VietNamNet Bridge - The Me Tri residential area in Tu Liem district, Hanoi, which is known as the zone for villas worth millions of US dollars, has had a different look – the urban area for food. Abandoned villas in this area have become restaurants.

In this area, there are both luxury and popular restaurants, offering from bia hoi to rice for office workers and specialties. However, the most successful here are beer bars, and affordable office lunch food, followed by a few cafes and a few hot pot restaurants.

Making use of the abandoned urban area, some people hire fallowed villas to open restaurants. They do not repair or decorate these houses much. They open the restaurants on the first floor and live in the second floor.

Mr. Chau, the owner of a bia hoi (beer) shop, said: "I do business here temporarily so I do not invest in repairing the shop."

It is similar for other restaurants, with unfinished walls.

Restaurants and cafés usually operate from early morning until 11pm. Most of the visitors are office staff in the neighborhood, the building workers at the surrounding construction sites or friends and relatives of restaurant owners.

Khong Chiem