Early in the morning, on Ton That Tung Street (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City) bustling with people, there is a small sticky rice stall without a sign that is always crowded with customers.

The owner is 63 years old this year, with a simple shoulder pole, an old hat, sitting with her back to the street selling sticky rice to customers. Her name is Luu Thi Kim Hoang (63 years old, District 4). Curious about the taste of sticky rice, I stopped to try it.

From mother to child

I stopped by the sticky rice shop around 7am. Many people were waiting to buy green bean sticky rice because it was a specialty. On a small carrying pole, banana leaves, coconut milk, shredded coconut, green beans, rice paper with two types of sticky rice: purple sticky rice and golden green bean sticky rice were displayed… very eye-catching. Mrs. Hoang sells there from 5am to about 9am.

Mrs. Hoang, suffering from arthritis, has difficulty walking. This elderly woman, with the help of her husband - Mr. Nguyen Van Vinh (66 years old, District 4) helps her wrap sticky rice, receive guests, and calculate the bill.

The couple is very welcoming and enthusiastic. Whatever the guests want to eat, add or subtract, the couple quickly fulfills the request.

Sticky rice is wrapped in banana leaves with a layer of rice paper underneath, then topped with salted peanuts, shredded coconut and mung beans. The special thing about the sticky rice is the rich coconut milk, fragrant with pandan leaves.

Sharing with reporters, Ms. Hoang said that because she has been selling sticky rice for decades, people are familiar with the taste of her sticky rice, so every morning when she sets up shop, customers come to buy. Thanks to her extensive experience and her quick hands when wrapping sticky rice, customers do not have to wait long.

According to Ms. Hoang, since she was little, she followed her mother to help sell sticky rice. After her mother passed away, she took over her mother's business, and has been doing so for 42 years now. Most of the customers are regulars, workers, students, etc. Ms. Hoang knows by heart each person's favorite sticky rice dish, so when she comes to the shop, she just needs to look at the customer's face and make it right away.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong (50 years old, District 1), a regular customer, shared that everyone in her family loves Mrs. Hoang's sticky rice: "I am a regular customer of Mrs. Hoang's. I have eaten here for many years. Now that I am used to the taste of Mrs. Hoang's sticky rice, I rarely eat sticky rice elsewhere. The best thing here is the softness and stickiness of the sticky rice combined with the aroma of pandan leaves and coconut milk, the flavor is very familiar and unique. In particular, the owner and her husband are always cheerful and enthusiastic."

No price increase

Mrs. Hoang confided that thanks to her beloved and supportive customers, her family has been able to cover their living expenses for the past several decades. She is grateful and cherishes her customers as if they were family members.

Mr. Quoc (70 years old) is a delivery man from Dong Nai who comes to Ho Chi Minh City to make a living. He said that every day he stops by Mrs. Hoang's sticky rice stall for breakfast. "Because I'm afraid of the crowds, I usually come early. The sticky rice here is sticky, delicious, with a familiar old flavor that cannot be mixed with other shops. Eating a handful of sticky rice will make you full until noon." Regarding the quality of the sticky rice, he gave it a score of 9, but combined with the friendliness of the owners, he generously gave it a score of 10.

A package of banana leaf sticky rice at Mrs. Hoang's stall costs 10,000 VND. The reason she chose to sell at this price is because she wants to feed ordinary workers. According to her, the appeal of sticky rice is not only in the price but also in the familiar taste, fresh ingredients, suitable for most diners. "I have kept this price for nearly ten years. In difficult economic times, many people do not have jobs, so I feel guilty selling to them. I sell at this price so that people have something to eat to fill their stomachs. I make a profit from my work, not increasing the selling price," Mrs. Hoang confided while selling.

Selling cheaply, plus the owner's talent for business, "good reputation travels far", Mrs. Hoang's sticky rice stall has received great support from customers until today. Mrs. Hoang said that the current price, which she has kept for nearly ten years, has not increased. Currently, while the prices of many ingredients have increased, the couple still has no intention of increasing the selling price. She said that this price is suitable for her and for the customers.

The owner said that she is happy and satisfied with her current life, when every day she is attached to her sticky rice stall, bringing her heart-felt sticky rice balls to customers from near and far who come to support her. Although it is hard because she wakes up at 11pm to prepare, and has to travel from District 4 to District 1 early in the morning to sell, she is determined to continue selling as long as she has the strength.

At this age, she wants nothing more than to stay in good health and spirit so she can sell sticky rice as long as possible...