Founded in 1871, Cha Ca La Vong in Hanoi Old Quarter serves only one dish. The place certainly looks its age. The steep, narrow steps leads to the first floor where several tables and chairs are cramped into a small room. The kitchen is just behind.
After seated, the waiter proceeds to hand out a little laminated paper printed with the words, "We only serve one dish. Grilled fish" with the price per person stated below. Cha Ca La Vong are chunks of fried fish cooked with fresh dill on a brazier. It is then eaten with cold rice noodles, chilli and peanuts.
I don't know what is this called but it was delicious! The humble white noodle is a common staple food in Vietnam. It is often prepared and eaten in a myriad of ways.
Here in this bowl, there were some fried stuff, red beans, parsley and the white noodles. The gooey gravy stuff was still underneath, unmixed with the noodles yet. Ordered from a sidewalk vendor at Le Loi Street in Hue city, customers ate while seated on cheap plastic foot-height stools.
Behind the Can Cau market, there were stalls and more stalls selling cooked food. The Hmong people groups gathered here for their weekend shopping and enjoyed a good time of catching up with each other. Others, like this Flower Hmong woman, helped a mother to feed her baby, which was strapped on her back.
The Flower Hmong women are easily distinguished by their traditional clothing. Vivid thin line patterns adorn the fabrics used to make their dresses, of which, the majority are pink, maroon and red.
For some, it's shopping therapy. Others, movie therapy. Yet more, reading therapy. For me, it's writing therapy.