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."
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."
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."
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.
