Every afternoon at 3 p.m., Ly Hue Hoa carefully stretches a tarp over her small fried rice cake cart on Bach Van Street, shielding it from the harsh sunlight. Beside her, her elder sister, Ly Le Thanh, adjusts two old wooden stools, ensuring everything is in place before their customers arrive.

As the first guests settle in, Thanh swiftly wipes down plates and pours dipping sauce into small bowls that have been in their family for decades. Meanwhile, Hoa expertly flips the sizzling rice cakes, sending waves of fragrance into the air, beckoning more hungry passersby.

For over 40 years, the “Fried Rice Cake Sisters” have been a familiar sight on this street. Their silver hair and time-worn hands tell the story of a lifelong dedication to their father’s beloved recipe.

Hoa recalls, "Fried rice cakes were my father’s specialty. He sold many dishes, but this one was his pride. I learned to make it as a child, watching him work. When he passed, I took over, pushing my cart through the streets to make a living. As I grew older and weaker, I chose to settle here on Bach Van Street. My sister, Thanh, saw how hard it was for me to manage alone, so she left her factory job to help."

Their modest cart, now adorned with a sign reading "Fried Rice Cake Sisters," has become a beloved local landmark.

Hoa is meticulous about tradition. She refuses to use gas or charcoal stoves, insisting on cooking over a wood-fired stove, just as their father did. To her, the slight smoky aroma it imparts is what makes the dish truly special, evoking childhood memories for those who taste it. Instead of vegetable oil, she fries the cakes in pork fat, adding crispy rendered pork bits for extra flavor.

Hoa explains, "I also use pickled radish and finely minced garlic - ingredients that were staples in every meal when we were young. Many customers say one bite of our fried rice cakes brings them back to their childhood."

Despite their once-youthful beauty and many admirers, the two sisters never married.

Thanh shares, "Perhaps marriage just wasn’t in our fate. Time passed so quickly, and before we knew it, our hair had turned white. But we don’t feel lonely. We have each other, and every day at the cart, we chat with customers. It keeps us happy."

Before the pandemic, their cart was always packed with regulars. Although business slowed during Covid-19, social media recently reignited interest in their stall, drawing both longtime patrons and curious newcomers.

Located near Hoa Binh Market, the cart attracts everyone - from market vendors grabbing a quick bite to young food enthusiasts seeking an authentic street food experience. With limited seating, many customers opt to take their meals to go, savoring the crispy, golden rice cakes wherever they please.

Each plate costs approximately $1.20, making it an affordable indulgence.

One first-time visitor, drawn in by online reviews, was eager to try their famous dish. “The rice cakes are perfectly crispy and flavorful, and the price is incredibly reasonable. What makes it even more special is knowing these two hardworking women have been cooking here for decades," she shared.

For Hoa and Thanh, life is simple yet fulfilling. Every day, as they light the wood stove and serve generations of customers, they carry on their father’s legacy - one crispy, golden bite at a time.