Da Lat's off-road milestone for coffee lovers

By Phong Vinh June 6, 2016 | 04:29 am PT

Once upon a time, Da Lat stole the heart of one Hanoian. Since then, this highland city has kept him under its bitter-sweet spell called coffee.

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Phong Coffee sits on the slope of Tran Nhan Tong Street, with its Vietnamese name painted on a life-size milestone. On the other side is written "0 kilometer", boldly implying this is the start of Da Lat, despite the cafe's recent appearance.

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All the colorful furniture was hand-selected by the Hanoian owner, who once shared that: “I don’t know what brought me to Da Lat, but the first time I was here, I knew that I would stay with it.”

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A corner filled with half-assembled motorbikes and guitars, a vehicle and an instrument that are no strangers to backpackers.

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Hovering bikes help keep the nostalgia of the mountainous city afloat.

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A colorful bar suggests a diverse menu.

Quán cà phê bụi bặm cho dân phượt ở Đà Lạt

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The walls are a graphic diary of the owner where every memory of places he has visited finds itself between bookshelves.

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Customers here are mostly regulars who love the vibe, but young travelers attracted by the local scene also stop by to check it out.

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This stage has heard many voices during live shows.

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Old-school cameras have also found a home in Phong Coffee, unofficially turning the cafe into a hub for photographers.

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The farther you travel south, the more popular white iced coffee (‘ca phe sua da’) becomes.

Quán cà phê bụi bặm cho dân phượt ở Đà Lạt