Border eatery brings taste of closer ties

KUNMING--Tran Thi Vui, from Vietnam, runs a pho cuon (rice starch roll) restaurant in Hekou, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Just across a river - and the border - sits her hometown, Lao Cai.

Ten years ago, she fell for Bao Fusheng, a "diligent and honest" Chinese man. After they got married, the couple opened the restaurant, which became a hit among cross-border business people from the two countries.

"Vietnamese like bland flavor, while Chinese prefer spicy," said Tran, who, in order to cater to both tastes, adds Chinese spicy millet, garlic and soy sauce to the original Vietnamese fish and lemon dip.