8-cent porridge stall run by 70-year-old man reopens in Ho Chi Minh City after three-mont…

A Ho Chi Minh City porridge stall that has catered to budget-friendly diners since 2003 has reopened after a three-month closure, with plain rice porridge still priced at VND2,000 (US$0.08) per bowl.

The "Ve Day Em" (Just come back here darling) stall occupies just over 10 square meters, with simple tables and chairs, in a small alley off Phan Van Khoe Street in Binh Tay Ward, or the Chinatown area.

Customers can pay VND5,000 to VND20,000 extra for side dishes including braised eggs, pickled vegetables, pork cracklings in savory sauce, cucumbers and salted duck eggs.

The stall is run by Thai Cong Minh, 70, who previously operated the business with his wife, Nguyen Thi Kim Phuong. It closed in July after Phuong fell ill and had to be hospitalized.

Minh reopened it on Oct. 10 with help from his daughter.

"Having been closed for so long, many people thought I had shut down for good," Minh said.

Minh said the stall initially served only plain porridge with duck eggs, but he gradually expanded the menu to give customers more choices.

Minh said the porridge itself was nothing special, but its low price made it accessible to people from all walks of life. He also offers free meals to customers facing financial difficulties.

Over the years, the stall has built a base of regular customers, some of whom visit several times a week. Some buy food for their families, while others have returned since their student days.

Thuy Phuong, 37, has been a customer for 15 years. She began visiting while still a student and recently returned to support the business after learning it had reopened.

She said the porridge had a thick, smooth texture and came with a wide selection of affordable toppings. Its taste and the stall's clean, orderly presentation were among the reasons she had continued visiting for so long.

The stall also draws international visitors, some of whom share their experiences on social media. It has a 4.8 out of 5 rating on Google, with reviewers praising its taste and low prices.

Its location in a narrow alley means there is no parking area. The stall can also become crowded during peak hours, when service may take longer.

Since reopening, the number of customers has fallen. Minh now cooks only 1.5 kilograms of rice daily to avoid waste.