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Nestled in a winding alleyway at 6 Vinh Phuc Street, Hanoi, Nha San Art Cafe emerges with a timeless charm, a rustic and simple space. It's a place where visitors long to linger, setting aside their daily worries.
The cafe boasts an artistic decor, with a rustic wooden sign. The carved decorative motifs in the wooden stilt house have been preserved in their original form. The tiled roof and brick walls, covered in moss over time, evoke a sense of nostalgia. People come to the stilt house to immerse themselves in the aroma of coffee and the gentle melodies of the mountains and forests.
Located in the heart of Hanoi on Vinh Phuc Street, the stilt house art cafe has weathered the ups and downs and witnessed the rapid changes of Hanoi. Yet, it remains silently observing the times.
Nha San Art Cafe is a place where you see antiques everywhere you look, and you can feel the beauty of time slowly passing by.
Speaking to Travellive, Dang Dinh Ngoc, the founder of Nha San Art, shared: "The cafe opened in late 2016. The wooden planks used to build it were purchased from the Northwest region a long time ago, when I rebuilt a traditional stilt house. The decorative items in the cafe are things I bring back from my travels, things I find special. Over time, more and more decorative items have accumulated, and I feel bad throwing them away, so each item holds its own memory and story. Nha San Art is like a destination for a moment of tranquility, a place to rest. Therefore, I want to create a place where people can slow down, reminisce, and recall the old days."
Guests feel as if they are stepping into another world, a tranquil and relaxing retreat completely separate from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. The stilt house, designed in the style of a traditional Northwest Vietnamese stilt house, features meticulously crafted antique furnishings and warm, muted colors, creating a space of nostalgia. The arrangement of tables, chairs, and other items is also very refined, offering many cozy and private corners.
The architecture utilizes stilt houses from the Northwest highlands, reconstructed in their original form.
Every item chosen to decorate the cafe bears the mark of time, connected to the 80s and 90s generations.
From cassette players and oil lamps to music tapes and records... everything exudes a sense of the past.
Going up to the second floor, the staircase is decorated by the owner with a collection of photographs depicting the culture and people of Northwest Vietnam. Every item chosen by the cafe owner bears the mark of time, of a generation. A warm and simple feeling envelops you as you sip a cup of coffee in this stilt house nestled in the heart of Hanoi.
At Nha San Art Cafe, there's live music every Sunday evening. This is also the only band that has consistently performed at these nights at the cafe.
The owner decorated the staircase leading to the second floor with these photos.
The menu isn't overly diverse, focusing instead on traditional drinks like lychee tea, hot ginger-cinnamon tea, and salted coffee. Each season, guests are served different drinks to suit the nature and characteristics of that time of year.
Amidst the bustling capital, this unique mountain-style setting easily impresses visitors. Inside the stilt house, the aroma of coffee permeates every corner, awakening all the senses and allowing one to immerse themselves in a cultural space that is hard to find right in the heart of Hanoi.
"Whether sad or happy, people come here, sharing their stories as if it were their own private home. A quiet place away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world," Đình Ngọc further shared.
The stilt house art cafe isn't a destination for anyone in particular; it's simply an ideal meeting place for art lovers seeking a tranquil, ancient atmosphere. Quietly nestled in the heart of the capital, witnessing Hanoi's rapid changes, the stilt house retains its pristine, rustic charm, and this is what makes it a favorite destination for many.
If you're looking for a space to relive old memories and experience the atmosphere of Northwest Vietnam right in the heart of Hanoi, then Nha San Art is definitely worth a try. An artistic café, inspired by the subsidy period and combined with the beauty of traditional Northwest Vietnamese stilt houses... all create a unique and classic aesthetic.
This is the venue for the music night held every Sunday evening.
