In Ho Chi Minh City, Haji Basiroh, now 70, is widely known as the woman who laid the foundation for “Saigon Halal street,” often called “Malaysia street,” located on Nguyen An Ninh Street in Ben Thanh ward. She was the first person to open both a halal restaurant and an Islamic fashion shop on the street.

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Haji Basiroh is known as the woman who laid the foundation for “Saigon Halal street,” also called “Malaysia street,” in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Provided by the subject.

Basiroh was born into a poor Cham family in the former Chau Doc town of An Giang province. Her father was a teacher, and thanks to his guidance she learned to read and write from an early age, becoming one of the few people in the area able to read and write both Vietnamese and Cham.

At the age of 12, she began teaching literacy classes free of charge to poor children. In 1974, her family moved to Ho Chi Minh City, where she later studied English and computer skills.

These abilities helped her secure a job at a foreign diplomatic agency when she grew up. However, at her father’s request, she eventually gave up what she once considered her dream job.

“When I started working, I would not have enough time to teach the children,” she recalled. “My father asked me to keep teaching for a few more months. After he recovered from his illness, he would take over.”

But her father passed away unexpectedly. Before his final moments, he still hoped she would continue teaching. Honoring that wish, Basiroh declined the opportunity and continued offering free lessons.

After nearly a decade of volunteer teaching, she went on to work for an Indonesian oil company, an American market research firm and later a British market research center. During that time she frequently interacted with foreign visitors, including many Muslim travelers from Malaysia.

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Her Islamic fashion products are popular among Muslim customers from many countries. Photo: Ha Nguyen.

One day, a visitor noticed her wearing a tudung, the traditional Islamic headscarf, and asked for help finding Islamic clothing in the city. She agreed and eventually located a shop selling such garments at the former Tax Trade Center.

However, both she and the customer realized the clothing there did not fully meet Islamic standards. The experience inspired her to begin producing and selling Islamic garments herself.

She ordered sample products from Malaysia and studied tailoring techniques across the city by bicycle, learning how to preserve the traditional requirements of Islamic attire while still creating fashionable and creative designs.

In 2002, she began producing and selling Islamic clothing from her home in the former Phu Nhuan district. Using quality fabrics and designing elegant embroidery patterns, her products soon gained popularity among customers.

However, operating from her home far from the city center made it difficult for customers to find her shop. Some people even began selling inferior products under her name.

Building “Malaysia street”

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Haji Basiroh is considered an exemplary Cham woman in the community. Photo: Ha Nguyen.
 
 
 

In 2011, she rented a storefront on Nguyen An Ninh Street to sell her products. Located near Ben Thanh Market, her Islamic fashion shop quickly attracted many international visitors.

Thanks to good materials, attractive designs and reasonable prices, customers from many countries began seeking out her store. It soon became one of the most reputable Islamic fashion brands in Ho Chi Minh City.

From this fashion shop, Basiroh gradually expanded into halal cuisine for Muslim customers.

“One day, foreign guests came into my shop to look at clothes. At lunchtime they asked me to help find a halal restaurant,” she recalled.

“My family has a tradition of cooking, so I confidently invited them to share a meal with us. After the meal they said the food was delicious and encouraged me to open a restaurant serving Muslim customers.”

At first, Basiroh had no intention of opening a restaurant. She simply placed one or two small tables inside her fashion shop to serve meals for interested customers.

Unexpectedly, the number of diners grew quickly. The shop soon became crowded and filled with cooking aromas.

Seeing this, she rented another space across the street from her fashion shop and opened a restaurant specializing in halal dishes. Over time, the small eatery expanded into a spacious three-story restaurant named Basiroh.

Today, the restaurant’s menu includes nearly 100 dishes. Alongside traditional Cham specialties such as goat curry, fish curry and talaha cakes, the menu also features Vietnamese favorites such as beef pho, sour fish soup, braised fish in clay pot and stir-fried water spinach.

At one point, Basiroh owned three restaurants bearing her name on Nguyen An Ninh Street, leading many people to call the area “Basiroh street.”

Her success eventually inspired other individuals and businesses to open fashion shops and restaurants serving Muslim customers. Gradually, “Basiroh street” evolved into what many people now call “Malaysia street,” a popular destination for Muslim travelers.

Basiroh shared that after the pandemic, restaurant business has not been as strong as before. Even so, she continues to maintain her establishments.

“These businesses create jobs and provide income for Cham youths from disadvantaged families,” she said.

“They also help attract tourists and introduce Vietnam’s culture and people to the world.”

Haji Mach Dares Samael, head of the Representative Board of the Muslim Community in Ho Chi Minh City, described Basiroh as an exemplary Cham woman.

“She actively participates in community activities and has contributed significantly to supporting Cham women in improving their knowledge of family and social life,” he said.

“Not only is she known as the pioneer who helped introduce and establish ‘Malaysia street’ in Ho Chi Minh City, she also regularly assists Cham families facing difficulties in both Ho Chi Minh City and An Giang. Because of this, she is greatly respected and loved by the Muslim and Cham communities.”

Ha Nguyen