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DNO - A Vietnamese woman in Moscow, Russia is bringing the flavours of Da Nang to Russia through homemade "Mi Quang" and Hoi An chicken rice, connecting cultures through food.
For Tran Thi Hong Van, a Vietnamese student studying in Russia for the time being, cooking traditional dishes such as “Mi Quang” and Hoi An chicken rice started as a simple way to support herself financially while studying abroad.
But over time, those homemade meals turned into something much bigger - a cultural bridge connecting Vietnam and Russia through food.
Van first began cooking for fellow Vietnamese students who missed the familiar tastes of home. Bowls of “Mi Quang”, with their rich broth, turmeric noodles and fresh herbs, quickly became popular among the overseas Vietnamese community in Moscow.
Word spread from one student to another, and soon her weekend orders continued to grow.
Despite balancing university studies, Van spends weekdays shopping for ingredients and preparing food before cooking dozens of portions every weekend. On busy days, she makes more than 50 meals.
“The hardest part is cooking the noodles and rice perfectly. If the timing is slightly wrong, I have to start over.” she said.
Her food delivery journeys during Moscow’s freezing winters remain among her strongest memories. Sometimes, with temperatures dropping to minus 15 degrees Celsius, she still carried boxes of “Mi Quang” through snowy metro stations while customers patiently waited outside.
The most meaningful moments come after the meals are delivered. Many customers tell her that eating her dishes feels like returning to Hoi An for a moment. Some say the flavours remind them of family meals back home in central Vietnam.
"When I saw people standing in the snow waiting for my food, I felt that every effort was worth it. Sometimes I don’t need to introduce my hometown with words. The food can tell the story itself"
Van said with a smile.
Interestingly, Van’s dishes have also attracted international diners. Her roommates from Russia and Bangladesh became devoted fans of Hoi An chicken rice, especially the homemade chili sauce she prepares herself.
Through her cooking, Van gradually realized she was not only earning extra income but also introducing Vietnamese culture to people who had never visited Hoi An before.
Today, although she has settled into work and life in Russia, she still cooks whenever customers place orders. On cold weekends in Moscow, her kitchen continues to glow warmly with the aroma of Mi Quang and chicken rice.
For many overseas Vietnamese, those dishes are more than food. They are memories of home, comfort during difficult days abroad and a reminder of the cultural richness of Da Nang, Vietnam as a whole.
Van’s story also reflects how food can quietly connect people across borders. Thousands of kilometers away from Vietnam, the flavours of Da Nang cuisine continue to bring warmth, nostalgia and cultural exchange to the heart of Moscow.
