Built from recycled trash, a Hanoi café transformed six years of waste into a green hideaway, earning a surprise stop from Belgium’s king and queen.
Hidden Gem Coffee, located at 1 Hang Mam Street in Hoan Kiem District, has a narrow storefront over a meter wide. From the outside, it looks like a local house. But on the afternoon of April 1, it became the destination of choice for King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, who stopped by to enjoy Vietnam’s egg coffee.
In stark contrast to its exterior, the inside of the café surprises many with its greenery-filled space and decorations made from recycled materials. Spread over four floors with a capacity of about 100 people, the café is often full at lunchtime.
Owner Nguyen Thi Thu Trang shared that previous generations in Vietnam were known for using things for as long as possible, passing down clothes among siblings, and repairing any broken furniture for reuse. But today’s lifestyle has shortened the lifespan of everyday items, resulting in waste and environmental damage.
Trang and her husband, both formerly in the tourism and hospitality industry, opened Hidden Gem Coffee in 2018 with the vision of spreading environmental awareness through upcycled design.
One standout piece in the café is an old piano, now decorated with beer-bottle light covers.
“Many of the items had lost value and were headed for the landfill,” Trang said. “We picked them up and figured out how to fix them.”
Inside the café, some of the seating consists of old car seats that her husband repaired and reused. Trang is in charge of arranging the items and adding touches to make them more appealing.
One old tire has been repurposed into a fish tank, perched atop a window frame.
Empty paint cans have also been cleaned and transformed into stools. The café’s warm brown-and-yellow tones blend with its décor, offering a contrast to the bustle of the Old Quarter.
The second floor doubles as a boutique, selling fashion items made from old jeans. According to Trang, it was this commitment to sustainability and creativity that attracted the attention of the Belgian royals, who chose Hidden Gem Coffee over other coffee spots in Hanoi.
One corner decorated with glass bottles has become a favorite photo spot.
Most of the café’s patrons are foreign visitors who found the place through Google and Tripadvisor reviews over the past six years.
The menu includes a wide range of coffee, tea, and cocktails, priced from VND30,000 to VND85,000 ($1.15 to $3.30).
Their best-seller is the egg coffee (R) with whipped egg that’s rich and not too eggy. The secret lies in the Irish cream liqueur, which helps to mellow the egg flavor. Coffee beans sourced from farms in Lam Dong Province in the Central Highlands.
“A peaceful space, and the recycled décor surprised us,” said Megan (R), a guest from Australia, who described Hidden Gem Coffee as “an oasis in the middle of Hanoi”.
Russian visitor Aleksei also came based on online reviews.
“The design of this café is impressive, truly one of a kind,” he said. He also praised the relaxing atmosphere, enhanced by the greenery.
