Every day at around 6 p.m. the sidewalk in front of Dam Sen Cultural Park on Lac Long Quan Street, Hoa Binh Ward, transforms into a bustling hub of hungry locals.
Customers gather around a cart, taking a queue token and waiting for their turn.
The stall became a social media sensation in late 2025 for its signature dish - durian sticky rice.
The owner says the preparation and the reliance on getting the ingredients mean the durian version is only available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
The woman behind the recipe is 65-year-old Huynh Kim Huu, who has been selling sticky rice for over 40 years. She began her career pushing a cart around the Phu Lam Market area in the former District 6.
Now, due to her age, she has handed the operations over to her children and grandchildren. But she frequents the stall on weekends to chat with regulars.
She says: "The ingredients are what keep the flavor consistent. That is why customers keep coming back after all these years."
In Mekong Delta style, the rice is soaked for eight hours before being steamed, fluffed and mixed with mung beans, coconut milk, sugar, and salt. To preserve the durian's aroma and prevent the dish from becoming mushy, the fruit is only added once the rice has cooled.
The rice is made over low heat to ensure even heat cooking.
Once steamed, the grains are mixed with mashed mung beans and stirred until each grain is coated. This process takes three hours per batch.
The shop uses 50 kg of sticky rice and 70 kg of fresh durian daily.
Huu selects Thai durian for its small seeds and firm flesh. To guarantee freshness, the durians are only peeled on the day the food is sold.
A portion of the dish is priced at VND 30,000-150,000 ($1.15 - $5.80), depending on the size of the durian portion and the fruit’s price.
The Thai durian has a distinct but not overpowering aroma.
Customers line up to buy sticky rice at the shop. Video by VnExpress/Tuan Anh
One customer who reached the stall at 6 p.m. said there was a 20-minute wait.
There are five staff members to handle the work from taking orders and packing to taking payments. The shop typically sells out within two hours of opening.
The stall also offers savory sticky rice topped with a variety of items such as shredded chicken, pork floss and crispy fried shallots for VND30,000 a portion.
Tho, a 25-year-old HCMC resident, arrived 30 minutes before the stall opened to ensure she wouldn't miss out.
"The sticky rice is fragrant, and when combined with the durian, it becomes an interesting pairing," she said, adding that the VND70,000 ($2.70) portion is generous.
Another customer, Huynh Hiep, says he decided to visit with friends after noticing the crowds during his daily commute to work.
"The rice is fragrant, looks great, and comes wrapped in banana leaves. It’s delicious, and so I bought extra to take home for my family."
