Nostalgic oases in the heart of modern Hanoi

(CLO) In recent years, Hanoi has witnessed a wave of nostalgic coffee shops blooming, like “oases” in the heart of the modern city. Behind these spaces are not only the sounds of old music, old wooden chairs or warm yellow lights, but also the story of a Hanoi trying to hold on to past values amidst an increasingly hectic pace of life.

Lost souls searching for memories

Hanoi is developing rapidly with skyscrapers and a fast pace of life. The city is becoming more and more modern with technology dominating everyone’s life. In this context, many people feel caught up in the cycle of change, leading to a feeling of loss and disconnection from spiritual values.

Therefore, nostalgic coffee shops, with quiet and romantic spaces, have become meeting places for those who wish to find peaceful moments, reminiscing about a long-gone Hanoi.

The coffee shop space evokes old memories

“Sometimes I just want to sit in a quiet place, without too many sounds of modern life,” said Minh Phuong, a regular customer of Cuoi Ngo coffee shop. “Coming here, I feel like I’m back in my childhood, when everything was slower and gentler than it is now.”

Nostalgic cafes like Cuoi Ngo, Nha San or Cong Ca Phe are not simply places to sell drinks. They are spaces where the past and present meet, where people find old memories and values in the modern world .

One of the factors that make nostalgic cafes successful is the meticulous investment in space and interior. Entering these cafes, people are easily attracted by old wooden tables and chairs, oil lamps, vinyl records or black and white photos on the wall. Each item evokes a story, a part of the memory of Hanoi in the past.

At Cong Ca Phe, for example, from the arrangement of tables and chairs to small details like the old radio or the subsidy-era poster, each carries its own story. “I want customers to come here not only to drink coffee but also to feel a different period of Hanoi, the subsidy period, with familiar images like bicycles, conical hats and old books,” shared Ms. Linh, the shop manager.

Cong cafe - a meeting place for those who want to find peaceful moments, reminiscing about a long-gone Hanoi.

Decorative items are not simply random selections. They are cleverly placed to evoke memories and create a truly nostalgic atmosphere.

At Cuoi Ngo, a coffee shop located deep in a small alley on Vu Thanh Street, one can easily feel the soul of old Hanoi through every small detail. Mossy brick walls, rustic tables and chairs, and warm yellow lights make anyone feel like they are entering a completely different space from the hustle and bustle of the city outside.

Interestingly, the target customers of nostalgic cafes are not only the elderly, but also a large number of young people. This makes many people wonder: Why are young people, who were born and raised in the modern world, attracted to a space of the past that they have never experienced?

Old objects such as guitars, masks, old paintings at the shop.

Analysis from psychological experts shows that today's young generation faces great pressure from work, study and modern life. In that context, they tend to seek quiet, nostalgic spaces to relieve stress and regain balance in their souls. Nostalgic coffee shops are the place to meet that need.

Ngoc Quynh, a student at the National University, often comes to Nha San to study. “The space here helps me concentrate better. It makes me feel like I am slowing down, away from my phone, computer and daily pressures,” Quynh shared.

Preserving an old Hanoi

Each coffee shop is not just a place to enjoy drinks but also a “living museum” of Hanoi, a place to preserve the soul of a bygone era. At Cuoi Ngo, Mr. Khai, the shop owner, did not hesitate to share that the shop was born not only for business needs but also for a noble mission - to preserve images and memories of Hanoi during the subsidy period.

“To me, the shop is like a time capsule, where every item is a witness to stories and memories of a Hanoi long gone. Customers come here not only to drink coffee, but also to relive the old memories of the nation,” Mr. Khai confided.

Through old wooden tables, flickering oil lamps and black and white photos, this cafe becomes a warm space where people can slow down and temporarily put aside the hustle and bustle of life.

Old objects seem to revive a bygone era.

Not only Mr. Khai, but other shop owners also share the same ideal. At Cong Ca Phe, the founder has skillfully combined business elements with preserving cultural values.

“We want to bring customers the feeling of returning to their childhood. Each item in the shop is not only a decoration but also carries stories of Hanoi, memories that have faded over time,” Dung confided. The rattan chairs, hand-painted murals and old books are like a bridge between the present and the past.

The space of nostalgic coffee shops is an interesting intersection between two worlds: the past and the present. Inside the shop, customers can easily feel the quiet, nostalgic atmosphere. Outside is the hustle and bustle of modern life. It is this contrast that creates a unique attraction for these coffee shops, where everyone can find a moment of peace amidst the hustle and bustle.

From a cultural perspective, nostalgic cafes are not simply spaces for enjoying drinks, but also a form of “living cultural heritage”. They contribute to preserving and recreating the spiritual values of a bygone era, thereby helping city dwellers maintain a connection with their history and culture.

Inside the shop, customers can easily feel the quiet, nostalgic atmosphere.

These coffee shops not only preserve the old Hanoi but also evoke nostalgia in each person's heart, so that those memories will never fade in the minds of future generations.

Nostalgic cafes are increasingly developing and becoming a popular trend. In the context of Hanoi's increasing modernization, nostalgic cafes have been contributing to the preservation of cultural values, preserving memories and stories of Hanoi in the past.

As a form of “return”, they are not only spaces for the elderly but also places where young people find peace in a busy life.

Thanh Thao

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nhung-oc-dao-hoai-niem-giua-long-ha-noi-hien-dai-post316146.html