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| Volunteers at Hue Thuong vegetarian eatery serve meals to those who come here to have a meal |
Born out of a concern
The kitchen at Hue Thuong gets busy early each morning. Everyone takes on a different task, working together seamlessly to prepare over 200 meals in time for lunch. The daily menu is displayed on a board right outside the eatery. By 11 a.m., familiar faces gather outside, waiting for their turn. Among them are freelancers, lottery ticket sellers, and elderly people. After receiving their meals, they quickly return to their daily routines.
A familiar face in the kitchen is Ms. Dang Thi Thanh Nha, who previously spent over 10 years running a charitable eatery for students on Dao Tan Street. Drawing on that experience, she went on to open a free vegetarian eatery on Ngo The Lan Street, making it more convenient for students to access affordable meals while also supporting low-income workers.
Ms. Nha shared: “It is impractical for students living on the northern bank of the Huong River, such as those studying at the University of Agriculture and Forestry, to travel to the southern bank just to have a meal. At the same time, although there was already an eatery serving students, there was none for low-income workers. This was something I had long been concerned about.”
At first, the eatery was run by just two women, Ms. Nha and Ms. Nguyen Thi Luat. Their goal was a simple one: to run an eatery like any other, except that all meals would be served free of charge. Nearly three years later, the kitchen is still serving meals, despite occasional shortages of food supplies, funding, and volunteers. To keep supporters informed and show them how their contributions are being used, Ms. Nha regularly shares updates on the eatery’s daily activities on Facebook. This allows people to follow its work and see how their support is making a difference, encouraging them to continue lending a hand whenever possible.
The meals that reach beyond the kitchen
Among the volunteers is Ms. Ngo Thi Thuy, who has known Ms. Nha for over a decade. Appreciating Ms. Nha’s dedication and the work she has done, Ms. Thuy has also joined in supporting both Hue Thuong vegetarian eatery and the student eatery on Dao Tan Street. Recalling the days spent working alongside others to keep the free meal service going, she shared: “There are days when we don’t have enough money to cover food costs, so we voluntarily chip in to buy ingredients. Being able to do something to help others is a joy in itself.”
Behind the eatery are not only the people who organize its operations but also many others who quietly give their time and resources to support it. Once the meals are ready, volunteers load them onto an old motorbike and set off to deliver them to people in need. Each day, around 20 meals are brought to the homes of people facing difficult circumstances who have previously been identified and visited by the group. These are particularly people whose health conditions make it difficult for them to travel to the eatery to collect their meals.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Chac, living on Hoa My Street, is one of the people who regularly receives meals from the eatery. She lives with her elderly husband and a child with health problems. Her own health is fragile; she sometimes experiences periods of confusion, and her mobility is limited. Having volunteers bring meals directly to her home helps relieve some of the family’s daily hardships.
For Ms. Dang Thi Nhu Y, who lives in Phu Xuan Ward, Hue Thuong has become a familiar place since she was introduced to the eatery by locals at Tay Loc Market. Having lost her husband and caring for a daughter who has been ill since an accident, Ms. Y has to make ends meet despite her own poor health. She earns a living by collecting recyclables each day. Aware of her difficult circumstances, the eatery often gives her an extra portion to take home for her daughter.
“We get a meal here almost every day. Everyone queues up nicely and takes their turn to collect food. The people working here are so kind to me. Sometimes, when they see how difficult my situation is, they even give me a little extra,” Ms. Y shared.
From Monday to Saturday, the kitchen at Hue Thuong keeps its doors open to those in need. It also continues serving meals on Sundays when they fall on the first or fifteenth day of the lunar month. Over 200 meals served each day are made through the collective efforts of the cooks, volunteers, and those who contribute rice and other food supplies. For the people who receive them, these meals are more than just a way to save on daily expenses; they are also a meaningful source of support during their difficulties.