This article answers the question: Have you been to a coffee shop that has a secret ingredient, or specially sourced coffee beans?Add photos of the coffee shop and any products from the establishment.
Hello everyone and Cinnamon Cup Coffee ! I'm Nga, I'm from Vietnam, this article is my participation in week 117 of #TheCoffeeShopPrompt. As always, I have carefully read all the information about the community's rules to avoid violations. And I commit that the content and photos I am writing and providing are 100% done by me. No plagiarism, no AI, no stolen photos, all original content is done by me 
To be honest with you, among thousands of coffee shops I’ve been to, some places I remember a bit because the drinks were good, some were impressive because of the nice view. But to talk about a place that makes me want to come back many times, even when it’s 6km away from my house, “Nhà của Xíu Cafe - Tea” is the first name that comes to my mind.
When I first heard the name “Nhà của Xíu”, I thought it was a small, cute coffee shop like its name – kind of vintage, gentle, “tiny and lovely” style. But the first time I came there was because my friend invited me, and honestly when I got there I was shocked because... it was so spacious and beautiful. This place is located in the middle of the forest in Sóc Sơn, and it feels more like a complex with many spaces rather than just a coffee shop.
I used to think places like Mộc Châu Retreat or the Japanese Garden were already spacious, but when I arrived at “Nhà của Xíu”, I had to admit I’ve never seen any coffee shop in Hanoi this big and deep. The shop is located in Sóc Sơn mountain, looking down is a green rice field, surrounded by trees, the air is fresh and cool even on hot summer days.
What I like most here is that the shop is divided into many clear areas, each area has its own style of experience:
The tent area outside: very suitable for groups of friends going picnic or families with kids. Here they set up white-tone fabric tents, decorated gently, clean, taking photos here gives off a “luxury camping” vibe. In winter this area is super cozy, there’s even a wood stove for people to grill cake, sweet potatoes, meat, sitting around warming hands and chatting happily.
The main house area: located right at the entrance, simple design, friendly, like a small cozy house in the forest. Not too fancy in decoration, but it gives a “real” feeling – not fake, not overdone, just like the name “home”.
The wooden floor area: this is my favorite spot. The wooden floor is wide, with a few sets of rustic tables and chairs, sitting here you can look out to the vast green rice field far away. Feeling the wind through your hair, hearing birds sing and watching the rice sway, sometimes I just sit there quietly for an hour without doing anything. That’s enough for me.
The last area – the “highlight” view: from here you can see the whole rice field below. This spot is the “divine check-in point”, when the sun is up the light is amazing, and in the afternoon the sunset turns everything golden. No filter on your phone can beat the real light here, I saw many couples taking wedding photos here, or school groups taking memory photos, and the great thing is they don’t charge extra if you come to take pictures.
One special thing that makes me fall in love with “Nhà của Xíu” is that they plant a lot of trees. Not just some pots of plants for decoration, but here they grow whole beds of hydrangeas, wild plants, clusters of chrysanthemums, Mexican sunflowers...
Walking around the shop area feels like walking in a small fairy forest. The grass is soft under your feet, trees on both sides of the path, birds chirping somewhere above. Everywhere you look is green – green of leaves, green of the sky, green of the peace that is so rare in the city. If you’re tired of the noisy, dusty city, this is the perfect place for you to enjoy and watch nature. I saw many young people from the city center coming to this coffee shop (about 40km from the center), but with such beautiful and peaceful space, busy young people really like it, even if it’s far they still try to come.
In summer, I once came on a late weekend afternoon, at that time there was a small band playing acoustic. The singers were friendly, playing guitar and singing, and the young people clapped along, the scene was very youthful and full of life. People were drinking, listening to music, chatting – it felt so light and peaceful.
I came to this shop not only because of the space but also because of the special drinks, which are coffee and tea. I’ll tell you right now.
While there, I ordered a very unique drink: a rambutan-flavored milk coffee – a combination I had never tried before.I’ve always been curious about how Nha cua Xiu cafe choose their coffee beans, so I asked one of the staff members what kind of coffee they use in their drinks.
She told me, very casually: "We use Trung Nguyên."
That surprised me – because Trung Nguyên is not just any coffee. It’s Vietnam’s number one coffee brand, and their beans come from the Central Highlands, one of the best coffee-growing regions in the country.
More specifically, they use Trung Nguyên’s “Creative” series, which is a popular line of bold, flavorful instant coffee made for cafés and restaurants. It’s not too bitter, has a strong aroma, and pairs beautifully with condensed milk and fresh milk exactly the style of Vietnamese iced coffee I enjoy.
This type of coffee is often used in restaurants and cafes in Vietnam. I’ve seen many places use Trung Nguyên’s signature coffee blends, especially the ones in their ready-to-brew packets. Even though mine was a milk-- coffee drink, I could still taste the deep, slightly bitter coffee flavor – well balanced by lots of condensed milk, fresh milk, and a surprising hint of rambutan syrup. The result was something creamy, sweet, slightly fruity and very refreshing. I don’t usually drink pure black coffee, I enjoy creative blends like this more and this one really make me love. However, if you don’t order it with ice, the cup only fills about one-third of the cup, and the taste becomes too concentrated. So I recommend having it with ice :D that’s how it was meant to be enjoyed. The ice balances the strong flavor and fills the cup to a proper portion. Without it, the drink may feel too rich or overly intense.
My friend chose a hot oolong tea with lotus seed, which was light, served in a proper cup. The drink had three layers: On top was a creamy cheese foam, rich and slightly salty. The middle was a deep-colored oolong tea, strong yet smooth. At the bottom were soft lotus seeds, which were tender, slightly nutty, and naturally sweet. Each sip gave a layered experience – first the foam, then the tea, then the soft bite of the lotus seeds. But funnily even though I was drinking my coffee at a table, they still served it in a plastic cup – which is usually used for takeaway. I found that a bit odd, especially since other coffee reviews I’ve read often show people sipping from beautiful ceramic cups. But maybe that’s just how this place serves their signature drinks. Either way, I enjoyed it.
If you're someone like me – not a coffee connoisseur but someone who enjoys fun, flavorful drinks – this is the kind of place for you.
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