At about 4 pm every day of the week, at the Yen Xa Pumping Station apartment complex (Hanoi), the "Shinbi Smile" rice shop becomes bustling again. 2,000 VND meals are successively given to patients and their families - those being treated at K Tan Trieu Hospital.
Thanks to the joint efforts of philanthropists and volunteers, from 2023 to now, the restaurant has served tens of thousands of meals for people in difficult circumstances.
Most volunteers have been attached to the shop for a long time. Every afternoon, they arrange their work rhythmically: someone picks up guests, gives numbers, someone shares rice, scoops soup, someone cleans up... creating a smooth operational cycle. Despite the busy work, everyone keeps a friendly smile when serving.
Lai Thi Van Anh - a student at a university in Hanoi - is one of such volunteers. Although her place is quite far from the restaurant, every time she has time, Van Anh takes the bus to support the kitchen, prepare and sell rice.
Attached for nearly 2 years, she has witnessed many times difficult patient circumstances, especially young children with K disease. The empathy made Van Anh continue to stay, contributing to the rice shop to share love.
Not only young people, many older volunteers have also been attached to the cafe from the early days. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Canh (Tuong Mai, Hanoi) shared that after retiring, he has spent time participating in support here for nearly 3 years. He said that every time he gives meals to patients, especially those with cancer, he appreciates the work he is doing even more. Despite the hardship, he always maintains a dedicated and cheerful attitude to serve everyone.
For Mr. Canh, as long as he is healthy enough, he still wants to continue to accompany the rice shop to help those in difficult circumstances.
Having been diagnosed with breast cancer for more than 4 months, Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai (character name has been changed) in Hung Yen had to temporarily stop working to go to Hanoi for treatment. Mentioning the 2,000 VND rice shop, she could not hide her emotion. According to her, the meals here are not only full and palatable but also help reduce living costs, so that patients can feel secure in their treatment.
Smile Shinbi" restaurant went into operation in March 2023, founded by Ms. Nguyen Tra My and her husband. Although the price is only 2,000 VND per serving, the quality of meals is always emphasized. According to Ms. My, the restaurant always ensures hygiene and nutrition, because these are meals for patients and their families.
She also said that not giving free meals but keeping the price at 2,000 VND is to help recipients feel more comfortable, not have the psychology of receiving support, thereby reducing their hesitation.
Amidst the expensive pace of life in Hanoi, the small rice shop still regularly gives simple but warm meals, contributing to sharing the burden and adding motivation for patients in their treatment journey.
