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If you're a fan of Japanese anime, you're probably familiar with the famous animated films of Studio Ghibli. And it would be a shame not to visit Maison de Boony to immerse yourself in that dreamy world.
After seeing photos of the cafe, I was still surprised by its charming appearance, resembling a miniature Ghibli world. Located on Le Quy Don Street in Phu Nhuan District, Maison de Boony is easily recognizable by its distinctive Totoro statue placed right in front of the entrance.
Maison de Boony is a café styled after Studio Ghibli animated films.
As soon as I stepped into the cafe, I felt the poetic atmosphere and the cuteness emanating from the objects featuring characters from Studio Ghibli animated films. Despite the large number of customers, the space maintained a gentle, tranquil feel, as if it had stepped right out of an animated movie. Objects of varying sizes were cleverly arranged by the owner, each corner evoking a familiar scene from the films. The walls were adorned with images and clocks depicting cartoon characters.
Cafe owner Ngo Hoang Thien Huu shared: “I opened the cafe four years ago, but at that time I hadn't defined a specific style. Since I was a child, I've always loved watching Studio Ghibli films, and three years ago I started collecting merchandise. After accumulating and collecting more Ghibli items, I came up with the idea of designing a cafe in this style. At that time, there weren't any other cafes in Ho Chi Minh City that followed the Ghibli style.”
The Ghibli-related items collected by the owner originate from Japan, China, or were purchased from Vietnamese people with similar interests.
The walls are adorned with images and clocks featuring cartoon characters.
Speaking about the Totoro statue placed in front of the cafe, Mr. Huu said that Totoro is one of the most familiar images to fans of Studio Ghibli animated films. The statue was created using 3D rendering, then painted and decorated. This is also one of the cafe's hottest photo spots. The image of the Totoro statue in front of the cafe is like a welcome to visitors to a miniature Ghibli world.
The cafe's name was chosen by the owner from French, Bony being a person's name, and Maison meaning house. The full translation, Maison de Boony, is "Boony's House." Through this name, Mr. Huu wants to convey the meaning that every customer who comes to the cafe is a friend. He also hopes and trains his staff to bring a charming experience to customers, not only through a beautiful space.
Totoro is one of the most familiar images to fans of Studio Ghibli animation.
The small green garden
Nguyen Thi Nhung, a resident of District 12, shared: “I learned about this cafe through a video on TikTok. I found its Ghibli-themed decor very cute, and the drinks looked appealing, so I decided to visit. I will definitely come back many more times.”
Speaking about his favorite corners, Thien Huu shared that he likes the large window the most because in the morning the sun shines through, revealing a small garden that looks green and poetic. He also likes the small but charming and cozy kitchen.
The small garden is also my favorite space in the cafe, because of its lush, tranquil greenery, which can help relieve fatigue and worries from everyday life.
To match the cafe's ambiance, starting in August, the shop will be selling additional pastries featuring images from famous Ghibli films such as TOTORO and KIKI. The menu includes various drinks priced from 30,000 to 60,000 VND, and pastries priced from 35,000 to 72,000 VND.
More than just a beautiful space and delicious drinks, Maison de Boony takes visitors back to their childhood with famous Studio Ghibli animated films.
The drinks are visually appealing and cute.
