In the pre-dawn hours of June 14, while most of Hanoi still slept, a coffee shop on Tong Dan Street in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi was already buzzing with daily activities. The shop, which opens from 4am to 11pm, had customers lining up even before its doors opened.

By 4:20am, only a few seats remained on the porch, offering a view of the quiet street. Among the early patrons was Ms. Hang, 41, from Cau Giay District, who brought her pet along.

"Seeing the trend of going for coffee early in the morning on social media, I decided to bring my puppy. The weather is cool, the streets are clear, and I can watch everything slowly happening," she said.

The majority of the early morning crowd consisted of young people, some drawn by curiosity, others by the chance to take trendy "virtual life" photos. The shop quickly filled up, with tables packed with customers. A regular advised that groups should arrive before opening time to secure a table, with one person ordering for the whole group to save time.

The shop maximizes space with small tables to accommodate more patrons. A waiter noted that many early customers are students on summer vacation, making the hours convenient for them.

"Some people even stay out all night and then stop by for coffee, while others want to experience starting their day earlier than usual," he explained.

As the sky brightened, the crowd grew, with many young people snapping souvenir photos. Mr. Thien, a 61-year-old cyclo driver on Tong Dan Street, remarked on the busy scene, noting that the shop had been packed all week. "Customers even stand on the street to take photos. Unlike before, this street is now bustling," he said.

Ms. Thu, a 22, from Hai Ba Trung District, posed for a photo after successfully joining the early morning coffee trend. "After finishing the coffee, we will find a place for breakfast and then head to work," she said excitedly.

Customers line up outside a popular coffee shop in Hanoi before dawn, eager for their early morning coffee fix.

Hang with her pet at the coffee shop.

The bustling scene inside the shop as it fills up with young people and groups of friends.

Cyclo driver Mr. Thien observes the lively morning activity on Tong Dan Street.

It sounds like Thu, 22, from Hai Ba Trung district, is enjoying the trend of visiting coffee shops early in the morning. After getting her coffee fix, she's planning to grab breakfast before heading off to work. 

Manh Hung - Linh Dang