Sidewalk coffee stalls open until dawn: How can they remain a 'quintessential Saigon meeting place'?

Many young people gathered in front of Notre Dame Cathedral, drinking coffee on the sidewalk until 2-3 am – Photo: THANH HIEP

Sidewalk coffee stalls offer a peaceful space after a tiring day.

Street-side coffee stalls at night have become a notable phenomenon in the nightlife of young people in Ho Chi Minh City.

This is a very popular form of gathering, especially late at night when the city is peaceful and quiet. No fancy space is needed, no tables or chairs; just a corner of the sidewalk, a tarp, or a few small chairs, and a simple sidewalk coffee session is set up.

Many young people believe that sitting at a sidewalk cafe is a way to enjoy a simple life that has long been overlooked. Lan Anh (22 years old) shared: “I like the comfortable space and the feeling of freedom when sitting at a sidewalk cafe. This is when we can relieve all our worries after a stressful and hectic day.”

Meanwhile, My An (living in Binh Thanh district) finds that when the city enters the late hours, everything becomes quieter and less noisy, making sidewalk cafes the ideal meeting place for her and her friends to comfortably share stories and ideas, or simply sit in silence together and watch the streetlights.

This is something that not every space can offer.

Vy (in the white shirt) and her best friend sat at a sidewalk cafe in front of Notre Dame Cathedral to relax at midnight – Photo: THANH HIEP

Is it possible to create a more civilized and safer model of sidewalk cafes for young people?

Although drinking coffee at sidewalk cafes at night offers comfort and freedom, not everyone has a positive view of this activity.

Some young people frankly expressed concerns about security, environmental hygiene, and long-term impacts on health and urban order.

Nhat Lam (residing in Phu Nhuan district) shared: “I was once pickpocketed while having coffee at a sidewalk cafe with friends. The crowd and chaotic atmosphere made it impossible for me to react in time. After that incident, I've limited my participation in those sidewalk cafe gatherings at night, even though I really enjoy the atmosphere.”

Currently, most sidewalk cafes are spontaneously established. Young people share information about the most popular spots to experience. Faced with these challenges, many young people have proposed practical solutions.

Hoai Lam (a resident of District 8) suggested: "The city should plan designated areas for sidewalk cafes with better infrastructure, as well as ensuring food safety and hygiene management."

Tam (a student at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture) suggested strengthening education on public hygiene awareness: "We could organize gatherings or create minimalist murals on this theme."

If the suggestions from young people – both customers and the government – ​​are appreciated and effectively implemented, the nighttime sidewalk cafe scene in Ho Chi Minh City will develop even more sustainably.

This not only contributes to preserving the cultural beauty of the city, but also helps Ho Chi Minh City become a unique destination in the eyes of international tourists.

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Late-night coffee in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City – Author: Group of students from Nguyen Tat Thanh University

Images of young people drinking coffee on the sidewalk at night in Ho Chi Minh City.

A large crowd of people enjoying coffee on the sidewalk in front of Hoa Binh Primary School (District 1) at 11 PM – Photo: THANH HIEP

The area in front of the City Post Office was equally bustling, with long lines of people spreading out mats to sit, drink water, and enjoy the view with friends – Photo: THANH HIEP

A corner of 30-4 Park (District 1) is also a peaceful spot for young people to sit and drink coffee on the ground at 1 AM – Photo: THANH HIEP

The sidewalk cafe area in front of Notre Dame Cathedral offers a variety of drinks and snacks for young people to choose from. Items are priced from 20,000 VND upwards – Photo: THANH HIEP

Lam's group of friends (in gray shirts) took a photo using the x0.5 camera zoom to capture the atmosphere of the sidewalk cafe in front of Hoa Binh Primary School (District 1) – Photo: THANH HIEP

Many couples also choose sidewalk cafes as a dating activity – Photo: THANH HIEP

Numerous street vendors have sprung up selling snacks – Photo: THANH HIEP

Drinks were brought out continuously as the number of customers coming to drink coffee on the sidewalk increased as the night progressed – Photo: THANH HIEP

Many people don't clean up after eating, leaving their dishes scattered right where they were sitting – Photo: THANH HIEP

Many young people complain that numerous children approach customers drinking coffee on the sidewalk, performing "fire-breathing" acts to beg for money. Notably, these children perform their acts very close to customers sitting and drinking, as well as very close to customers' motorbikes parked on the roadside. This poses a safety hazard and could easily lead to unfortunate fires or explosions. – Photo: THANH HIỆP

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ca-phe-bet-toi-sang-lam-sao-giu-duoc-la-diem-hen-chatsai-gon-20241220024021381.htm