Top 3 Most Attractive Building Coffee Shops in Hanoi

Tracce, Cu Xa and Yupio Homemade Cafe are 3 coffee shops that are hidden in the old collective buildings. Although it’s not easy to access to these destinations, young travelers still have a crush on them. 

The coffee houses in old buildings have been popular with people in Sai Gon over the past few years. However, you must spend time finding pretty and quiet ones in Hanoi. Of course, there is no shortage of coffee shops in Hanoi, but for the reason of the best building Café that are highly complimented by young people, I would recommend following three coffee shops.

Tracce

Locating on the third floor of an old collective building, Tracce is elaborately and cleverly decorated that enables its guests to enjoy the quiet and cozy atmosphere. The different decoration of both floors provides guests with private space for the purpose of chatting, working and reading.

As you can feel, Tracce give you the coziness and simpleness. What mostly impresses its guests is the stunning balcony that is always full of sunlight. In a free afternoon, you should get there with your favorite book, then, order a cup of tea and leisurely engross into your book.

Furthermore, you can also go to Tracce coffee with your lover for the reason that it has enough private space for you to whisper to each other under the gentle lyrics of selected songs.

Trace has two floors. You are certainly impressed by red and black paintings of the second floor where you can watch Acoustic performances in the evening.

In spite of being situated in the building in which many families live, this pretty coffee shop still holds tarot card reading to satisfy the needs of its guests.  Noticeably, the shop offers foods and drinks that are priced at 1,5 – 2$. 

Address: Group N4, Lane 34, Van Bao Street, Ba Dinh District. 

Opening hours: 8 a.m - 10:30 p.m

Cu Xa

Situated in an old collective house on Ton That Tung Street, Cu Xa coffee house fascinates its guests by ancient significances that is different from that of Tracce. The coffee shop is decorated by old furniture and photos reminds us of our memorable childhood. In addition to drinks, it offers various kinds of junk food that used to be familiar with us when we were at primary or high school such as popcorn, sugared dry apricot and the “legendary” noodle of kids. How amazing!

It’s worth mentioning that the shop enables you to enjoy your free afternoon by pick up the pure and cool air of spring, leaning on the banisters to see “full-of-flower “bikes, or even, hearing the drums of school at the end of the school day and the peals of childish laughter of students. You must feel as if you were back to your sweet and priceless childhood with a free ticket.

Thus, it is undoubtedly an ideal place for friends hanging out, dating, working, or even studying. The price of drinks ranges from 10,000 to 35,000 VND

Address: A11 Khuong Thuong collective, Ton That Tung street, Dong Da district. 

Opening hours: 9 a.m - 10:30 p.m

Yupio Homemade

Like many other cafeterias, Yupio Homemade Cake lies on a collective house on Nui Truc Street.  Unlike others, however, this coffee shop has “younger” style and green cool air with many tree pots. Additionally, it attracts tourists with clever decoration, open-view window and wooden furniture. Moreover, you would probably “have a crush” on pretty and small decorations in different shapes and colors that make you feel as if you got lost in the Elvis world.

There are many kinds of cakes and drinks here, the flavored cotton candies, for instance. The price of a dish fluctuates from 1$ to 2$. 

Address: 20B, Nui Truc Street, Ba Dinh District.

Working hours: 9 a.m – 10 p.m.

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5 of Best Places to Eat Xôi in Hanoi

1. Aunt Kim’s sticky rice on Tran Xuan Soan Street, Lo Duc Ward

Aunt Kim’s sticky rice is certainly a familiar dish to those who live on Tran Xuan Soan Street, Lo Duc Ward. Aunt Kim usually starts working from the evening to the late night. Because of the good quality of the sticky rice, the late it is, the more crowded the shop is.

Xoi of this food stall is sold at reasonable prices that still ensure its quality. That's the comment of its regular guests.  The sticky rice is soft and fragrant and served with various accompaniments which are clean and well-processed to ensure its best tastes. Among them, stewed meat and chicken fried with mushroom are highly ordered.

The pickled cucumbers made by aunt Kim, which is sour, sweet, salty and spicy, tastes very well. It is definitely an ideal accompaniment to eat with Xoi to reduce the grease of meat. Pate is often cut into sizeable slices, which “favor” our mouth. There are two types of eggs to be served, namely cooked eggs and half-cooked eggs for its guests to choose. Imagine, paying 1$ and you are probably enjoyed a tasteful bowl of Xoi that are mixed with at less two accompaniments and a quarter of dollar if you want to add to any dish. Thus, it “surely” fulls your stomach, and, later on, satisfies your mouth.

