Trang Tien Ice Cream Shop shows off its new look.

When mentioning Hanoi, it's impossible not to mention Trang Tien ice cream – a treat so long-standing that it has become one of the capital's symbols. Hanoians love and are attached to Trang Tien ice cream, while tourists consider it a must-try when visiting the thousand-year-old city. Another special feature of this treat is the beautiful location of the Trang Tien ice cream shop: right on the Trang Tien street front, just a few steps from Hoan Kiem Lake. For many years, this shop has remained open, serving customers and maintaining the style of a state-owned store that was very common in Hanoi a few decades ago. But after a short period of social distancing due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Hanoians were surprised to see that the ice cream shop, which held so many memories, now had a new, more youthful and spacious appearance.

The reason for this change stems from the transfer of ownership of Trang Tien Ice Cream to another investor. Recognizing the shop's deterioration after more than 50 years of operation, Trang Tien Ice Cream Joint Stock Company spent approximately 10 billion VND to renovate the space.

From the outside, the entire two-story French colonial building has been repainted in a refreshing white and green color scheme. Outside the store, the sign "Kem Tràng Tiền since 1958" stands out against the green background, replacing the previous reddish-brown. The brand identity has also been updated with a new logo featuring a simple yet memorable ice cream cone and the slogan "Timeless Flavor" replacing "Experience the Traditional Flavor".

The interior design of the store is where the most changes have been made. The corrugated iron roof of the old building was removed and replaced with a retractable awning system, making the space brighter.

The architecture, with its arches, lighting system, and greenery, gives the interior of Trang Tien Ice Cream a modern feel while still retaining the ancient charm of old Hanoi. This new space creates a sense of airiness and comfort; everything is meticulously designed, making the store more spacious and clean.

In addition, other areas such as the sales counters and parking area have also been expanded and their usable space maximized.

Thanks to this refreshing change, the "new Trang Tien Ice Cream shop" has quickly become one of the hottest check-in and Instagrammable spots for young people in Hanoi these days.

While appreciating the new changes, some young people still offered feedback: "Although it's been renovated to be much more spacious, due to limited space, during peak hours like evenings, the capacity is still insufficient. My friends and I still have to buy ice cream and then go outside to the sidewalk to enjoy it," said Ha Linh, a resident of Cau Giay.

Sharing her thoughts on the new look of the Trang Tien Ice Cream shop, Mrs. Tran Thi Lan (70 years old), a resident of Hanoi who was taken there by her grandchild to eat ice cream, said: "I was very surprised because the place has been renovated beautifully. The ice cream is still as delicious as before, but the shop is new and a bit more modern."

As customers have commented, although the space has changed a lot, the traditional ice cream flavors remain exactly the same as before, including milk, vanilla, chocolate, and coconut, but the most famous and special is still the sticky rice ice cream. The prices of these ice creams have not changed much in the past decade, with ice cream sticks costing 8,000 VND each and cones 12,000 VND each. Notably, Trang Tien ice cream still maintains the original quality and traditional flavor of the brand.

My Tong