The restaurant has nothing more than a few plastic tables and chairs but still manages to attract hundreds of customers a day. Situated in the middle of a rice field in Thot Not in Can Tho, it mainly serves homely vegan dishes at an affordable price.

Ms. Kim Binh, the owner, said the restaurant has been in business for three years and at first only targeted customers in the local area. After she posted a video of the restaurant before the sunset, it became viral on the Internet and people started to come from different places.

Every dish and meal is personally prepared by Kim Binh. In the morning, vegan rice noodle soup is the main course, while the afternoon is for Vietnamese snacks like Tau Hu, Banh Cong, Hoanh Thanh, Cha Gio. Each dish is priced at 10,000 VND.

The restaurant’s main customers are young adults who enjoy fresh air and beautiful scenery as a contrast to to the bustling urban space. On the weekends, there are usually not enough tables for everyone. Kim Binh often hosts different activities like singing and dancing to liven up the atmosphere.

Tieu Vy and Ha Thuong are best friends who came from Can Tho city center to visit the restaurant. “We both are going to university in Sai Gon (HCM City). After seeing this place on social media, we decided to try it out during the semester break. It’s a long way from our homes but the scenery alone made it all worth it. Although these are all vegan dishes, they still have very strong tastes. They’re not too special but the location makes up for them.”

Born and raised in one of Can Tho’s rural areas, Kiet is no stranger to village life. However, he was pleasantly surprised by the scenery. “It’s like I have no worries. As a person from Can Tho, I’m also very proud seeing this place attracting so many people from different parts of the country.”

For the future, Kim Binh plans to buy better tables, install a roof to prevent rainfall and harmful sunlight, and plant decorative flower crops. She said: “I want to make it nicer and more of a proper restaurant, while still retaining the beautiful surroundings’ nature. I want to keep the initial concept of this place as a unique experience where you can slow down and enjoy the peaceful scenery.”

The kitchen area is small and very minimal. The owner cooks all the dishes.

Many have traveled hundreds of kilometers just to come here and have this experience.

It gets so crowded in the afternoon that the waiters are unable to handle everything.

The restaurant is very popular among young people in Can Tho and its surrounding areas.

Hien Linh

A sweet treat in Can Tho

Chuoi nep nuong (grilled banana wrapped in sticky rice crust) is a popular dish in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho. 

'Hu tieu' noodle production facilities become Can Tho's typical feature

The half-century-old facilities producing ‘hu tieu’ (a kind of rice noodle in the south), which are located on the banks of windy rivers in the Mekong River Delta province of Can Tho, have been always busy with boats.