In the video, the shop owner was seen giving a serving to a deliveryman and said: “Actually, the orders by clients are done, while this is for you." The male deliveryman could not understand what the shop owner said and asked “Whose order is it?”. The shop owner said: “This is for you. I present it to you for lunch."

"Do you give me as a gift?” After the shop owner confirmed this, the man was very happy and gave the shop owner a warm handshake and said: "Thank you."

As many as 2.3 million people had viewed the online video as of late last week and 200,000 double tapped it. Many people said they were touched by the humane action of the shop owner. 

“I like the word you used ‘bieu’ (present), instead of ‘cho’ (give). It sounds so nice,” a netizen commented. “It is great to see such lovely stories right in the morning. I have become wet with tears."

The main character of the video is Nguyen Hai Anh, born in 1989, who runs a bun rieu shop in Cau Giay district in Hanoi. Anh told VietNamNet that he was surprised when the video caught attention from the public.

“The shipper came to my shop and took a serving of bun rieu away to deliver to a client,” Anh recalled. “He felt surprised about the gift and then he shook my hand and said thank you. I felt so happy."

Anh many times offer free food to delivery people and the needy. He believes this is a good way to keep good memories about life and work.

Anh opened the shop in 2018. His business was poor on the first day, but the situation improved later. Every day, he can sell 150-170 bowls of bun rieu.

“I always want to help other people. Previously, I thought that when I could make money, I would do charity,” Anh said. “But later, I changed my mind. It would be unclear when I could become rich to help other people. So I decided to help other people right now as I can."

On the first days of opening the shop, Anh began offering free food to the needy. When shippers or vendors came to his shop, he often invited them to have bun rieu free of charge, or packed food for them to take away.

“Some people receive my gift, while some others refuse it. In general, I offer 1-2 servings a day, and sometimes I offer 4-5 servings,” he said.

In 2021, when the Covid-19 pandemic became serious, Anh had to close the shop because of lockdown. Only in 2023 did Anh resume his business and everything has returned to normal.

Since the day he resumed, he has hung a signboard over the entrance door of the shop which says he offers bun rieu for free to children below six years old. He also offers bun rieu for free to the needy, vendors and street children.

Anh said he is happy as he can encourage other people to join hands to do charity work. 

Sometimes Anh met diners who wished to pay more than the value of the bun rieu they eat. So he hung another signboard that said he would give VND1,000 from every bowl of bun rieu he sells to help people who need help.

Anh said he never expects anything in return for the bun rieu he offers to others. But in reality, he has really been rewarded with thanks from many who have benefited from his generosity. Even those who have refused his help have given sincere thanks to him.

Thanh Minh