“The first Smile restaurant opened in 2011,” says Lan*, the manager of two branches out of 14 branches of the food chain, five of which are located in HCMC. The rest are spread across other cities in Vietnam, where they are known by the alternative name ‘Peace and Happiness Shop’. “I helped set up number 4 in 2013, so about 10 years ago. This one, number 9, has been running for two years.” Owned and funded by the Lotus Charity Foundation, the aim behind these restaurants is to help provide those in need with cost-saving nutritious meals, as well as a comfortable place to eat. “Our customers are mainly people who make a living on the streets: peddlers, lottery ticket sellers, motorbike taxi drivers… and poor families around here,” adds Lan.