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| Morning coffee, a cultural feature of My Tho people. |
People in My Tho have a habit of drinking “sidewalk” coffee early in the morning. No need for a big shop, just a shady street corner, a few low chairs, a small table and a cup of filter coffee is enough to start a new day. In My Tho, there is no shortage of streets with the flavor of coffee like that: Yersin, Le Loi, Le Thi Hong Gam… each place has its own space but all share the same simple, familiar features. The coffee shops here do not have noisy signs, do not need eye-catching designs, but what “keeps” customers is the intimate space and the very characteristic slowness.
Mornings on those coffee streets are always filled with greetings, light laughter and the aroma of coffee wafting in the wind. People coming to the shop are not in a hurry, some sit alone watching the traffic flow, some groups of friends chat animatedly, telling a few stories of everyday life. Coffee is poured into small glasses, black and shimmering or with a little milk for a richer taste.
The sellers know their customers by face, they make coffee without asking, just by looking they know “old cup, less sugar” or “black with sweet ice”. Amidst the changes of the streets, those roadside coffee shops are still the place to keep a little silence, a little connection and the very ordinary love of My Tho people.
Ms. Nga, the owner of a coffee shop for over 20 years on Le Thi Hong Gam Street, quickly poured boiling water into the filter and said: “Coffee is just coffee, but the main thing is to sit and enjoy it. Regular customers don’t need to order, you can tell what their taste is by looking at their appearance. Here, people drink coffee not to be full, but to be alert, to sit together and talk to each other.”
Over time, the image of coffee shops is no longer limited to simple spaces for drinking water and chatting on the “sidewalk”. Coffee spaces have also undergone clear changes to better suit the diverse needs of customers. In My Tho, chess cafes are also gradually becoming an indispensable part of the daily life of local people.
These shops are not only places to enjoy delicious coffee, but also spaces to exchange, learn and practice intelligence through each game of chess. The space of the shop is often designed simply and airy, creating favorable conditions for players to concentrate, compete and enjoy the intimate, close atmosphere.
In addition, the book cafe model, although only appearing for a few years, has quickly become a favorite destination for students. At Dai Viet Book Store & Coffee (Ward 1, My Tho City), young people are not only attracted by the airy, quiet space but also by the rich book collection with about 1,000 diverse books on culture, society, economics , science, technology and life skills, meeting the needs and interests of each person. It is the subtle combination of coffee and books that has created a unique cultural space, refreshing the traditional coffee experience in an intellectual and creative direction.
Nguyen Thi Lan Huong, resident of Ward 4, My Tho City, shared that coffee shops can completely flexibly innovate to suit the increasing needs of customers, from maintaining hygiene, improving service attitude to creating a more airy and comfortable space.
However, the important thing is to still maintain the rustic, familiar spirit that makes up the identity of My Tho morning coffee. There is no need to be too sophisticated in design or invest heavily, sometimes just a small table on the sidewalk, a cup of filter coffee to your taste and a familiar smile is enough to keep people coming back, enough for the coffee culture here to continue to live in the middle of the modern city.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, a simple cup of coffee is still where people find moments of peace. Preserving the morning coffee culture is also preserving the soul of the beloved My Tho street every day.
PHUONG THUY
Source: https://baoapbac.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/202506/buoi-sang-nhe-nhang-cung-ca-phe-my-tho-1044830/
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