河南的由来
这有些历史根据 – 与六桂堂的由来息息相关。六桂堂是翁、洪、江、方、龚、汪六个姓氏的共同堂号，是五代时期翁乾度六个儿子的后裔，他们于宋朝初年分別考取进士，荣华显贵，光大门楣，人人赞美，盛极一时。这可追溯到西元前1000年左右的西周，周昭王有个儿子，名叫翁溢，封为閩州刺史。五代后期，翁氏后代翁乾度在闽国生了六个儿子，长子翁洪，次子翁江，三子翁宗，四子翁方，五子翁龔和六子翁汪。相傳翁乾度害怕闽国灭亡后被整肅，故決定让六兄弟各自以名为姓，避免在战乱中翁家被灭族。恰巧改名换姓，姓方的四子落脚于当时的中国河南省-这便是河南的由来。 这是一个稳扎稳打，传承了50年的家族生意。方家的兄弟姐妹从小（十多来岁）就追随父亲，方金顺，在位于波东巴西的摊位打拼。后来因为父亲身体欠佳，兄弟姐妹便接手了这门家族生意，由大哥方义生领军，掌管傍晚和夜间的生意，两个妹妹，阿珠和阿莲则管理早间和上午的生意。河南成功的秘诀除了熟练的烹调技巧以及父辈流下来的烹饪秘方，不外乎于方家不惜血本坚持使用最好的材料和酱料来提味，更一心想要顾客们享用到最好吃的河南大虾面的那份心意（兄弟姐妹每天亲自掌厨任劳任怨地工作最少八个小时）。汤头更是原汁原味，选择用最新鲜的配料来熬炖，不添加任何味精，让人喝了不会有口渴的餐后感只有赞不绝口地称道汤头的鲜甜让人欲罢不能地一勺一勺地往口里塞。另一个特点就是他们自己烹煮的辣椒粉和别的地方直接买来应用的迥然不同，放些许在汤里又是给人另一种意想不到垂涎三尺的独特风味。
河南大虾面从开业至今也是个媒体争先报道的宠儿。甚至有外国媒体（香港，台湾，日本不等国家的媒体， 本地的报社记者，电视美食节目人员，美食博客也都慕名而来，更有些成了常客）特地组团来新品尝一番。吃过的媒体朋友们也都给予很好的评价和反馈，使河南大虾面在新加坡的美食榜享有一席之位和有一定的声望。
1970 年代
由父亲方金顺创办。以前一开始时是卖杂的面， 如鱼圆面， 肉脞面等。当时河南最出名的可是干捞面。
在机缘巧合下，认识了一名老师傅并获得其指导，说道你们太杂了，既然你们的虾面做得好， 不如专攻卖虾面就好。从那时起河南就变成了专卖虾面的档口且兄弟姐妹们都秉持着义无返顾的信念,生意也势如破竹般地成长兴旺起来。
大哥方义生是一个极有想法和创意的人，有着精益求精的魄力，在聆听许多顾客的反馈后（最常听到的一句话：只卖一种虾面太过单调了）， 开发出一系列与虾面虾汤相得映彰的配料如排骨，粉肠，猪尾，鲍贝，鲍鱼等。此创新获得了顾客的热烈欢迎，使河南的生意再更上一层楼。
1996年
正所谓天时，地利，人和，在这一年，河南大虾面受邀搬迁到了隔壁街，从一个小小的摊位，变成了承包一整间咖啡店的专卖店。大点的店积，坐客量也大幅度地增加，顾客们更能舒适地享用着河南的美食。
2020年
这经营了50多年的虾面大佬，此时已是家喻户晓的老字号。 河南的运营宗旨就是希望能让更多人享用正宗的河南古早味虾面，将河南虾面加以发扬光大。 有许多人出高价找过方氏兄妹想要跟他们购买河南，但他们都不愿意因为各购买方无法着实证明他们有能力保留住河南多年累积的好声誉和将其妥善经营。在几次与Micro 2000 控股公司各部门的负责人洽连下，方义生对Micro 2000的管理层称赞有佳，并坚信这人才济济的机构绝对能把河南虾面带上另一个高峰。在与两个妹妹商量过后， 便联络了公司总裁，黄志发先生，详谈合作细节。原班人马还是会在旗舰店，顾客无需担心他们习惯的味道会走味。公司有规模性地盘算着河南大虾面的扩张宏图，首先即将在珍珠大厦开设分店（2020年四月份起），这是时隔50年的第一间河南大虾面分店， 专攻在那附近工作的上班族。当新加坡的基业已打好基础，员工们也已习惯经营模式，公司有意愿往国外发展，让河南大虾面成为一个跨国的饮食企业，贯穿一概的运营理念，让更多的人有机会品尝到河南大虾面的古早原味和与众不同之处。
Riversouth (Hoe Nam) Prawn Noodles
Keeping pace with the times but retaining the original heritage taste and flavours
RiverSouth’s (Hoe Nam) Origins
This is with some historical basis - closely knitted to the origins of Liugui Hall. Liugui Hall is the common Hall name of the six surnames of Weng, Hong, Jiang, Fang, Gong, and Wang. They are the descendants of the six sons of Weng Gandu during the Five Dynasties. Scholars in their own rights that served in the imperial courts, they were well revered by all. This can be traced back to the Western Zhou Dynasty around 1000 BC, King Zhou Zhao had a son named Weng Yi. Later in the Five Dynasties, Weng Gandu, the descendant of Weng, gave birth to six sons in Fujian, the eldest son Weng Hong, the second son Weng Jiang, the third son Weng Zong, the fourth son Weng Fang, the fifth son Weng Gong and the sixth son Weng Wang. According to legend, Weng Gandu was afraid of being punished as the country fell from Grace, so he decided to let the six brothers to use their First Name as their surnames to avoid being wiped out during the war. All of them happened to change their names and surnames, and the fourth son with the surname Png (方) settled in Henan Province of China at that time - this is the origin of Henan.
