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In the days when Hanoi was still simple and unpretentious, soy milk became an indispensable part of people's daily lives. Packaged in glass bottles with cork stoppers, soy milk – a simple yet familiar drink – is not only a sweet treat but also a childhood memory for many.
Children in Hanoi back then will never forget the image of old motorbikes weaving through the streets, past Hang Gai, Hang Duong, Hang Ga... loaded with bottles of soy milk. The glass bottles, sparkling in the sunlight, seemed to hold the entire sky of childhood. People were familiar with the sight of a glass of soy milk poured from a 65ml glass bottle each morning, its fragrant aroma and milky white color shimmering. At the roadside stalls on Hang Ga or in Dong Xuan Market, customers would sit and sip their soy milk while watching the bustling streets.
Images of rustic milk bottles with cork stoppers, emitting a fragrant aroma.
Those children, now adults, surely still remember the small joy of waking up from their afternoon nap to a fragrant cup of soy milk with sugar. The feeling of happiness in sipping the cool, sweet soy milk, served in a cup of hand-crushed ice. After finishing, they would look down at the bottom of the cup, regretting how quickly the delicious drink had been gone.
Soy milk in glass bottles is a sweet childhood memory.
Today, soy milk is still around, but the mobile soy milk vendors and the special milk in glass bottles with cork stoppers have gradually disappeared. Packaged soy milk in pouches and cartons floods the market, but for many, it's just "soy milk." It no longer carries the aroma and sweet taste of a bygone era, a childhood associated with streets like Hang Dao and Hang Ngang, where every morning ordinary people could still be seen holding a steaming cup of soy milk.
Recently, images of a soy milk delivery cart with baskets overflowing with glass bottles navigating the narrow alleys of Hanoi have become famous on social media. The vendor shared that his family has been selling soy milk for 34 years. Previously, he delivered soy milk to restaurants and cafes along the Old Quarter and surrounding areas. His work started at 5 am and he only returned home after dusk. Lately, thanks to increased recognition, his work has become even busier, requiring him to deliver soy milk continuously from 5 am to 6 pm every day.
Soy milk, served in glass bottles, now costs 11,000-12,000 VND per bottle, and for a cheaper option, it can be poured into a pouch for 7,000 VND. Buyers can also return the empty bottles for a discount on their next purchase – a practice reminiscent of the old days when keeping and returning empty bottles was commonplace. The price of soy milk has increased tenfold, but it's still incredibly affordable, a perfect memento to cherish and warm the hearts of those who were once connected to the streets of Hanoi.
The car carries childhood memories all over the streets of Hanoi.
Many people want to buy these bottles of soy milk, but the vendor doesn't have a shop and mainly delivers them by motorbike. Therefore, the soy milk seller doesn't hesitate to share his phone number so that anyone who wants to buy can call to find out where he is located. Although it's not a new product or has a unique flavor, it's the glass bottles of soy milk that evoke childhood memories, making many people willing to go to great lengths to buy them.
