The Lunch Lady

Ms Nguyen Thi Thanh, better known as the Lunch Lady, was visited by Anthony Bourdain in 2009 and has been famous ever since. She serves a different dish for each day of the week. She still has a little stall but the number of seats and tables has expanded since then, taking up more of a quiet little square.

I sat down and they brought over some snacks I didn't order (this is a trick used by some restaurants and stalls to up-sell without telling you that it's extra money) and then my bánh canh cua (fish soup with prawns and crab) arrived. It was pretty good but there's no real reason for her popularity other than Bourdain and the quiet setting. There are so many amazing noodle soups around the city.

She was very friendly and happily let me take her photo.