500 million VND to turn a dilapidated house into a nostalgic cafe in the middle of Ho Chi Minh City

(Dan Tri) - From the desire to rebuild the house in his memory, Mr. Nguyen Van Linh (36 years old) opened a coffee shop in the 2000s in Ho Chi Minh City. The small space reminds him of his childhood and has become a meeting place for young people.

Reconstructing childhood memories

No fancy signs, no eye-catching lights, but as soon as you step through the wooden door of the coffee shop in Hoa Hung ward (HCMC), you feel like you are lost in a "rewind movie", where memories of the 2000s come alive through old items.

Mr. Nguyen Van Linh (36 years old, shop owner) jokingly said that he "only rebuilt the house he used to live in", but in reality, that space has become a familiar meeting place for many nostalgic young people, as well as families who want to "reminisce about the past" together.

Nostalgic space inside the shop (Photo: Cam Tien).

Throughout his childhood, Linh was attached to the convex screen TV, the evenings listening to cassettes playing music, the footsteps passing through the dark wooden staircase... When he grew up, went to many places, did many things, he realized that he always longed to find those slices of his childhood again.

“The 2000s are both near and far to me. Even though I live in the present, I often think about the old space where I grew up. I want to preserve it, not only for myself but also for those who sympathize with me,” Linh shared.

From that idea, in September 2022, he started to build "2000s Coffee Shop" into a space to both drink coffee and return to memories.

Antiques are scattered throughout the shop (Photo: Cam Tien).

Before becoming a coffee shop, this place was just a dilapidated, leaky, almost abandoned house. Mr. Linh rented it, invested nearly 500 million VND to demolish and rebuild. He chose wood as the main material, ordered it from the Central Highlands, transported it to Ho Chi Minh City and personally arranged it to suit each corner.

The space is only ^40m2 , including 1 ground floor and 2 floors, but Mr. Linh tries to create a difference for each floor. One corner has the appearance of an old family living room, another corner is like a small classroom, where there are wooden tables, chairs, and old bookshelves.

The attraction of nostalgic space

As someone who loves to explore beautiful coffee shops, Ms. Nguyen Thanh Thuy (Nhieu Loc ward, HCMC) and her group of friends chose the shop to take photos of the Mid-Autumn Festival in traditional costumes.

“The space is old-fashioned, reminiscent of many familiar images, bringing a sense of closeness. I like the second floor the most because it has air conditioning, making it comfortable to sit for a long time. The drinks are okay, and the prices are affordable. Instead of choosing modern-style shops, I like the rustic, gentle atmosphere that this coffee shop brings,” she commented.

The reporter's experience shows that the space is quite quiet because there is not much traffic. The menu of the shop mainly consists of basic dishes such as coffee, milk tea, blended ice, yogurt, fruit tea, snacks with dipping sticks, prices range from 38,000 to 53,000 VND.

The ground floor has a bar counter so there is only enough space for 2-3 guests. The first floor is more spacious because of the airy balcony, which makes it quite comfortable to sit and sip coffee even without air conditioning. The second floor has air conditioning but it is a bit dark when the windows are closed to turn on the air conditioning.

Many young people come to the shop to check-in or simply find a quiet place to chat (Photo: Cam Tien).

The owner said that after two years of operation, the shop welcomes an average of 40-50 customers per day, with more on weekends. During Tet or festival seasons, the number of customers can double. Many young people rent the entire space to take photos, record TikToks or simply sit with a cup of coffee, enjoying the rare old feeling in the heart of the city.

“The customers are mainly young people. They have never really experienced the 2000s, but when they see these items, they feel something new. There are also many families who bring grandparents, parents, and children together, and then sit and tell each other stories about the past,” said Mr. Linh.

The space outside the shop is simple, covered with lush trees, creating a familiar feeling like returning to childhood (Photo: Cam Tien).

Although many customers have suggested expanding the model, Mr. Linh believes that it is not easy to replicate. “This is a unique type of shop, picky about customers. If people do not really love the nostalgic vibe (style), they will only visit once to know and then stop. I want to keep this small space true to its original nature, instead of expanding and losing the original spirit,” he confided.

What makes him most proud is not the revenue or the number of customers, but the fact that his small shop, located deep in an alley, is still supported by many young people. “I consider this a childhood home rebuilt in the heart of the city. Each person who enters can find a piece of their own memory,” said Mr. Linh.

Coffee shop in the 2000s

Address: 125/2B Hoa Hung, Hoa Hung Ward, HCMC

Opening hours: 7:30 am - 10:30 pm

Reference price: 38,000-53,000 VND

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/500-trieu-dong-bien-can-nha-nat-thanh-quan-ca-phe-hoai-niem-giua-tphcm-20250919124928598.htm