. So many pounds of ham put into the cooking pot, is it like a big bunch of pebbles put into a glass jar? Then in the process of wrapping the sausage, there will certainly be leftover leaves, shredded leaves, and shredded meat. And so those leftovers are used to make small, pretty spring rolls, as if sand is added in a glass jar. Then, besides banh gio, there is also a bun. The cake is also small and pretty like that, also using leftovers and scraps like that. Those superfluous, petty things can actually be sold. But surely, it will only bring the cheap value of a mere waste product. However, when combined together in the shape of a spring roll, it is placed in a new position, as solemn as the hot, fragrant pork rolls. It is in place of another product line, sold at a very different price. His father is really talented. The ingenuity of starting from good eating is full, well shuffling is warm has become a basic and acumen custom of business people. And in fact, except for industrial spring rolls production facilities, there is no heirloom sausage house that does not sell additional by-products such as spring rolls, pancakes… at all. It can be said that if they are rich by doing that job, it is not the sausage that gives them that wealth, but rather the traditional tradition that has been brought back from generation to generation. How many people peeled away a plate of spring rolls for breakfast, lunch and thought about the way that cake came out of the oven to relate to the work they are doing? It’s like the story of a young tailor I know. She never throws away the rags. But she uses it to sew beautiful doll dresses, make small key chains and sell them online. And I myself was very surprised when I heard her say “That dress you sewed for that woman, the salary is four hundred thousand. But the rags of that dress were thrown away, I made 1 doll shirt and 2 keychain. In total, I sold millions of two.” One million two versus four hundred thousand. And most importantly, that million and two come from what is considered waste. But I always believe, that girl will succeed. Not because of sewing but because of the very scientific calculation that she has. Doing business requires studying and the learning pool is huge. We will easily be eager for the new, with the modernity of the world out there, but let’s not ignore the old lessons that our forefathers have learned. Just like that spring rolls, it has opened up an extremely interesting process. It is a process of experience and not only the experience of a particular person but of many lives. That experience is as precious as any other knowledge out there, and most importantly, it’s not written into a textbook or textbook. It only opens to those who are contemplative, like to enjoy a snack with the discovery of the stories behind that no one has ever told.

Crab cakes This is the dish that has made a name for Hai Phong cuisine. Each bowl of rice paper has a rich color combination. The copper red color of rice paper, the pinkish brown color of crab bricks, the bright red color of tomatoes, the young green color of water spinach, the dark green color of fried bay leaf rolls, the yellow color of fried fish and onions. This is a nutritious dish. Saigonese foodies can enjoy this portland specialty at Aunt Ly’s restaurant, where dishes with typical Northern flavor are prepared. Some diners who have come to experience said that the entrance to the restaurant is quite small, the signboard is hidden, so it is difficult to find. The store does not have a specific parking location. In return, the interior space is cozy with yellow lights, blue walls bring a pleasant feeling. Address: Dong Khoi, District 1 Price: 78,000 VND Business hours: 8-22pm Crab cake is a specialty of the city of red phoenix flowers. Photo: Mysteriousaigon. Diners commented: Mysteriousaigon: “This crab rice cake reminds me of vermicelli soup the first time I enjoy it. A bowl of fried rice, crab sauce, water spinach, fried fish cakes, beef with lolot leaves and chewy red rice paper noodles. The broth is quite good. The taste is light but the taste is a bit pale, it may not be suitable for those who are used to eating salty and spicy food. Ngatrinh195: “The shop uses 2 plastic bags for the broth, no clogging, chili, and sauce attached. The rice paper sticks to the paper box. The packaging to deliver the food to the place is not commensurate with the price, reducing the deliciousness. customers’ mouths. You should eat on the spot rather than buy.” Rolls The dish is loved by many diners because of its deliciousness, hotness and not causing boredom. The filling usually includes minced lean meat, wood ear, onion, green onion. The dipping sauce is an indispensable accompaniment. Banh cuon 133 is a familiar rendezvous with late-night eaters. The sidewalk restaurant gives you a true street food experience. The menu here includes hot rolls, egg rolls combined with spring rolls, cinnamon rolls, spring rolls, fried green bean cakes. Address: To Hien Thanh, District 10 Price: 15,000-35,000 VND Business hours: 17-3h The plate of hot rolls is the ideal culinary suggestion for dinner. Photo: Mysteriousaigon. Diners commented: Thuy Ngan: “The egg roll part includes beef rolls, silk rolls, cinnamon rolls, spring rolls, crispy shrimp cakes and a cup of fish sauce to taste. The shop is on the roadside, but the seller ensures hygiene and uses gloves. when preparing food, the seats are clean”. Icu Icu: “The portion is quite full for the price. The filling is good, the seasoning is just right, the aroma of onions, the rolls are not breaded”. Crispy skinned chicken sticky rice Hong’s restaurant helps night owls satisfy their taste buds with a variety of delicious sticky rice dishes such as char siu, crispy chicken, mixed… Mysteriousaigon account shared on personal page: “The special feature of sticky rice here lies in 3 ingredients. Fried chicken skin with fish sauce, crispy, fragrant, strange to eat. Braised quail eggs are rich, salty and sweet taste. The shop uses char bau (spiced radish) to replace sour clothes for diners. relieve boredom”. The shop mainly sells take away. From about 22:00 at night, the number of customers came to buy quite crowded. Address: Cach Mang Thang Tam, Tan Binh District Price: 25,000-55,000 VND Business hours: 15h30-3h30 The sticky rice section has a variety of side dishes to keep you full for a long time. Photo: Mysteriousaigon. Diners commented: Lanwiththi: “The sticky rice box includes a big chicken thigh, deep-fried skin, fried quail eggs with sauce, char siu, sausages, spring rolls, sassafras, fried onions… The sauce has a strange sweet and salty taste. 55,000 VND is suitable for 2 people to eat. The restaurant is quite crowded, if you come to buy at the place, you often have to wait in line.” Anly1: “Tasty sticky rice, good quality, but recently the seller has tasted a bit too sweet, easy to get bored. Those who don’t like sweet should consider it”. Beef hotpot Nha Chay area has the style of a pub but not too crowded. The shop uses low-sized tables and chairs, creating a casual feeling. The menu is quite rich such as Thai hot pot, fish sauce, beef cartilage sausage, pepper stewed stomach … but the most worth trying is still beef hot pot. Address: Doan Van Bo, District 4 Price: 150,000-220,000 VND Business hours: 12-2am the next morning The steaming hot pot is the right choice for you to sip late at night. Photo: Mysteriousaigon. Diners commented: Mysteriousaigon: “The hot pot is delicious and clear. At first, the taste is a bit bland, but the more you enjoy it, the more rich you will feel. The meat is not much, the tofu is tender, the tofu is crispy and fragrant. The portion is suitable. For 2 people to eat. In addition to hot pot, young chicken eggs with garlic or fried tofu with lemongrass and chili are quite suitable for you to eat at night.” Thuys Duongs: “Beef hot pot but practically no beef. The hot pot is mainly beef intestines, book leaves, radish, bitter cabbage, centella asiatica, 2 noodles. The hotpot is not so excellent”. Must-try dishes if you only have 1 night in HCMC Joining a food tour in Ho Chi Minh City, foreign tourists are transported by motorbikes to some famous places by the guide and visit special local restaurants.