Buzz
Mr. and Mrs. Tu's quaint tea stall is illuminated every evening with an old oil lamp that has been in use since 1976 in Saigon.
Saigon's 40-year-old tea haven: exclusively open in the evenings, offering cups at 5,000 VND each
Around 8-9 pm each evening, residents near the alley 504, Nguyen Kiem Street (Phu Nhuan district, Saigon), witness the familiar sight of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Tu diligently setting up her tea stall on the familiar sidewalk corner. According to Mrs. Tu, the tea stall has been open since 1976.
'Initially, I thought this was just a temporary job to make ends meet because life was tough back then. But unexpectedly, this small tea-selling venture has stuck with us until now,' recalls Mrs. Tu.
Despite being called a 'stall,' Mr. and Mrs. Tu's 'oil lamp tea' space consists of only a wooden plank used as a table, holding utensils and a few plastic chairs for customers. Despite its small size and being located on the sidewalk, the stall is always bustling with customers, especially in the late evening.
Tea stall offering 5 varieties: white bean sweet soup, floating dumplings, pandan sweet soup (crispy apples), banana sweet soup, and powdered green bean sweet soup. Every preparation step is handled skillfully by Mrs. Tu. Soaking the beans and kneading the dough are done in advance. Around 3 pm, she starts cooking, and by 7 pm, it's all ready.
The routine has been ongoing for over four decades with the support of her husband. Mrs. Tu recalls that in the past, her husband had his own job, but since she started selling tea alone, he had to quit his job to assist her.
'It's the nature of men, preferring to stand quietly behind the scenes,' Mrs. Tu laughs while saying. Despite his old age, Mr. Tu is still adept at tasks ranging from arranging goods, carrying and arranging utensils, to setting up spoons and bowls.
As she gazes at the sometimes dim light, Mrs. Tu confides that the oil lamp has been a close companion for several decades. 'Back then, there were no street lights, so I used the oil lamp for illumination. Even though we have electricity and lights now, I still prefer to keep the oil lamp in front,' Mrs. Tu says.
Ms. Van, currently a freelance singer in Saigon, shares: 'During a late-night performance, I happened to pass by this street and saw the oil lamp, so I decided to stop and take a look. After that, I fell in love with the teas served by the couple.'
'The sweet soups have just the right amount of sweetness; you can eat up to the second cup and still want more,' comments Mr. Phong (living in Binh Thanh district, Saigon).
Mr. and Mrs. Tu's tea corner often runs out early, but there are also days when they sell until one or two in the morning. Despite the widespread recognition of their stall, the couple has never considered raising prices. Whether you enjoy the tea on the spot or take it away, each cup is priced at 5,000 VND.
'Many people advise me to increase the price of tea to make more profit, but I don't. Since it's a sidewalk stall, I keep the price affordable. Selling out five pots of tea still yields a small profit, not much, but enough for the two of us,' shares Mrs. Tu.
Source: Phong Vinh/Vnexpress
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Reference: Travel guide Mytour
MytourApril 10, 2018
