Hanoi: Cafe owner spends 1.4 billion VND to open a coffee shop, buys 3 tons of used books.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Located in an old apartment complex in Hanoi, a cafe has attracted attention by knocking down walls to create windows, maintaining a rustic atmosphere, and housing approximately 3 tons of old books, with a total construction cost of nearly 1.4 billion VND.

By knocking down a wall to make a window, passersby mistakenly think the shop is still under renovation.

The cafe attracts attention with its rustic design, brick walls, and exposed ceiling, causing many passersby to stop and observe (Photo: Nguyen Ha Nam ).

Located in an old apartment complex on Tran Huy Lieu Street ( Hanoi ), Tu Sach Coffee stands out with its completely different appearance compared to many modern cafes. From the outside, the rustic look of the space leads many passersby to mistakenly believe that it is still under renovation.

The brick walls are left intact, the ceiling's structure is exposed, and the technical pipes run on the surface, creating a somewhat old and unsightly feel.

Inside, old-fashioned ceiling fans rotate slowly, the yellow lighting fixtures are treated to look antique, and combined with vintage-style furnishings, the overall space evokes the atmosphere of Hanoi's communal housing from decades ago.

The ceiling fans, lights, and steel frames, all with a rusty finish, were treated by the owner in a faux-old style, reminiscent of old Hanoi apartment buildings (Photo: Nguyen Ha Nam).

Speaking to a reporter from Dan Tri newspaper , the owner of the cafe, Thu Hien (born in 1993), said that preserving the raw, rustic surface of the building was intentional, aiming to respect the original architecture of the apartment complex and create a suitable environment for reading and working.

She proactively knocked down some walls and opened up more large windows facing outwards to increase natural light, even though this made the space look unfinished.

According to Thu Hien, that "unfinished" feeling is what she wants to preserve, as a way to recreate the slow pace of life and memories of old apartment complexes. Even items like light fixtures and ceiling fans, though purchased new, are personally refurbished and repainted in an antique style to create a sense of uniformity with the overall design, rather than giving a new and modern feel.

Approximately 3 tons of used books are stacked on shelves from the first to the second floor, creating a reading space and becoming a visual highlight of the cafe (Photo: Nguyen Ha Nam).

The cafe minimizes elaborate decorative details, prioritizing natural light through a system of large windows. Within this space, approximately 3 tons of used books are displayed on a system of shelves extending across two floors, becoming the cafe's biggest highlight.

All of these books were personally purchased and collected by the owner over several months, transported in three batches, and used to decorate the space and for customers to read on-site. The titles are quite diverse, including literature, history, self-help books, and children's books. Before being put into use, the books are sorted and cleaned to ensure that customers can read them directly at the cafe.

According to the owner, the cost of purchasing used books was approximately 100 million VND. In addition, to ensure safety and support the large volume of books, the shop invested in a system of wooden bookshelves with metal frames, costing around 80 million VND. Considering only the books and shelves, the total cost reached nearly 200 million VND.

Driven by her love of books, Thu Hien, the owner of the cafe, decided to open a space that combines a cafe with a reading area, featuring tons of old books collected over many months (Photo: Nguyen Ha Nam).

According to Thu Hien, the total investment for the cafe amounted to over 1.4 billion VND, including the cost of acquiring the premises, purchasing books, renovating the space, and investing in brewing equipment.

Of that amount, the lease transfer fee alone was approximately 400 million VND. After taking over, the owner demolished most of the old structure to renovate, focusing on the electrical and plumbing systems, lighting, and structural reinforcement.

Nụ (born in 2004) said she decided to visit out of curiosity. Regarding her experience, Nụ commented that the reading area was quite quiet, suitable for sitting for a long time.

However, according to her, the yellow lighting system makes some reading areas a bit too dark. "I understand this is intentional on the part of the cafe, but if the work area on the second floor had white lights, it would be more convenient for reading," Nụ suggested.

On her first visit to the cafe, Nụ (born in 2004) commented that the space was beautiful and quiet, but suggested that the reading area would be more convenient with more table lamps (Photo: Nguyễn Hà Nam).

In fact, opening many large windows to let in light also created unforeseen problems. Because it's located in an old apartment complex, the open space made the cafe a target for some intruders who climbed in through the windows. Recently, a theft occurred, forcing the owner to reinforce the window system and invest in additional cameras and security equipment to ensure the safety of customers and property.

The restaurant welcomes hundreds of customers every day.

While the rustic architecture makes a strong first impression, the use of fresh sugarcane juice as the primary sweetener is what catches many people's attention when they look at the menu.

Instead of refined sugar or industrial syrups, the shop chooses to combine fresh sugarcane juice with fruit juice and wild honey to create a natural sweetness for the drinks.

The drinks at the shop use fresh sugarcane juice as a sweetener, with prices ranging from 32,000 to 60,000 VND per glass (Photo: Nguyen Ha Nam).

According to the owner, the sugarcane used as an ingredient is seasonal, so the sweetness is inconsistent, forcing the barista to adjust it frequently, which can cause variations in the taste of the drinks from day to day. In reality, the shop receives around 200 customers daily, with quite diverse reviews regarding the taste of the drinks.

Ms. Hien Anh (born in 1990), a frequent visitor to this area, said her initial impression came from the open space, with its classic and rustic feel. According to her, the cafe feels comfortable and is worth returning to. "The drinks here suit my taste; they're not outstanding, but they're easy to drink," Hien Anh said.

Ms. Hien Anh (on the left, born in 1990) commented that the cafe has an open space, leaning towards an old-fashioned style; the drinks are decent, with prices ranging from 32,000 to 60,000 VND per cup, which she considers reasonable (Photo: Nguyen Ha Nam).

Regarding the taste, Ms. Hien Anh said she prefers drinks with a fresh fruit flavor; she considers the price range of 32,000-60,000 VND per cup to be reasonable.

Ms. Thanh Mai (born in 1982), who regularly visits the cafe about twice a week for work, said that the main reason she returns is because of the atmosphere.

"The space on the second floor is quite suitable for working; it's quiet, the desks and chairs are good, and the Wi-Fi is decent, making it comfortable to sit for long periods. However, the desks and chairs are placed quite close together, which can sometimes disturb those who truly need peace and quiet," she said.

Ms. Thanh Mai (born in 1982) said she frequently visits the cafe to work because of its quiet atmosphere, which creates a comfortable feeling (Photo: Nguyen Ha Nam).

Commenting on the drinks, Ms. Thanh Mai said the flavor was a bit bland compared to her personal taste. However, according to her, considering the price and location in the old apartment complex, the experience at the cafe was still acceptable.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/ha-noi-chu-quan-chi-14-ty-dong-mo-tiem-ca-phe-mua-3-tan-sach-cu-20260208232041861.htm