From the outside, the Tra Nha Co tea shop located at 23 Chau Long Street (Ba Dinh, Hanoi ) impresses with its unique appearance compared to the surrounding houses. The mossy tiled roof, old wooden doors and dim lighting evoke the image of an ancient house.
The unique appearance of the shop makes many passersby curious and want to stop and explore .
Stepping inside, guests are surprised by images that can only be found in old Vietnamese villages such as: wood stove, water ladle neatly hung on the wall built with rustic red bricks,...
The space in the shop is like a film rewinding to the past, where the red-hot stove lies quietly in the corner of the house, radiating a familiar warmth; there is an old wooden cabinet with scratches of time.
Every object here, from the water ladle to the chipped rice jar, evokes old memories.
The ceiling of the shop is broken open, allowing natural light to filter through each wooden beam, combined with the dark patches of brick walls and the rustic setting like a house in the middle of a village left in the city.
Nguyen Thi My Hanh (left, 23 years old) shared that the tea shop gives her a special feeling, like stepping through the door of time to return to the years gone by.
"From the first time I stepped into the shop, I felt like I was living in a story my grandparents told me about the subsidy period," Hanh confided.
The narrow path leading deep into the shop was rebuilt with rough brick walls, crude cement stairs and rustic furniture.
Upon entering the small courtyard inside, guests will sit in a "bamboo cage", overlooking the small walkway and rooftop area.
The rooftop area of the restaurant has only one long wooden table, suitable for groups of friends to gather and chat. However, the path to the rooftop is quite difficult because of the small, narrow and steep wooden stairs.
Sharing with Dan Tri reporter, Mr. Thang Dinh - the owner of the shop said that the house has been abandoned since around 1990. In 2022, Mr. Thang and the research team from UNESCO YCC decided to rent the house again.
"I spent 2 years renovating and still paid rent regularly during that time. Although many people commented that the shop is a bit old and looks unfinished, I confirm that every detail was carefully designed and checked by experienced architects. This rustic, natural look is exactly what I want to keep, like bringing the forest to the city," said Mr. Thang.
Nguyen Quynh Anh (left) and Bui Lan Anh, 21 years old, from Thanh Hoa , said this is the tea shop that has impressed them the most so far. "We have never seen a shop with such a unique design. The lighting is a bit dark, but it is very suitable for introverts," Quynh Anh confided.
"Beer" tea is one of the special drinks at the shop, made from green tea combined with salted plums. This drink has a cool, slightly salty taste of salted plums and a bit of the characteristic astringency of tea, giving it a strange feeling.
Nguyen Dinh Long, 23 years old, from Hai Phong, shared that he found the shop on social media and was impressed by its unique architecture.
"The space of the shop is a bit old and quiet, the drinks are also quite new, suitable for intimate conversations with friends. Although at night, the outdoor area of the shop is a bit dusty and has many insects, I will still come back next time," Dinh Long frankly said.
Ms. Huong, the tea shop manager, shared that the busiest time is in the evening.
"Many customers told me that on monsoon days, when they come into the shop and sit by the fire, they feel warm and homesick. That is also the reason why young people come back to the shop," said Ms. Huong.
Address: 23 Chau Long, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
Opening hours: 11am-11pm
Reference price: 40,000-250,000 VND
Dantri.,com.vn
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