VietNamNet Bridge – With coffee shops mushrooming in HCMC, the Nest appears as an ideal place for couples with kids and those wanting to spend time chatting with friends.

Children play at the sand bank at the Nest coffee shop in HCMC’s District 3 – Photo: Nhat Linh

Located at 21/3 Ly Chinh Thang Street, near Tan Dinh Market in District 3, the Nest covers around 600 square meters on two floors. The first floor offers outdoor and indoor spaces for children. The air-conditioned room inside is where children can play Lego toys and other educational games or read books. The outdoor space has an artificial sand bank for children to build castles or other shapes, and an area where they can draw what they want on the wall.

On the first floor are a ball pit and a trapeze bar for physical games. Nearby are tables for adults to enjoy food and drinks.

Everyday, at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., the Nest’s employees make artificial rain and pump water into the swimming pool for kids to play with the water.

On the weekend, the shop will organize special activities for children such as hiring a foal from the Saigon Pony Club for children to watch and touch, or bringing in a clown to play with them.

Le Nguyen Minh Thu, co-founder of the Nest, said the initial aim of the café is to free parents from worrying about their kids while they have a drink or talk with friends.

In the future, the Nest will create spaces where children under six are provided with skills such as reading, music and photography through games and other activities. Currently, the Nest arranges talk shows for parents interested in learning skills and methods to educate their children.

Food and drinks at the Nest cost VND35,000 (US$1.6) to VND80,000 per item.