Vintage cafes

Revisiting the 90s

Located on Road 29, Phuoc Long A Urban Area (Nha Trang City), the name of the cafe – "1975 Cafe" – evokes a nostalgic atmosphere. Our first impression was the large patches of greenery surrounding the cafe, creating a feeling of closeness to nature. Inside, the cafe is decorated with many items bearing the distinct mark of the 1990s. From old, brown mahogany tables and chairs, a box-shaped television, a music player, a rotary dial telephone, to a bicycle with a broken chain, a Rang Dong thermos flask, and books that have faded with time… it offers a feeling that is both familiar and novel.

Besides enjoying coffee, customers at 1975 Coffee Shop also take the opportunity to read their favorite books.

Suddenly, I felt the hustle and bustle of a tourist city slow down. Walking around the shop, I was delighted to see a Thong Nhat bicycle hanging on the wall. Looking at the bicycle, memories of school days, Tet holidays with my friends on our Phoenix and Thong Nhat bicycles, roaming through every nook and cranny collecting discarded firecrackers, going to each other's houses hoping to receive lucky money… like a slow-motion film, transported me back to my childhood.

Sitting and sipping coffee while reading a book, Ms. Kim Hue (Phuoc Long Ward, Nha Trang City) shared: "I often visit this cafe, not only because I'm addicted to the fragrant, pure roasted and ground filter coffee, but also because I like the quiet atmosphere here; every item on display evokes memories of my childhood."

Ms. Hue was delighted with the items displayed at the shop.

A collector of antiques and a nostalgic person, Mr. Lai Van Tu, owner of the 1975 Coffee Shop, said that as soon as he had the idea to open the shop, he had already formed a distinctive vintage style in his mind. When the shop was established, he painstakingly traveled everywhere to find and buy items from the 1990s to decorate the shop. From the time-worn window frames to the smallest items like the teacups with jackfruit seed designs, everything was collected by him. “During my business trips outside the province, I always tried to find and buy old items, sometimes a sewing machine, a music player, a water bottle, a black and white television, even a flower vase… I want to give customers a complete feeling of familiarity and warmth, like returning to their old home when they come to the shop,” Mr. Tu shared.

Sipping coffee in a 100-year-old house.

In stark contrast to the bustling atmosphere of Dam Market, Dam Cafe (Xuong Huan Street, Nha Trang) offers a tranquil and rustic feel. Dam Cafe is actually a small house, and despite being 100 years old, its structure remains unchanged, retaining the traditional three-compartment Vietnamese architecture. Many visitors see glimpses of their own old homes in the time-worn wooden tables and chairs; the earthenware teacups, saucers, and plates; and the old television with its antenna. These vintage items are arranged subtly, vividly depicting a bygone era. "Enjoying coffee in this 100-year-old house always gives me a unique feeling, unlike anywhere else," shared Mr. Le Thanh, a regular customer.

Dam Cafe is actually a 100-year-old traditional house.

Outside, people and vehicles rush back and forth, busy with life. But when you need a favorite little corner to be quiet, to reminisce about the old days, you seek out those nostalgic cafes. Stepping inside, time seems to be forgotten, frozen by the dim yellow lights, by the songs and melodies playing from an old cassette player...