In response to Hanoi tightening its crackdown on illegal sidewalk occupation, caf\u00e9s in the city are showing moves to set the walls inward and create ”sidewalk-style” seating indoors. \u201cLofi Lab Cafe\u201d at 30 To Hieu Street set its outer wall back about 2 meters from the road and created about 50 square meters of seating indoors that recreates the outdoor atmosphere. Co-owner Tien Dat says, \u201cThink of it as a ”fake sidewalk” we made for customers who like sitting outside.\u201d<\/p>\n
Operating on the sidewalk was a symbol of Vietnam\u2019s street-corner culture, but with the tightened regulations, caf\u00e9 after caf\u00e9 is losing seats. Each shop is making do with limited indoor space, devising ways to win back the customers they\u2019ve lost.<\/p>\n
Lofi Lab Cafe has a total site of 150 square meters. It moved its outer wall about 2 meters inward from the road and allotted the resulting roughly 50 square meters to outdoor-style seating. The remaining 100 square meters of indoor space is used in zones. The renovation was about 15 days from opening as of May 25, and its staging\u2014letting you sit while gazing at street trees and the sidewalk scenery\u2014is drawing talk.<\/p>\n
Another example is the caf\u00e9 at 14 Hang Chuoi Street. By reorienting the bar counter sideways to save space, it increased capacity from 5 people before the renovation to 11\u201312. Owner Manh Hung admits, \u201cWhen we were first banned from operating on the sidewalk, we risked losing customers,\u201d but says he responded by redesigning the interior.<\/p>\n
Hanoi is tightening its crackdown on the illegal commercial use of sidewalks. To summarize the proposed content, it\u2019s as follows.<\/p>\n