Nam Dinh is famous for its rich and attractive cuisine. It is also the locality with the lowest living costs in the country and many high quality, cheap street food dishes.

The VND5,000 pho stall, where a serving is priced at just VND5,000, owned by Nguyen Thi Chung and located on a small alley in Tran Te Xuong ward, has operated for 20 years, and is a well-known destination for diners.

The stall is small, just 20 sq m, with a few simple tables and chairs. It opens from 5.30 pm to 1-2am, and is always crowded. Most customers are loyal diners who have been eating there for many years.

Chung began selling pho there in 2005. Since the major clients are students and factory workers, Chung opens the stall in the evening every day to attract diners when they finish school or work. 

“Though material prices have increased, the selling prices are unchanged and it has become a brand,” Chung explained.

Many people come to the pho stall just because of curiosity, because they do not believe that the cheap pho is delicious. However, to their surprise, the quality is very high and they come back usually, becoming loyal clients.

Nguyen Thi Lan, 20, is one of the ‘curious’ clients. She said the pho there is quite good, and super-cheap, so it fits the pocket of students.

A bowl of VND5,000 pho includes noodles, one meat ball or grilled pork roll with betel leaves, a little sliced chicken, herbs and rich broth, which is created by simmering chicken bones and broth.

In addition to VND5,000 pho serving, Chung also serves higher-quality pho, priced at VND10,000-30,000.

The stall not only receives students and factory workers, but also wealthy people who come there by car.

According to Chung, her customers mostly order a VND5,000 serving. Some diners may have 2-3 bowls of pho at once, and one diner once even had six bowls. She doesn’t make a profit with such a low selling price, but she can earn more money from additional toppings customers order and from drinks and snacks. 

Trong Tung