What did the owner of the 'coffee shop' in Ho Chi Minh City say?

Innovative business model

On the cafe's TikTok account, most of the videos posted emphasize the rule "no children under 12 years old and no noisy customers allowed." Two of these videos explain the reason for this rule. Comments on those two videos show two opposing viewpoints. Some comments express support, such as: "I support this cafe, we need more cafes like this to feel relaxed," "I really like cafes like this," "I like cafes like this. Going to a cafe to relax, but sometimes it feels like I've accidentally walked into a daycare center."

Conversely, there were comments expressing disapproval such as: "Quietness is needed, but why do people act so strangely in a coffee shop?", "Why do you need quiet in a coffee shop? It's better to stay home," and another account wondered, "So, you're not allowed to talk at a coffee shop at all?".

Mr. Luan Phi - owner of the "private place" cafe.

Located in a small alley in Tan Binh District, the cafe, though not very large, has a spacious layout with classic decor featuring predominantly brown wood tones. It offers two areas: an indoor space for studying or working, and an outdoor area for customers who want to eat, drink, or smoke, with a capacity of approximately 20 people.

Luân Phi (26 years old, Ho Chi Minh City), owner of the "Chốn Riêng" (Private Place) cafe, said, "It's not really a cafe; my place should be called a 'service' establishment. People come here and pay to 'buy' the space. The cafe guarantees a very quiet and peaceful atmosphere because we don't serve children under 12 or noisy customers."

The massive bookshelf is being built with contributions from more and more regular customers of the cafe.

Customers pay 25,000 VND to sit at the cafe for 4 hours, with no limit on the number of purchases. For that price, customers can use all the cafe's amenities including Wi-Fi, air conditioning, tables and chairs, lighting, and drinks. Customers will prepare their own drinks and pay extra if they want snacks or instant noodles.

According to social media posts, the cafe doesn't accept children because they want a truly quiet and peaceful place: "We know there are some very well-behaved children, very well-raised, and not noisy..." but Mr. Phi added: besides fearing noise, he also fears that mischievous and hyperactive children might damage the decorations in the cafe. Every item in the cafe has been meticulously selected by him, some are unique, so he cherishes them very much.

25,000 VND/4 hours includes a self-service drink.

"Of course, people can still chat and have small conversations with each other. Occasionally, there will be noisy customers, and the staff will come and remind them to be quiet. Mostly, it's because people can't control the volume when talking and don't realize they're making noise, but the majority of customers are very considerate," Phi said.

The restaurant serves approximately 80-100 customers a day, from 9 AM to 10 PM. Despite seemingly strict regulations, the restaurant is always fully booked. Customers are welcome to bring their own food and drinks, and eat outdoors to avoid odors spreading from the air-conditioned room.

What did customers say about the restaurant's rules?

25,000 VND/4 hours includes a self-service drink.

"The cafe is nice, suitable for those who don't like noise. The policy of not serving children under 12 and noisy customers is quite reasonable because the cafe's style focuses on tranquility. I think customers will understand this rule," said Ms. D.YN (27 years old, Ho Chi Minh City), a customer who has visited the cafe.

The meticulous arrangement creates an extremely ideal learning and working space.

According to Pham Thi Ngoc Nhi (21 years old, Ho Chi Minh City), she thinks the cafe's regulations will receive mixed opinions because they reflect a division of customers. However, she also finds it very annoying when studying at a cafe and there are crying children or loud conversations at the next table. "To put it bluntly, many people lack awareness. So the cafe's regulations are understandable. Especially children who often cry, run around, etc., which will affect those around them."

Ms. Bich Tuyen (32 years old) also expressed her agreement: "When I watched the video about the regulations that the cafe posted, I felt it was very reasonable. Even without regulations, there are cafes for office workers and students, and if I bring my child in and he makes noise, I would feel very embarrassed in front of the other people. When I go alone, I like to go to quiet cafes like that, but when I go with my child, I will take him to cafes with play areas or dedicated areas for children."

Luân Phi said that if any customers questioned the rules, he would explain: "We know that every other cafe out there is as relaxed as this, but please allow us to be a little selfish so that we can always be a very private place for those who need peace, relaxation, and to work." He said that in the near future, he will put up a notice board at the entrance of the cafe so that customers understand these rules clearly.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/khong-nhan-khach-on-ao-tre-duoi-12-tuoi-chu-quan-ca-phe-o-tphcm-noi-gi-185230928211353747.htm