Foreign tourists give Hanoi shop owner 500,000 VND as a 'deposit' to drink matcha.

Western tourists drink with staff at a matcha shop in Hanoi before their departure. On their last night in Hanoi, tourist Peter brought a bottle of whiskey to a matcha shop and invited everyone to drink together.

In late November, Peter, a Polish tourist on a round- the-world trip, repeatedly visited a small matcha shop on Quan Thanh Street (Ba Dinh Ward, Hanoi).

The owner, Phuong Thao, said that Peter was introduced to the restaurant by a friend in the group named Daro. Daro found the restaurant through Google Maps and had visited several times before.

During his time in Hanoi, Peter drank 4-5 cups of matcha every day. One day, he gave the shop owner 500,000 VND upfront and said, "Just take it, you can deduct it from my drinks today."

A Western customer gave the shop owner 500,000 VND as a "deposit" to drink matcha gradually.

In just a few days, the male customer practically "cleaned out" the cafe's menu, from traditional matcha drinks to specialty beverages like matcha beer. On his last day, Peter even changed hotels to one closer to the cafe for convenience, less than a two-minute walk away.

"Sometimes he would come to the shop wearing a red shirt, and less than half an hour later he would come back wearing a different shirt," Thao told Tri Thuc - Znews.

Many people were concerned that the foreign customer drinking too much matcha might be bad for his health, and the owner reminded him, but Peter just laughed and said, "This is the first time in my life I've ever tasted matcha this good, so let it be."

He even joked that he'd read online that drinking too much matcha can cause hair loss, then pointed to his bald head and said, "Look at my hair!", which made everyone laugh.

This shop specializes in matcha, including some unique products like matcha beer.

On their last night in Hanoi, Peter brought a bottle of whiskey to the bar and invited everyone to join him for a drink. Upon learning that the owner, Phuong Thao, had left early, he expressed regret and offered to arrange a ride for her to return. However, she politely declined, saying she was tired and decided to have a drink online instead.

At 11:30 PM, Peter was still chatting, inviting everyone to go for another drink. The next morning, he left for the airport at 6 AM, continuing his journey to Taipei (Taiwan, China), then to Manila (Philippines), Bali (Indonesia), and Laos, but still feeling nostalgic for Vietnam. Before leaving, he gave the bar a bottle of whiskey and said, "Remember me when you have a drink."

"As the owner, I often meet lovely customers, each with their own story. I'm very happy when customers enjoy the drinks and are excited to share their travel adventures around the world," Thao said.

The cafe serves coffee, fruit juices, and specializes in matcha and high-grade matcha blends. The space is small and cozy, a place where Thảo and her staff "remember each customer" who visits.

She said the shop is small but always tries to make customers feel comfortable. Many customers, after becoming familiar with her, even send money in advance "to cover the days when the shop is quiet."

Matcha drinks are served at Phuong Thao's cafe.

2025 is expected to see a matcha craze in Vietnam. This is a finely ground green tea powder made from finely ground Tencha green tea leaves, originating from Japan.

Matcha has been on the market for a long time and is no longer unfamiliar to many consumers. However, since the beginning of last year, the trend of drinking and consuming matcha-flavored foods has taken off and created a strong wave worldwide.

In Vietnam, from January 2024 to June 2025, according to data from the smart data platform Metric.vn, the growth rate of matcha products, including beverages, snacks, and baked goods, was "dramatic".

Source: https://znews.vn/khach-tay-gui-chu-quan-ha-noi-500000-dong-ky-quy-uong-matcha-post1610320.html