In a small house located in an old apartment building on Tran Hung Dao Street ( Hanoi ), more than a dozen young people gather around the kitchen, cooking together and sharing life stories.
None of them knew each other before coming here. But the bond formed gently, naturally, without the need for formal introductions.
The owner of the house - Di Tran (born in 1997) - calls this place "his living room". He does not consider this a business model, but simply a shared living space - where anyone can come, do what they like and connect with strangers in the most intimate way.
Where strangers cook, dance and chat until morning ( Video : Le Phuong Anh).
Where every connection begins... in the kitchen
This private space for organizing activities with strangers is called The Airy Space, and is attracting thousands of people's interest and love on social networks.
The idea for this space was born in 2020 - a time when the pandemic made people more distant from each other than ever. Di Tran realized that living alone in the vast Hanoi can sometimes be very lonely and there are other young people who feel the same way.
"This place is simply... a house with its door always open every weekend, where strangers meet, spend a few hours together without having to force themselves to get to know each other.
I live alone in a beautiful house but it is always empty. So I want to turn it into a real living space - a place with warmth, laughter, the smell of food and music .
So I started inviting friends over to cook and watch movies. From then on, my new friends invited others to come over," said Di Tran.
At the end of 2023, after many experiments, Di Tran and a few friends officially expanded the space, named each event, divided the work, and at the same time maintained the "non-commercial" spirit.
No loud advertising, no signs, customers here are mainly young Vietnamese or international guests introduced by friends.
"I'm especially happy to see foreign visitors come and come back. Perhaps, they find here something very ordinary, very Vietnamese without being ostentatious," said Di Tran.
He also shared that here, no one is forced to introduce themselves or participate in activities. All connections start naturally by cooking together. The kitchen is a catalyst, where conversations originate from simple actions such as picking vegetables, peeling carrots or mixing dipping sauce.
From there, each story is gradually revealed, some people have just quit their jobs, some are traveling alone in Vietnam, some are afraid of loneliness but shy away from crowds...
After the meal, each person can choose to stay: Play chess, draw, dance, talk, or simply sit quietly and listen to others tell stories.
The space here is only open on weekends, each event has its own color: Morning coffee with live music, family-inspired painting workshop. In the evening, everyone can cook banh goi together, small dance parties...
Some sessions last until 5 or 6 a.m., but no one complains. Customers often come alone and leave with a few stories, sometimes with new friends.
Fees per session range from 120,000-150,000 VND, including food, drinks and items (if any).
"This is a fee just to maintain operations, not to make a profit. We just want this place to continue to exist," Di Tran said.
Cooking sessions are typically limited to about 12 participants, not including the host. In total, the space will accommodate about 15 people per session.
This number is not random. According to Di Tran, the number 12 is just enough to create a small but diverse group, intimate enough for everyone to chat, interact and share without feeling lost.
His kitchen space is only large enough for that many people to prepare food without bumping into each other.
Moreover, this is not a “cooking class” or a large-scale public event. Each cooking session is more like an intimate gathering, where participants “take off their shells” and enter the kitchen like long-lost friends. Too many people will kill that spirit.
For other activities such as watching movies or performing music, the number can be up to 30-35 people. But for meals, where listening and sharing are more important, 12 people is still the ideal number.
One of the new favorite events at this space is coffee with strangers - an activity that usually takes place on Sunday mornings.
Unlike a typical coffee session, guests are encouraged to bring their own coffee beans, be it a gift, a souvenir or a favorite flavor, to brew and tell stories together.
The host will prepare a light breakfast, tea, water and a rustic music corner with live musicians from 10am to 12pm. The event lasts about 4 hours, with a fee of 100,000-150,000 VND/person, including all the above services.
Here, coffee is not for "turning on the computer to work" or "checking in at the weekend", but as an excuse for people to sit together, without rushing or making noise.
Each coffee bean has a story of its own, from the grower, the brewer, and the teller. Soft music plays, conversations replace orders, and phones are put away.
"I don't call this a coffee shop, I call it an opportunity to be present together with full attention and emotion," said Di Tran.
Open the door to strangers but still have your own worries
With small spaces but full of intimate meetings, this place has become a favorite destination for many young people. They find peace in every quiet morning or vibrant evening, where there are strangers around but still feel familiar.
As a young couple, Hoa and Julian (French, living in Hanoi) often come to this space together. They learned about the place through social media and friends and gradually became regular customers.
Hoa shared that she especially loves the quiet morning hours, where she can read books and enjoy personal time.
Julian is the opposite. He enjoys the evening atmosphere, where people come together to do activities like cooking, watching movies, and playing games.
Julian and Hoa said they both clearly felt the friendliness and openness in the way the space was organized. Even though many people came for the first time, they still easily blended into the general atmosphere, as if they were in a familiar place.
"Even when surrounded by strangers, I still don't feel distant and can easily chat," Hoa shared.
Hoa and Julian often come to this space together. The couple's favorite activities are cooking and watching movies with strangers (Photo: Le Phuong Anh).
Ha (born in 2003) learned about this space through a suggestion on Instagram. She decided to follow the activities of this space and this is her third time coming.
Although she mostly comes in the morning, Ha often comes alone and brings a sketchbook or book to enjoy personal time, such as reading or drawing. Although she has not participated in communal activities such as cooking or watching movies, Ha still considers this space a relaxing and pleasant place.
"It all makes me feel at home, but it's a home where people listen to each other's confidences, instead of withdrawing into themselves," Ha said.
Many times, people who come here intend to stay for only a few hours and then stay until morning. They laugh, cry, share personal stories, and then silently thank the host when they leave. Some come back many times, some come only once and then disappear. But all leave behind a part of their memories in that living room.
"Many people say this is therapy - a type of therapy using space and people. I don't dare to accept that. I just hope that when leaving, everyone feels a little lighter," Di Tran expressed.
However, behind the meetings, host Di Tran also has concerns about keeping private space while still wanting to share with the community.
Di Tran said that although he loves meeting people, he still has to find a balance between welcoming strangers and the need to protect his personal space.
He admitted that the hardest thing is creating a fun, positive atmosphere when being the host of a program while tired, having to connect people even though he has no energy left.
"In the past, I worked alone and it was very hard. Now I have a few more friends to help me so it's easier, but I'm not always in the mood to talk to people," Di Tran said.
Opening her home to strangers also brings privacy concerns. Di Tran has turned down offers to open her home more often to maintain a balance in her life.
"Opening only 1-2 times a week is enough. I still need my own space," he said.
Without the ambition to become a famous brand or check-in spot, Di Tran just hopes that her "living room" will continue to be a place where strangers come to connect with simple things: cooking, drinking coffee, telling life stories, and feeling a little lighter after each meeting.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/khong-gian-doc-dao-noi-nguoi-la-nau-an-khieu-vu-va-tro-chuyen-den-sang-20250508090339733.htm
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