Travel
Three wonderful cafés in Hanoi to escape from work
If your work so hard, so, do yourself a favor, come to one of these wonderful cafés in Hanoi to enjoy the new air.
Adapter Workspace
Adapter may just be our new favorite workspace. The café is partially made out of shipping containers which, at first, may seem like a bit of a gimmick, but the rest of the space is actually very practical.
There are sturdy desks, plenty of plug points and real office chairs – yes, the ones with adequate back support and armrests! The WiFi is relatively reliable and there’s usually no music playing. Better yet, there is plenty of office-appropriate wall art and a couple of inspirational quotes to almost give you the impression that you’re actually working at Google, not in Dong Da. And, there is a wide selection of delicious drinks, including a number of fresh teas.
At lunch time, expect some of the seating to be filled with hard-workers having well-earned naps, which can give a bit of a strange atmosphere to professional meetings. The volume also raises a little, with customers stopping for chats and music being turned on.
Unlike cafés like Tranquil, quietness isn’t enforced, so you may want to go elsewhere if you need absolute silence to work. However, if you like the realism of being in an only partially productive office environment, Adapter is a good place to be.
Adapter Workspace
No 41 Yen Lang Street, Trung Liet, Hanoi
Boyle's coffee
On the corner of a quiet street in Cau Giay – actually quiet, not just “quiet for Hanoi” – you’ll find this bright white café. The whole area is eerily pristine and lined with trees, though we’re certainly not complaining. There are a few tables outside, usually occupied by trendy couples and groups, and maybe a pet dog or two.
The ground floor is taken up entirely by the coffee counter, which is a testament to the range of drinks. Boyle’s serves both Vietnamese and Italian coffee, though customers seem to exclusively order the latter, as well as smoothies, tea and a few cakes. Upstairs is larger than expected, with a couple of rooms and small balconies.
From what we gather, Boyle’s is a Korean company that serves Dutch coffee. The Korean style is clear in the minimal, immaculate design, but the Dutch coffee element is a little less obvious. Honestly, we didn’t notice any difference from our usual cuppa, but coffee connoisseurs might appreciate the subtle differences.
The decor is modern, with almost everything painted white, a few unique light-fittings and minimal furniture. The clean-cut design is distraction-free and the area is peaceful – perfect for those looking to focus on work or a good book.
Boyle's coffee
Trung Hoa Nhan Chinh, Trung Hoa, Cau Giay District, Hanoi
Tranquil
The café not only boasts a striking two-story window, a memorable feature of what was once Deci Dela, it is also sister to the original Tranquil in Hoan Kiem.
Here, you’ll find the blissful peace and quiet of the original Tranquil, along with the café’s signature giant bookcase and impressive choice of books (both Vietnamese and English). However, instead of a simple one-room space, you’ll be met with three floors of silence (most of the time).
The first floor has a comfortable sofa next to the larger-than-life window and a large table, perfect for co-working. (We suggest working here rather than socialising as there is the tendency to get ‘shushed’.) The second floor has lots of sturdy tables and chairs, perfect for writing, drawing or laptop work. And, on the third floor, the rooftop, you’ll find floor seating and a few stools. You’re also free to chat as loud as you please here, so it’s a perfect spot to go for a break if work is getting to you.
The second Tranquil is an unusual amalgamation of historic French architecture and Vietnamese style. The quirky combination, of course, is part of the reason the café is so intriguing, and not just a carbon copy of its sister café. Another difference from the original Tranquil is the crowd that the café attracts. What may have initially been intended as a hot spot for quiet chats and book reading has been adopted by many of the city’s freelancers and students. This is unsurprising with such a choice of desk-space, abundant light and softly-spoken staff. However, if you turn up on the weekend, there will occassionally be someone playing piano, and in the evening, the music volume definitely goes up a few notches.
Tranquil
18B Nguyen Bieu, Quan Thanh, Hanoi
Adapter Workspace.
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There are sturdy desks, plenty of plug points and real office chairs – yes, the ones with adequate back support and armrests! The WiFi is relatively reliable and there’s usually no music playing. Better yet, there is plenty of office-appropriate wall art and a couple of inspirational quotes to almost give you the impression that you’re actually working at Google, not in Dong Da. And, there is a wide selection of delicious drinks, including a number of fresh teas.
The café is wonderful place to escape from work.
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If you like the realism of being in an only partially productive office environment, Adapter is a good place to be.
|
Adapter Workspace
No 41 Yen Lang Street, Trung Liet, Hanoi
Boyle's coffee
Boyle's coffee.
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The ground floor is taken up entirely by the coffee counter, which is a testament to the range of drinks. Boyle’s serves both Vietnamese and Italian coffee, though customers seem to exclusively order the latter, as well as smoothies, tea and a few cakes. Upstairs is larger than expected, with a couple of rooms and small balconies.
Boyle’s serves both Vietnamese and Italian coffee, though customers seem to exclusively order the latter, as well as smoothies, tea and a few cakes.
|
The decor is modern, with almost everything painted white, a few unique light-fittings and minimal furniture. The clean-cut design is distraction-free and the area is peaceful – perfect for those looking to focus on work or a good book.
Boyle's coffee
Trung Hoa Nhan Chinh, Trung Hoa, Cau Giay District, Hanoi
Tranquil
The café not only boasts a striking two-story window, a memorable feature of what was once Deci Dela, it is also sister to the original Tranquil in Hoan Kiem.
|
Here, you’ll find the blissful peace and quiet of the original Tranquil, along with the café’s signature giant bookcase and impressive choice of books (both Vietnamese and English). However, instead of a simple one-room space, you’ll be met with three floors of silence (most of the time).
The first floor has a comfortable sofa next to the larger-than-life window and a large table, perfect for co-working. (We suggest working here rather than socialising as there is the tendency to get ‘shushed’.) The second floor has lots of sturdy tables and chairs, perfect for writing, drawing or laptop work. And, on the third floor, the rooftop, you’ll find floor seating and a few stools. You’re also free to chat as loud as you please here, so it’s a perfect spot to go for a break if work is getting to you.
Here, you’ll find the blissful peace and quiet of the original Tranquil, along with the café’s signature giant bookcase and impressive choice of books (both Vietnamese and English).
|
Tranquil
18B Nguyen Bieu, Quan Thanh, Hanoi
