This cafe is just like the canteen from the childhood of those born in the 80s and 90s.

Sitting in an old communal apartment, sipping on a packet of instant noodles for children and reading Dragon Ball, you feel like you've just stepped onto a magical machine to return to your childhood days.

In the heart of the bustling capital, contrasting with the vibrant spaces that attract young people, the café with the rather quirky name "Canteen 109" leaves its mark with its old-fashioned, rustic appearance. Tucked away in the Ministry of Public Security's residential complex opposite Trung Tu village temple, at alley 198 Xa Dan, the café is a place where customers born in the 80s and 90s can relive their childhood memories with snacks costing a few hundred dong that were once easily bought from school canteens.

The shop offers familiar snacks from years past and books that are no longer available in modern bookstores. Photo: Phiêu Linh

Candied plums, instant noodles for children, and tiny heart-shaped Vitamin C candies in small boxes are not only on the menu but also sold at very cheap prices for takeout: 30,000 VND per pack of 50 instant noodle packets, 90,000 VND per box of 100 candied plum packets… Hang, one of the two owners, shared: “Initially, it was just because I wanted to try them, then I looked into whether they were still being produced. Later, these snacks became popular with customers, and the shop started serving them.”

True to its childhood school canteen feel, customers never have to worry about going hungry because they can enjoy a hot box of instant noodles with lemon and sausage, or a generously filled baguette with spring rolls and potato filling at any time. The drink menu isn't updated with many new items like modern cafes, mainly consisting of pineapple juice, tapioca starch drinks, kumquat tea, and iced coffee... priced between 15,000 and 25,000 VND. However, drinks aren't the cafe's strong point; instead, people come here to find peace in a cramped space filled with old memories.

The quietest time to visit the cafe is in the morning or at midday. (Photo)Instagram

In a corner of the cafe is a charming little bookshelf, where a quick glance will reveal a few comic books that will make you exclaim with delight because you haven't read them in a long time: Dragon Ball, The Legend of the Dragon, Uncle Thoong, and even literary works like Old Stories of Hanoi, and foreign language books. Interestingly, this bookshelf is mainly compiled and contributed by customers. There are also days when you come and can't find the comic book you were reading; it's very likely that another customer borrowed it and took it home.

The cafe is open from 8 AM to over 10 PM. If you want to experience the lively atmosphere of impromptu musical performances, it's best to visit in the evening. However, the cafe also adheres to rules for maintaining order in accordance with the culture of the apartment complex.

Although the cafe is very small, it has many doors, so it doesn't feel cramped. (Photo)Instagram

Despite its small size and simple decor, this cafe has become an inspiration for many amateur photographers. Moreover, it's rare to find a cafe that's so popular with customers that they even ask to be waitstaff because they love the pleasant atmosphere it offers.

"Selling instant noodles and cheap coffee won't make you rich anytime soon. The important thing is that we're also from the 80s and 90s generation, and we want to keep a place where young people can reminisce about the old days. When customers come, we feel happy; it's as simple as that." Perhaps that's also why the shop overcame its initial difficulties when it was still unknown, without resorting to gimmicks to attract customers, becoming a familiar hangout for young people in less than two years.

Some middle-aged customers also come to the cafe early every morning as a habit, sitting on the neatly arranged plastic chairs in the alley next to it, drinking a cup of coffee, and then leaving to start a new day.

According to Vnexpress.net