Hanoi coffee shop hides away inside 104-year-old house

By Tung Dinh   October 31, 2022 | 06:08 pm PT
Tucked in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter is a café created from a 104-year-old house with a touch of Chinese architecture and a nostalgic atmosphere.
Hanoi coffee shop hides away inside 104-year-old house

Dao Bich Loan, 60, owner of the café, which is on Hang Gai Street in Hoan Kiem District, says her family opened the café in 1998.

"At that time our friends needed a space to relax and hang out, and so encouraged us to open a coffee shop. We came up with the idea of transforming our ancient house into a café."

Hanoi coffee shop hides away inside 104-year-old house

The house built in 1918 has distinctive Chinese features such as calligraphy wall hangings and parallel sentences.

"My husband is the fifth generation to live here. After more than 100 years the house's architecture remains intact."

Hanoi coffee shop hides away inside 104-year-old house

A corner of a room with ancient flower vases and Buddhist statues.

Hanoi coffee shop hides away inside 104-year-old house

Le Phan Nhu Quynh (L) of HCMC says: "This is the first time I am visiting the café. When I step in, I feel a tranquility and ancient ambience that is hard to find elsewhere."

Hanoi coffee shop hides away inside 104-year-old house

A large yard with trees is used as a parking lot.

The house has three floors.

The first and second are used by Loan's family and the third is for customers.

There is also a rooftop overlooking the Sword Lake with its Turtle Tower, iconic symbols of the 1,000-year-old capital.

Hanoi coffee shop hides away inside 104-year-old house

The café is decorated with lanterns that are reminiscent of Hoi An town in central Vietnam.

Hanoi coffee shop hides away inside 104-year-old house

The greenery in the house makes it an ideal destination during summer.

Hanoi coffee shop hides away inside 104-year-old house

The rooftop allows guests to admire the Sword Lake and its surrounds.

Hanoi coffee shop hides away inside 104-year-old house

In addition to egg coffee, the café also serves black and milk coffees, fresh milk and fruit juices at VND35,000-50,000.

It is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

 
 
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