A small eatery on Duong Tu Giang Street in Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam regularly serves hot meals and bowls of noodles for just VND1,000 (US$0.04), warming the hearts of poor laborers.

The idea took shape when 35-year-old Le Thi Hong Phuong from Dong Nai Province came across a similar model online. Inspired, she and her friends decided to bring the concept to life by opening their own eatery.

In the beginning, the venture was entirely self-funded by Phuong and her friends. The menu started small, offering only instant noodles and instant porridge.

Philanthropists later sent instant noodles and eggs to the shop.

The eatery has been operating for nearly two months, with Phuong setting up a stall in front of her snack shop.

At the start of working shifts, the staff hurriedly arranged tables, chairs, and bowls before taking turns to cook rice and wash vegetables, piror to beginning their jobs at the snack shop.

Since the opening, the workload of the staff has increased significantly. However, everyone is happy and eager to prepare and serve meals, often saying, "We haven't contributed money, so we will contribute our efforts."

At 10:00 am, workers arrive at the eatery for their meals. The eatery operates from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm with business peaking at 11:00 am.

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, the eatery serves rice, offering instant noodles and instant porridge with eggs and vegetables on the other days.

One woman gave the eatery a rice cooker because she saw that the workers were tired of eating noodles. Others sent vegetables. Then Phuong cooked a pot of soup and bought pork floss and boiled eggs to pair with the meals.

As philanthropists began supplying food, the eatery could cook rice and various dishes, instead of just serving self-service instant noodles as before, Phuong shared. 

Rice cookers, water heaters, and electric kettles at the eatery were all donated by philanthropists.

“One of the workers who sells toothpicks saw that we didn't have any, so she brought several bags of toothpicks for everyone to use. Another woman who goes around collecting charitable goods noticed the shop had run out of soy sauce, so she brought two bottles of soy sauce the next day," Phuong happily recalled some fond memories.

Phuong shared that the eatery has also benefited from the support of nearby businesses. The shop next door allows them to set up tables and chairs in front, provided a clear pathway is maintained, while shops across the street let her customers park their motorbikes in front of their stores.

The eatery primarily caters to construction workers, lottery ticket sellers, delivery drivers, and students.

Thu Thao, a 26-year-old resident from southern Kien Giang, her husband, and their two children, regularly visit the eatery for lunch. The family, if eating frugally, would spend over VND70,000 ($2.7), which at times is 70 percent of her income from selling lottery tickets.

Her husband works as a construction assistant, which is not a very stable job. For more than a month, meals at Phuong’s eatery have helped reduce their food expenses significantly.

Not only is the food delicious, but the shared meals also bring a sense of warmth and camaraderie among the workers.

Phuong repeatedly emphasizes that the eatery is not just hers -- it is a place where she represents generous donors in providing meals for those in need.

There were moments when she felt discouraged, but the smiles of workers and children who come to eat, along with the overwhelming support from the community, have been the driving force that keeps her going.

Ut, a 58-year-old man from Ben Tre Province, has been in Dong Nai for only a few months, living under a bridge.

"I only come here to eat when I'm really in a pinch. When I can still work, I don’t take any meal [at the eatery], I save that portion for someone more in need,” Ut added.

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