This is a family-run business of over 50 years. The siblings of the Png family have followed their father, Png Kim Soon, and worked hard at their initial food stall located at 29 Tai Thong Crescent. Later, due to their father’s poor health, the siblings took over the family business. The elder brother Png Aik Seng is in charge of the evening and night business. The two younger sisters, Ah Zhu and Ah Lian, manage the day business. The secret to Henan ’s success is not only due to their unrivalled cooking skills with reference to the traditional cooking recipes handed down by their father, in actual fact it is actually the Png’s family insistence on using the best ingredients and sauces to enhance their offerings’ taste, the dedicated thought for their customers to enjoy only the very best that brought about this desired outcome. Hard work is also an important success element as the Png siblings worked for at least eight hours a day for 6 days a week. The soup base is the authentic traditional stew, simmered with the use of the freshest ingredients, the broth is so flavourful by itself that there is no need to add any more MSG - no thirsty aftertaste, customers only have praises for the sweetness of the soup. Another feature of Hoe Nam Prawn Noodles is that all of their chili powder are cooked and prepared inhouse, giving it a very different taste from those that are purchased directly from outside suppliers. Putting a little in the soup will give one a taste of another unique tantalizing flavour.
Ever since its opening, Hoe Nam Prawn Noodles has been a Media’s darling. Even foreign media from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and other countries, local newspaper reporters, TV food shows’ personnel, food bloggers (where some have since become regulars) organize group tasting trips onsite. Hoe Nam Prawn Noodles enjoys a certain reputation in Singapore’s food landscape having garnered so much eyeballs and support over the years. Awards and accolades are also aplenty and in Mr Png’s words all these are FREE Publicity, without having to fork out anything. If your offerings are good, it will “Speak” for itself.
The 1970s
Was Founded by the siblings’ father, Mr Png Kim Soon. At the very beginning, Hoe Nam used to sell mixed noodles, such as fish noodles, minced pork noodles and etc. At that time, Hoe Nam was most well-known for its dry noodles. By chance, the siblings met an old Noodles Master that has perfected his craft and gotten his guidance. He commented that they are straying away from what they are doing best – their Prawn Noodles and suggested them to specialize in just selling prawn noodles. Since then, there was no looking back, business is blooming under the management of the Png siblings.
Mr Png Aik Seng is a person gifted with great ideas and creativity with the courage and drive to see things through. After listening to the feedback of many customers (the most frequent comment: selling only one kind of prawn noodles is too monotonous), Mr Png developed a series of other kinds of Prawn noodles that matched well with ingredients such as pork ribs, pig intestines, Pig’s tails, abalone, abalone clams and so on. This innovative move is warmly welcomed by customers, elevating Hoe Nam business to a whole new level ever since its implementation.
The year 1996
For things to pan out smoothly, there must be an opportune timing, a prosperous location and the necessary talents. All three criteria were met in this year, where Hoe Nam Prawn Noodle was invited to relocate to the next street, 31 Tai Thong Crescent. This was a milestone in Hoe Nam operating history which saw it turned from a Noodle Specialty Stall into one F&B establishment that contracted a whole coffeeshop. The seating capacity increased substantially and customers can enjoy Hoe Nam delicacies more comfortably.
The year 2020
Hoe Nam, with an operating history of more than 50 years is now a household name. The operating ethos of Hoe Nam is in the hope that more people can get to enjoy authentic Hoe Nam traditional heritage-flavored Prawn noodles and to bring the brand name to even greater heights. Many people have sought out Png’s siblings to buy Hoe Nam with them at attractive prices, but they were hesitant as these prospective buyers were unable to prove how they are able to preserve Hoe Nam’s good reputation accumulated over the years and operate/manage it optimally. After several rounds of meet-up with the various departmental Heads of Micro 2000 Holding Company, Png Aik Seng praised the management of Micro 2000 and firmly believed that this talent-filled organization can definitely help bring Hoe Nam Prawn Noodles to another peak. After discussing with his two younger sisters, they contacted the company's president, Mr. Brandon Ng, to discuss the details of their partnership. The original team will still be at the flagship store, and customers don't need to worry about missing the taste they are used to. The company has a large expansion blueprint in mind. Firstly, we will open a branch at People Park Centre (from April 2020). This will be the first Hoe Nam Prawn Noodles branch in 50 years, with a targeted audience of the office crowd in the vicinity. When the staff have grown accustomed to the business model, the company is looking at expanding overseas, making Hoe Nam Prawn Noodles a Multinational Food Company, with the entrenched operating philosophy assimilated throughout all facets of operations. One thing unchanged is the never-ending craving for more people to have the opportunity to get to know and taste the uniquely distinct Hoe Nam Prawn Noodles!