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From the first batches of bread to the flames of loss
On September 4, 2019, in a small house at 172B Phu Dong Thien Vuong Street, Blue Dream – the dream of Nghia Truong, a European pastry chef with pure passion – officially came to fruition. At that time, the shop only had five people, and the number of customers wasn't too large. But for Nghia, that wasn't as important as selling happiness through his pastries, as he once said.
The bakery was initially located at 172B Phu Dong Thien Vuong Street.
Every day, the shop produces over 60 different types of pastries, all handmade, not mass-produced. The warmth from the first batches of pastries, the aroma of butter, flour, tea, and the gentle conversations between customers and bakers create the soul of the shop – a sweet dream in the heart of Da Lat.
Those who have visited remember the feeling of watching the bakers through the glass, sipping tea while smelling the aroma of freshly baked croissants, puff pastry, Danish pastries, baguettes, bagels, or cinnamon rolls. Nghia says he doesn't want to make things too complicated; he just wants people to feel the joy from the very first bite.
Then one day, the fire struck. The 2023 fire destroyed everything: the shop, the house, and all the items he had collected over the past five years. “Blue Dream burned down. Completely destroyed, nothing is usable anymore. But the best thing is that no one was hurt.” He said, his voice light, as if he were talking about someone else’s story.
What he regrets most isn't material possessions, but memories: "I regret it a lot, but it's okay, I'll start over. I still have customers, family, neighbors, everyone cares about me."
What remains of the bakery after the 2023 fire.
A few days after the fire, another shock struck when he lost his grandmother – someone incredibly important in his life and in his childhood memories. “The shop is gone, the money is gone, but you can get it back, but my grandmother is gone forever,” he admitted, his voice choked with emotion, a time when his spirits hit rock bottom.
Amidst the ruins, old dreams are rekindled.
The day the bakery was engulfed in flames, people thought the dream was over. The familiar kitchen was in ruins; the ovens, baking trays, and display cabinets filled with cherished memories were all reduced to ashes. But for Nghia Truong – who had dedicated almost his entire youth to the aroma of butter and milk – Blue Dream never truly disappeared. “If I could start over, I would still want to bake, still want to see the smile on customers’ faces when they take their first bite,” he said.
His passion for baking and the smoke from the kitchen helped Nghia rise from the ashes.
Nghia began rebuilding his shop with everything he had left – his belief, his own homemade cake recipes, and the affection of those around him. “Da Lat is the root of the shop. I will never let it disappear.” But despite this thought, rebuilding the shop wasn't as easy as Nghia imagined. “Perhaps because of my early success, I was confident that I could do anything alone. But when I found a contractor to build the shop according to my vision, unfortunately, that contractor went bankrupt, and I lost a considerable amount of money at that time,” he recalled.
Amidst overwhelming difficulties, Nghia had to struggle to make ends meet, gathering every penny from his Saigon shop, meticulously laying each brick by hand, and revising each decor design himself because the previous contractor had abandoned the project. At times, he felt discouraged, wanting to give up "twelve times," but then he told himself: "It's okay, it's just a game; the harder the level, the greater the challenge."
A new Blue Dream, yet with glimpses of the past.
After about 7 months, Blue Dream reopened once again at 14 Van Hanh Street, Da Lat City, now Da Lat Ward.
No longer the familiar old house on the hillside, the new bakery has a larger space but subtly retains the shape of the old house. The space still maintains the "handmade" spirit: from the wooden tables, the wall colors, the small fireplace, to the handwritten menu. Everything in the shop bears the mark of revival - rustic, cozy, and with a quietness very typical of Da Lat.
A spacious, sun-drenched courtyard amidst the garden.
The room was painted a creamy yellow, with a few wooden tables, the windows always slightly ajar to let in the sunlight, and the aroma of pastries mingled with the scent of tea wafting through the air. Everything there felt so peaceful, as if no loss had ever occurred. He recounted how he personally selected each item, arranged each vase, and mixed each color in the kitchen, as if he were recreating his own dream.
Over time, decorative items gradually filled the room, creating a cramped space that seemed to encapsulate every moment this small shop had experienced, from ashes to a bakery straight out of a Western fairy tale, as noted by customers who had visited.
Decorative items were hung around the room and on the ceiling.
Each day, the shop produces over 70 types of pastries, from classics like croissants, puff pastry, and Danish pastries to natural leavening breads and sweet treats such as lemon cake, carrot cake, brownies, and tarts. Nothing is pre-made; everything is freshly baked, slowly and carefully crafted.
The shop's interior features sun-drenched windows where guests can enjoy tea and pastries.
Visitors can take a stroll, personally select their favorite pastries, then sit by the window, listen to soothing music, sip a hot cup of tea, and savor the sweet taste on their tongues. The aroma of the pastries blends with the melodies of bygone decades, creating a feeling of peaceful tranquility, a haven far removed from reality, where time slows down, gently and fully.
For Nghia, the rebirth of Blue Dream is not just about rebuilding a bakery, but a journey of self-discovery after a tragedy. Now, amidst the misty city, the small bakery is brightly lit again, the smoke from the oven mingling with the aroma of flour and tea, a gentle affirmation: this dream, though once burned to ashes, has never truly disappeared.
