One of the most well-known vendors is Nguyễn Thị Thu Hồng, 68, who operates her bánh canh shop from a small house at 59 Sư Vạn Hạnh Street.
For many years, she sold her signature dish outside Nguyễn Huệ Secondary School, waking early to serve students and local residents.
Her shop now opens daily from 5:30 a.m. to just after 8 a.m., and again from 1 p.m. until sold out, with prices ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 VND (about USD 0.80–1.20) per bowl.
The tiny space, equipped with plastic tables and chairs, is always clean and orderly. Whether customers dine in or take away, Ms. Hồng greets each person with a warm smile. Working alongside her son, she still follows the techniques passed down from her mother, having started helping with the family trade at the age of 10.
All ingredients are made in-house. The noodles combine rice flour and tapioca in an 8:2 ratio, while the steamed and fried pork rolls are freshly prepared each day. Many customers buy the rolls separately to enjoy at home.
Another long-standing staple is the shop operated by Nguyễn Thị Bích in alley 298 Hùng Vương. Known locally as “Mrs. Vạn’s shop,” the small eatery has served the community for around half a century. With a few sturdy wooden tables and no prominent signage, the shop blends quietly into the neighborhood. Prices remain at around 10,000 VND (about USD 0.40) per dish, including bún, phở, bánh canh, and bánh cuốn.
Mrs. Bích recalls opening the stall when Pleiku was sparsely populated, long before the expansion of its busy streets. She never advertises or seeks large crowds, yet the simplicity of her food and the familiarity of the space have made her shop part of daily life for generations. “As long as I’m healthy, I’ll keep cooking”, she says, hoping to maintain a place for locals to stop by, enjoy a meal, and share conversation.
Street vendors like Nguyễn Thị Nguyệt, 59, also contribute to Pleiku’s daily rhythm. For 30 years, she has pushed her bánh bò cart through the city’s main streets, from Sư Vạn Hạnh to Nguyễn Thái Học and beyond, setting out at around 3 p.m. each day. Selling each cake for 2,000 VND (about USD 0.08), she prepares around 250 pieces daily, earning roughly 150,000 VND (about USD 6) after expenses.
Her soft, white cakes made with rice flour and coconut milk are a familiar afternoon treat for many residents. Despite the hard work, she takes pride in the recognition and loyalty of customers.
Though modest in appearance, these long-running vendors have become the heartbeat of Pleiku. Their simmering broth pots, well-worn tables, and traditional recipes reflect the resilience of a community rooted in shared history.
As the city expands and modernizes, these small stalls continue to hold the identity and memories of the mountain town, offering comfort that many only realize they miss when far from home.
