The new rock star
Our stop at Phoi Cafe in Hanoi began with a closed door somewhere else. Vivi and I were looking for a cafe full of plants, with plenty of glass and that indoor-garden atmosphere we both love. We ended up with porcelain cups, milk tea, and an electric guitar.
Phoi Cafe first caught our attention as we walked along one of Hanoi’s narrow streets. A glance through the window revealed a slightly dusty, hipster-style interior and a large display cabinet filled with small porcelain cups. Unusual cups are a reliable way to get Vivi through a door. Still, we already had another cafe in mind, so we carried on.
Five minutes later, we reached the place with the indoor garden and found it closed for renovation and plant maintenance. We looked at each other and decided to return to the little cafe we had just passed. Apparently, the universe was taking Vivi’s side on the porcelain cups.
Phoi Cafe was tucked into the small street, and we were the only foreign customers there. My coffee was good, and Vivi’s tea with milk was surprisingly flavorful. The atmosphere was peaceful and relaxed. It was a pleasant place to stop, though the drinks alone would probably not have given me a story to tell.
A young man in the corner was playing an electric guitar through a small portable speaker. His playing caught my attention, and I sat listening. After a few minutes, he asked whether I played too. I told him I couldn’t play any instrument, but I knew when I liked what I was hearing. And I liked his playing very much.
We chatted about where we came from and what we were doing in Hanoi. He was bright, friendly, and full of energy, and the conversation came easily. Between talking, he continued playing music by Aerosmith and the Eagles. I took a few photographs and told him I would keep them for when he became famous. He looked surprised and flattered. I meant the compliment.
What impressed me most was how recently he had started. He had saved enough money to buy himself a guitar and had been playing for only three months. Perhaps I had ended up in that cafe simply to tell him that his music was worth listening to. I hope he kept playing. If he ever becomes famous, I will have a photograph and a very small claim to having spotted him early.
Taking photographs led to a very different encounter elsewhere in the city. Read our Hanoi travel story about a photography stop that attracted unwanted attention.
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