Cao Lao Noodle Maker in Hoi An, Vietnam

Photographed by Prestine Davekhaw in 2022

Mr. Ta Ngoc is 67 years old this year. He’s been working everyday since 11 years old from 1am to 10am, taking only 1 day off a year for Lunar gathering. That’s 56 working years counting. For generations, his family has been making a stable noodles to Hoi An, Vietnam, called Cao Lao (a chewy noodles similar to udon, added with charcoal ash for a kick of color)

He works hard beyond his sense of duty as the family provider; he wakes up everyday to make sure his people can have their favourite breakfast, the most traditional way. None of his children is picking up this labor intensive heirlom, this could be the very last generation served with handmade Cao Lao.

You are looking at Mr. Ta Ngoc’s bookkeeping for cao lao sales. He writes them up high on the wall so the neighborhood kids won’t erase the accounts for fun.