2. Fried sticky rice on Hang Dieu Street

The fried sticky rice restaurant on Hang Dieu Street is considered as one of the oldest sticky rice shops in Hanoi. As the name would suggest, this restaurant impressed its guests with the crispy, fragrant, and tasteful sticky rice that has made and protected its name.  The sticky rice is crispy outside while remains soft and sticky inside.

The distinct feature of this shop is that the owners only fry sticky rice right after guests make orders to ensure that it is hot, crispy, and sticky. To process this amazing dish, the owners wrap sticky rice tightly in a plastic bag, grasp it until grains of sticky rice stick together, then spread and put into a frying pan. There are various dished accompanied by Xoi such as stewed pork, sausages, pate, etc.

The price of a portion fluctuates from 2$ to 3$ depending on the accompaniments you want to add in your portion. However, it’s definitely worth trying. Believe me!

3. Yen sticky rice on Nguyen Huu Huan Street

Xoi Yen on Nguyen Huu Huan Street has drawn its both proponents and opponents for its quality and price. However, it’s worth mentioning that this late night restaurant serves most various accompaniments that is not easy to find at that time in Hanoi. Specifically, they are eggs, pork, sausage, hams, pate, and chicken, etc. Among them, the soft, fragrant, and greasy, sticky rice with chicken is one of the most favorite dishes. It looks delicious and attractive because chicken is torn into strips and pour sauce on them. Additionally, this restaurant offers various kinds of drink for you to choose while eating. The price of each sticky rice portion is not the same but you can enjoy a delicious one with averagely 1.5$ (up to 2,5$). It might be significantly higher than others’ but it probably deserves the amount you pay.

4. Xoi Loc on Ta Quang Buu Street

With 18 years of opening, Xoi Loc on Ta Quang Buu Street has been a familiar dish to those who live in Bach Mai Ward. Firstly featured with the “weird” opening hours, from 6 p.m till 4 a.m of the next day. Noticeably, the “crowded” hours of the restaurant is from 10 p.m to 11 p.m. As a result, you have to queue to be enjoyed a tasteful portion of  Xoi Loc. 

The distinguishing characteristic of the restaurant is the white sticky rice served with Cha (Vietnamese fermented pork roll), stewed meat and eggs, sausages, chicken fried with mushrooms and Char Xiu (Barbeque pork) at a price of 35,000 VND / bowl. You probably full your stomach with just a portion. This dish is served with unripe papaya cut into small and thin slices and aromatic herbs to reduce the grease of meat. In addition to the sticky rice, the restaurant offers various kinds of bread.

The weak point of Xoi Loc is the limited space. Therefore, most of the guests order “take-away” portion. Moreover, it has just changed location from Bach Mai to Ta Quang Buu. Although they are quite close to each other, you will probably go back home if you do not pay attention to the address.

5. Sticky rice with spicy ribs on Truong Chinh Street 

This sidewalk food stall is located on Truong Chinh Street, close to Nga Tu So Crossroads. In spite of its location on the pavement, this food stall still draws a significant number of customers with the wonderful combination of soft sticky rice, well-cooked fried dried ribs, and sticky rice accompanied by the extremely spicy sauce.

A bowl of sticky rice in this stall is big enough to make you full. In addition to the tasteful ribs, there are various accompaniments for you to choose such as meat, sausage as other restaurants serve.

This food stall opens from 5 p.m to the midnight. The price fluctuates from 1$ to 2$ depending what you order. So, if you want to find a late night restaurant to full your stomach, this place must be a reliable one. Especially during cool weather, it’s such a great experience to enjoy a bowl of sticky rice full of accompaniments and a tasteful spicy sauce.

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7 Dishes Create the Name of Cat Linh Cuisine Street

1. Phan Phu Tien tofu vermicelli

One of the most famous restaurants in Cat Linh is the tofu vermicelli located right in front of Phan Phu Tien Street (can be seen when going from Cat Linh Street). This stall is right on the sidewalk, quite small but always crowded. It is familiar too see the owner busy with two oil pans to fry tofu and rolls while staff also always run to serve guests.

Perhaps with many people, this is the best place to enjoy tofu vermicelli in Hanoi. From about 11 am, this tofu vermicelli stall is always crowded with guests. The tofu is only fried when guests order, so it fresh and so hot, and not greasy at all. Moreover, there is also boiled pig tongue and crab rolls that that not many restaurants sell.

