Cafe & bar with unique architecture on the banks of the Hanoi River

Located in a small alley in Ngoc Thuy, the shop is easy for passersby to pass by without noticing. Without a flashy sign, nor advertising a “new check-in spot”, the shop still appears naturally. The space inside gives a familiar, close feeling – as if this house has existed for a long time.

The name “DieuHouse” comes from the simple wishes of the two owners and is also the spirit they put into creating this space. “I want anyone who walks in to feel at home, not like they’re walking into a strange cafe & bar,” the owner said.

The space is in warm yellow and brown tones, the wooden frames built in the shop were once part of two wooden houses of the Tay people in Lang Son, which he bought, dismantled and brought to Hanoi. They are not to recreate a "stilt house", but to continue the life cycle of the material - from this place to another life. "I do not borrow the form. I want it to live on in a new space, as a memory of time" he shared.

The interesting thing is that instead of imposing the architectural design, the owner chose to “follow” the land along the riverbank. Thanks to that, the central courtyard becomes an open triangular space where customers can sit and chat, sip coffee, or just quietly listen to the flow right next to it.

Most of the time, the shop operates like a cafe: soft lighting, just enough conversation, table corners for people to work, read or meet intimately. The space is separated from the noise of the street but not isolated - becoming a natural connection place. On weekends, the space changes its rhythm: beer, cocktails, music, the shop becomes a small bar. There are groups of regular customers who book tables and stay late. The atmosphere is more lively than usual but still maintains a closeness, not crowded.

That flexibility makes the shop not tied to a fixed model. It is like a multi-purpose house: a place for work, a place for gathering, and a “small stage” for creativity. This space is not a “trendy” model, but rather nurtures emotions with simplicity, carrying with it the depth of memories.

And from that simplicity, the shop has become a creative meeting place. People come not just to “check-in” noisily, but to chat, connect and stay a little longer.

Many people have visited and remembered it because it gives them the feeling of “being at home” – something that is not easy to find in other cafes and bars. It does not position itself as a must-visit destination, nor is it noisy or ostentatious, but it is this simplicity that creates its own mark. The shop exists gently like a small house by the river, where people find a balance between familiarity and novelty, between quietness and excitement. A meeting place for those looking for creative inspiration in the heart of Hanoi.

Hai Anh