Located in an old apartment building on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai street in district 1 in HCM City, the Lost and Found café is a familiar destination for those who love a nostalgic style and want to find a quiet place in the middle of the busy commercial hub.

The owner of the café, Tyler Maurice Kooy, 32, from the US, said he came to Vietnam for the first time as a tourist in 2016. At first, he intended to stay for six months to experience the food and culture. However, the impression he had about the beautiful country made him change his plans. He said he likes street dishes, vending coffee, and the good-natured local people.

“I have been living here for seven years,” he said.

After several times tasting Vietnam’s coffee, the American man fell in love with the drink. He spent time learning about coffee from cafes he visited and from Vietnamese friends.

“Vietnam’s coffee drink is one of the drinks I really love. I love everything related to it, from the coffee varieties grown to the roasting and processing,” Tyler said.

He also likes the architecture of old apartment buildings. He often goes to cafes located in buildings to enjoy the pleasant atmosphere there, the melodious guitar sounds, and walks in the corridor.

One day, he and his wife, Uong Thi Phuong Thao, 27, began thinking of opening a cafe, decorated in old Vietnamese style.

The couple and their son, who is 2 years old, planned the café for two years.

“It took us several months to find a wonderful place, located right in the center of the city. The space is small, but it is in an old apartment building, exactly as we imagined before,” Thao said.

Having many years of experience in the F&B sector, the couple designed the decoration and menu themselves. They spent three months doing these things before opening to receive customers. The menu includes coffee products, smoothies, juices and cocktails.

Asked about the customers, Thao said 50 percent of customers are Vietnamese and the other half are foreigners. After Covid-19, the café has received more tourists. They say they like the cozy space and the drinks.

Visiting Lost and Found in her free time, Miranda Houchens, 30, from the US, said she likes sitting at bars to talk to workers and other guests. She said it is a wonderful space for communication and relaxation.

“The old things here are very beautiful which make me feel as if I can return to the past. The drink I like the most is peach tea,” she said.

She said she has been living in HCM City for six years and plans to stay as long as possible. “For me, HCM City is just like my home city. I like living here because the climate is good, people are good natured, and the food is delicious,” she said.

Lac Vu Thien, 28, a music teacher in HCM City, said when he visited Lost and Found for the first time, he was impressed by the photos used for decoration. The layout is interesting and witty. The tables and chairs are in the style of the 1990s and there are old things on shelves which give him a feeling of nostalgia, closeness and affection. The lighting is moderate and gentle, with cute conical lamps and lampshades.

Ngoc Tan