Crispy tofu, crunchy tongue, fragrant rolls, lean leg meat, thick slices … it is difficult to find the weakness ... except the price. In fact, in comparison with the price, the bowl of vermicelli here is slightly better than many other restaurants. A serving of tofu vermicelli is 35,000 VND (1.4 USD) while a serving full of tofu, meat, tongue, crab meat is 80.000 VND (3.2 USD). The quality of food is consistent, the food is full, this price can be considered worthy.

The most crowded time is during lunch, when the office people "flow" to the stall to have their lunch. However, you do not have to wait too long because there are many employees and they know how to take care guests.

2. Heart noodles behind Hang Day Stadium

This noodle shop has been over 10 years selling noodles at the back of Hang Day yard. A bowl of noodles here will consist of noodles, stems of the heart, viscera, beef and vegetables. Thanks to that the bowl of noodle is harmonious, easy to eat and not too fat.

The special feature of this noodle restaurant is that, each guest will be served with a spicy bowl of soup powder, chilli and garlic; so the taste of heart and viscera pieces will be more delicious. In addition, due to the good skill of blanching the noodle in many years of experience, noodles in the bowl is still not tough or crushed. So if you like to eat softer noodle, remember to tell the owner.

In addition to traditional heart noodles, the restaurant also serves fried noodles. This will make your selection richer for breakfast. Although the noodle restaurant has a lot of tables but in the early morning, it’s so crowded that you would have to wait if being late.

3. Fried potato, fried rolls, herb tea and fish behind Trinh Hoai Duc stadium yard

It’s a pity if we ignore  the combo of fried potato, fried noodles, herb tea... in this area, in addition to heart noodle. This area has only 2 stalls in the gate behind the stadium but there are many seats, so big groups’ meeting still can be possible.

In fact, the menu is much more diverse with fried potatoes, fried sweet potatoes, fried nem (rolls), taro cake, fried dumplings, fish, corn juice.... Especially, the price is very reasonable, price is 30,000 VND (1.2 USD) per plate only.

The food here is almost processed in advance, when th guests order, the owners will fry the food again, so the food is always hot and crispy. Each dish is served with a separate sauce, fries potatos are served with soy sauce or chili sauce while fried dumplings are served with condensed milk.

The snack area here opens from 4 pm to 11 pm, and in the evening it is crowded.

4. Grilled beef on Cat Linh Street

The grills stall is located just opposite the Pullman Hotel, easily accessible. Compared with other restaurant, this one has lesser selections of food with only beef, breast, pork belly, vegetables, mushrooms ... but they are fresh and marinated deliciously.

At this restaurant, you can order food separately or a set menu. Set menu is 120,000 VND (4.8 USD) per person with a dish of meat, vegetables, mushrooms and cucumber. This meal is enough to fill and you just need to order some drink instead of meat.

This stall is on the sidewalk, so it is airy but of course, it is hard to feel like eating a restaurant. However, eating barbecue on the sidewalk is quite convenient because it’s airy. The stall opens at around 6:30 pm and is usually crowded at night.

5. Thai hot pot

The Thai Hot Pot is also opposite the Pullman Hotel and near the above mentioned grilled meat restaurants. As the name suggests, the restaurant specializes in Thai hot pot which is 245,000 VND (9.8 USD) per serving, enough for 2 to 3 people.

Hot pot sauce here is sour, spicy, sweet enough, very easy to eat. Food such as beef and seafood are not so much but they are generally fresh, so we feel safe when eating.

In addition to the hot pot, there are many trendy dishes that the youth like, such as beef with black pepper, spicy chicken legs, fried chicken, prices are quite popular. In terms of space, the restaurant has indoor seats but quite small, so most of the tables are arranged outside. However, tables and chairs are quite clean.

6. Saigon sweet soup

Referring to Cat Linh, there is a sweet soup address that few people do not know: Saigon sweet soup, in the beginning of the street. This is the first stall in Hanoi selling Saigon sweet soup, which opened more than 40 years ago, therefore it has established a strong reputation in the gourmet of Ha Noi.

Coming here, diners will enjoy countless delicious sweet soup of the Southern land, especially to mention: pomelo sweet soup, green bean sweet soup, jelly sweet soup, seaweed sweet soup,... The cup of sweet soup is an interesting, and eye catching combination. Not only nice, it is also very delicious. That’s why though the price is not cheap, the adress is always crowded and is the familiar place of many people.

