Beef noodle soup served at O Kay restaurant in HCMC. Photos courtesy of the restaurant
O Kay beef noodle soup restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City, run by Ngo Duc Hien, a Harvard alumnus, would close on May 24 after one year of operation, it announced on its Facebook page.
The restaurant owner expressed his efforts to create a perfect morning experience for customers, offering a flavorful bowl of beef noodle soup, a clean dining space, and a fragrant cup of tea.
However, the business failed to sustain itself. The restaurant gradually lost customers over time, ultimately forcing him to make the decision to close, Hien wrote.
The restaurant has a 4.9 rating out of five stars on Google Map and serves only Hue-style beef noodle soup for VND115,000 (US$4.36) per bowl, accompanied by a glass of either Pu-erh tea or White Shan Snow tea.
Some customers praised the beef noodle soup for its clear, flavorful broth. However, occasional issues with the broth being served slightly cool were noted as a drawback.
Others also complained about the high price.
According to a report by market analysis company iPOS.vn, 50,000 restaurants and food stalls closed across Vietnam in the first half of 2025.
The main reasons stem from reduced revenue, high rental and operating costs, and consumers tightening their spending.
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