Anyone who has been to Sóc Sơn knows this place is famous for cool mountain air, fresh nature, and many coffee shops with wide views. Even though Sóc Sơn is far from the city center, many young people from Hanoi still come here on weekends. 😝They want to escape from dust and noise, and enjoy peace that the city does not have.😁
Today I visited a new coffee shop in Sóc Sơn. Its name is Nhà bên rừng. This shop is close to “Nhà của Xíu,” a place I reviewed before. Because it was the opening day, the shop was very crowded. Many customers came, and staff were busy.😍 I went there on this day, so the feeling was a little bit messy but also fun.
The best thing of Nhà bên rừng is the outdoor space. Just like the name, the shop uses the nature of Sóc Sơn very well. Around the shop there are many trees, in front there is a small koi pond, and the walking paths are covered with stones. When I stepped inside, it felt more like going to a picnic than going to drink coffee.🧋🍵
The indoor area is very small. Actually, there is almost no indoor space. Only a small counter for ordering. If you want to sit inside, there is only one small corner next to the counter. Most people sit outside. I chose a table near a stone well. Staff told me in winter this well will be used to make fire, so people can grill chicken, BBQ, or enjoy coffee beside the fire. Just thinking about it sounds nice.
Because of the National Day on 2nd September, the shop was decorated with many red flags. Looking up, I saw flags everywhere, making the place feel festive.
I ordered two drinks: coconut matcha and green rice milk tea. The total price was 82,000 VND, about 40,000 VND for one drink. In Sóc Sơn, this price is a bit high. Many other shops sell drinks at 25,000 – 35,000 VND.
Coconut matcha: honestly, I felt disappointed. It was too sweet. I could not feel the real coconut taste. Maybe the coconut water was mixed with sugar. I prefer fresh coconut water with natural sweetness, not like this.
Green rice milk tea: better than the coconut matcha. It had a nice smell of green rice, and on top there was dried coconut. The dried coconut was crunchy and tasty. But again, the drink was too sweet. I like milk tea with less sugar, so that I can taste the tea flavor more.
So, the drinks were not very special. I think most people come here for the view, not for the drinks.
Because the shop was full of people, I had to wait about 20 minutes for my drinks. But it was the first day, so I understood. Staff were a bit confused but still friendly and tried their best.
On the opening day, I also received a free plate of sunflower seeds and a plate of chocolate candies. It was a small gift, but it felt warm and welcoming, like visiting a friend’s house.
The strongest point of Nhà bên rừng is the large and open space. In Hanoi, it is hard to find a coffee shop with such a wide area. I sat outside, with mountain wind blowing, sound of leaves, and koi fish moving in the pond. On sunny days, this place is perfect for chilling, reading books, or chatting with friends.
But in the long term, the shop should improve the drinks quality. Space is important, but drinks also need to be good so that customers will return.
With the price about 40,000 VND per drink, and drinks that are too sweet and not special, I will not come back often. But if friends invite me to go to Sóc Sơn, or if I want to find a wide, quiet space away from the city, I may come again.
I believe if the shop makes the drinks less sweet and keeps the fresh forest style, it will soon become a famous place in Sóc Sơn.