7. Roasted chicken leg Ly Van Phuc

Although located on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Ly Van Phuc Street is also considered in the snack complex of Cat Linh - Trinh Hoai Duc. Roasted chicken leg with restaurants across the Ly Van Phuc street has long been a "brand" because of delicious taste and relatively cheap price.

The main secret here is marinating skill with honey and other types of spices then baked in the charcoal until the inside well cooked, while the outside become crispy, eye-catching and fragrant. Along with grilled chicken legs, grilled chicken wings, roasted potatoes or baked butter bread … are also the favourite dishes of the young people.

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5 Lovely Cafes Hidden in Alley in Saigon

1. Oromia

Oromia is located at the end of a quiet alleyway in Nam Ky Khoi Nghia street, District 3. If you come to the café for the first time, you will take a little time to find it because the location is a quite deep inside the alley. However, when you go inside, you will feel that it worth the effort to go to the café because this is a really beautiful place.

To enter the cafe, you have to step through a small lake with colourful carps happily swimming. Oromia has many indoor and outdoor areas with open layout and many trees, making guests immediately relaxing.

At this restaurant, you can choose a comfortable spacious garden with lots of green trees, or indoor with a cozy space and direct view to the small peaceful garden. Therefore, whether you go alone, hang out with friends, work with a group or in a family gathering, you can always find yourself a pleasant seat in Oromia. It is also a favorite destination of those who love cat, because there are three super cute cats.

Menu of the restaurant is quite diverse with lots of up-to-date food and drink which are trendy for the youth and officers with the relatively equal quality. Therefore, if you want to find a nice, quiet cafe to relax then this is a good reference.

2. Saigon 80s. Nha Minh

Located in an alleyway on Truong Quyen Street, this café is a bit different from many other cafés in Saigon today with the style of the 80s. The space and architecture of the café is open, cool and airy with natural light and wind like houses in Saigon in the old time.

When entering the Nha Minh cafe, guests will not feel this is a cafe, but a familiar house, warm family atmosphere with room dividers, tables and chairs in the way that Saigon people at that time always had.

The space of the café, though features new appearance of a room which has been newly renovated, the old items are old enough to bring this space a little beauty of the old Saigon. Most drinks in the menu are traditional. Sitting in the bar, slowly enjoying the traditional drink in a quiet, peaceful space, you will feel the time slow down and enjoy the life.

3. The Open Space

The Open Space is located on a small alley on Nguyen Trong Tuyen Street. Although located right next to the railway, it is still very quiet because of being in the alley. The quietness and the main white color bring you a sense of peace right at the first moments. 

The beauty of The Open Space is the private heaven of your own, where you have enough quiet to read or whisper private stories with your best friend. In addition, by the wide space and high ceiling, you will have the feeling of freedom and enjoyment. However, from the café, you can still observe the hustle life of people living alongside the rails.

If you like the light, you can go upstairs with 2 large glass area, which fully exposes to light rays, bring exciting mornings. Here you can also admire the green climbing trees vibrating in the breeze in the afternoon to feel the relaxation.

4. Itune

The cafe is located in an alley on Su Van Hanh street but not too hard to find. Itune's space is light, spacious, quiet with many seats, pillow, relaxing music, so it is suitable for those who want to find some peaceful feeling. On a rainy day, sitting in the café, looking through the long window and listening to the rain fall is very pleasant.

Especially, the cafe has many beautiful corners to take photos for your “virtual life”. Whether you visit the café in daytime or in the evening, you will always have something special and pleasure to bring home. On the menu, the drinks are quite varied at an average price of 30,000-40,000 VND (1.2 – 1.6 USD).

5. VietGangz Brotherhood

ocated right in an alley in Cao Thang, VietGangz Brotherhood keeps its own distinctive breath among many café in the vicinity. Coming here, you will immediately feel the generous, comfortable and cool open space with colourful buckets and wooden chairs. If you like photography, you will definitely love the setting here.

If most of the cafes in the alley are quiet, VietGangz Brotherhood is much more special. You are easily attracted by the fun and fast style of the staff at the shop, the selected melodies are so pleasant that you just want to sway and sing with them. Is it a great way to relax after a tired working day?
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The drinks are not so special but also enough selections which are trendy like peach tea, litchi tea, iced coffee, fruit. 

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