On a sunday evening, Thu Hoang, 33, from Ban Co ward, arranged various types of snails into plastic baskets for her two daughters, Lina, 9, and Nina, 4, to choose from.

In the kitchen, she introduced her children to dishes like imperial snails, scallops, clams, oysters, and greasyback snails. Alongside these were seasonings, garlic butter, and scallion oil, allowing the girls to choose their preferred preparation methods. The mother also prepared plastic cups and soft drinks, arranging them to resemble a street food stall.

Thu Hoang played the role of the vendor, fulfilling her daughters' orders. A video capturing the three playing pretend shop in the kitchen garnered over 4 million views on social media. Many expressed delight at her idea of bringing a "street food atmosphere" into the family kitchen.

Thu Hoang prepares a snail dish for her children in TP HCM, 5/2026. Photo: Provided by character

Thu Hoang, who owns a dental and aesthetics clinic, shared that Lina and Nina enjoy fried fish balls and hu tieu. Due to their busy study schedules and their mother's work often extending from morning until 9 p.m., the children rarely have time to eat out. Therefore, she decided to prepare their favorite dishes on weekends to offer a change of pace.

In early 5, she spent 800,000 VND on a small glass cabinet to recreate a mobile hu tieu stall. Bowls, chopsticks, and spoons were repurposed from existing items. She simmered bones for the broth, arranged vegetables and bean sprouts in baskets, and placed lime and chili on small plates, mimicking a street noodle cart. The cost of ingredients for each session ranges from 1.5 to 2 million VND.

Following the success of the hu tieu stall, she added a fried fish ball stall featuring a menu of 20 types of skewers, including shrimp, crab, beef, scallops, sausages, and okra. The skewers were fried golden and served with chili sauce and cucumber. The mother even sourced a deep-frying skimmer, similar to those used by street vendors, to enhance authenticity.

Thu Hoang's two children enjoy the "fried fish ball stall" in TP HCM, 5/2026. Photo: Provided by character

Thu Hoang noted that cooking at home helps her control food hygiene. Among all the dishes, the snail stall required the most effort, as she had to visit three markets to gather enough oysters, scallops, and shrimp. Afterward, she purchased dozens of small plastic bowls, an iron grill, and a charcoal stove to create the distinct smoky aroma.

Mrs. Hue, 55, Thu Hoang's mother, observed that this pretend shop model helps her grandchildren reduce their screen time and engage more in family conversations. Thu Hoang's family also frequently invites friends to join these special meals.

"Our entire family wants to create lasting childhood memories for the children," Thu Hoang stated.

Thu Hoang's fried fish ball stall in TP HCM, 5/2026. Photo: Provided by character

Ngoc Ngan