Ông Bà Vietnamese Eatery
We named the restaurant Ông Bà — which means “grandparents” in Vietnamese — in honour of our parents, Bố and Mẹ, whose love, faith, and courage built the foundation of our family.
They crossed the ocean with nothing but hope and compassion, and spent their lives helping others find safety, comfort, and belonging. Their home was always open, their table always full, even when they had little to give.
By naming our restaurant Ông Bà, we hope to keep their spirit alive — a reminder for our child, and for every generation to come, of the love and sacrifice that carried us here.
Ông Bà is more than a restaurant; it’s a continuation of their promise — a place where love, food, and laughter are shared freely, and where everyone is treated like family.
Bố was a village fisherman from a remote island in Halong Bay. Mẹ was a city girl from Haiphong, working at the docks to help her family survive the war. They came from different worlds, but their paths crossed, and something lasting began.
They had no wedding, no rings — just a promise. Bố gifted Mẹ a sewing machine, a rare and precious item at the time. It was the most valuable thing they owned, and a symbol of his love. But war would test everything.
When Bố was imprisoned for trying to help over 100 people escape by boat, Mẹ was left alone with four young children. Every month, she traveled for days—sometimes without food, sometimes walking for miles—to bring him supplies so he could survive. Prisons didn't feed inmates, Bố survival depended on the devotion of family.
Years later, when hope seemed out of reach, a kind friend offered Mẹ a small sailboat to help our family escape. In return, Mẹ gave him the sewing machine Bố had given her on their wedding day—not out of obligation, but as a gesture of deep appreciation.
On the day of the escape, she rode her bicycle to the prison and waited near a hidden spot. Bố, having earned the right to work outside the prison walls, made his move. He ran, jumped on the bike, and they rode with everything they had—straight to the shore, where we were waiting in the boat.
It took 75 days at sea.
We arrived with nothing but love, faith, and each other.
No country. No guarantees. Just a family, determined to live free.
Today, we honour Bố and Mẹ by sharing their story and their spirit through our food. Every dish we serve is rooted in their journey. Every meal is a reminder that love, family, and resilience can carry us through anything.
We named our restaurant Ông Bà not just to remember them, but to pass on their love and sacrifice to the next generation.
We hope that everyone who walks through our doors feels the same warmth we did growing up—like sitting down for a comforting meal at Grandma's house.
Because to us, Ông Bà is more than a name. It's family. It's home.
Our parents' love story is one of sacrifice, strength, and unbreakable faith.
