A vegan eatery in Ho Chi Minh City has spent the past ten months trading meals for smiles from hungry guests.

Around noon during the Vu Lan Festival – an occasion to honor deceased ancestors and filial piety – staff at Quan Chay Mot Nu Cuoi were busy preparing for the lunchtime rush.

Buddhists observe Vu Lan each year on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month.

This year, it coincided with August 30 and, although it had been raining heavily that morning, dozens of eager diners made their way to Quan Chay Mot Nu Cuoi for a meal to celebrate the fest.

Quan Chay Mot Nu Cuoi, which translates to ‘One Smile Vegan Eatery,’ is operated by Tra Hung Phat vegetarian food production company out of a modern space at 407 - 407A Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.

After ordering his meal, Cuong, who visited the venue for the first time, asked a diner sitting next to him where he could put a donation, as the meal was free and he wanted to give back. 

“I learned about the place on social media, but I had never tried it before,” said Cuong.

“The food is good at the cost of a smile,” he explained while munching on a plate of rice, veggies, vegan pork, and a bowl of veggie soup. 

Cuong wrapped up his lunch with some extra veggie rolls to ensure his stomach was full during the day.

Besides the free meals offered on its du jour menu, the restaurant has a variety of dishes for sale for VND5,000-50,000, including veggie rolls, vegan banh mi, noodle dishes, and beverages. (US$1 = VND24,157)

Kha, another diner at Quan Chay Mot Nu Cuoi, visited the venue with her daughter.

“The staff work hard to provide these free meals and the food is clean and tastes good,” she said, adding that she also wished to make a donation to the restaurant. 

As the eatery is located inside a shop of the company which runs it, diners can also use their visit to shop for vegan groceries.

Tam, a regular, said she appreciated the restaurant for its simplicity and clean ingredients.

“I’ve recommended that many of my friends shop for vegan products here,” she said.

“Today I came with my sister and she also enjoyed her meal.”

According to a representative of the restaurant, anyone can eat at Quan Chay Mot Nu Cuoi, with each being served one free-of-charge portion of rice.

The hope is that the meals help spread awareness of veganism.

Quan Chay Mot Nu Cuoi is open from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm daily, and typically serves 150-200 guests each day.

During its first four months in operation, Quan Chay Mot Nu Cuoi served over 20,000 diners, allowing it to rake in thousands of smiles.

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