Trinh Cong Son Corner in Hanoi
Cuoi Ngo Café attracts everyone by the distinctive Zen atmosphere in each square meter. Located in a modest and quiet in a long path as if it intends to keep away worldly dust, the café impresses you by the sign “Please Dismount from Your Horse!” seen on a simple wooden window.
The place is as quiet as an old pagoda. A shadowy garden, an old and respectable ficus, some statues arranged in a spectacular way. Inside the café are many Trinh Cong Son’s portraits, works of calligraphy and oil paintings. Having picked up a fragment from the late talent composer’s soul to make up its spirit, Cuoi Ngo Café, with lots of quiet corners, is an ideal place for us to dip ourselves into music, in memories, and, best of all, to feel very close to Trinh Cong Son, to see his life lively flowing around. It is the only café in Hanoi where alcohol is sold. The kind of bitter alcohol served in the afternoon haunted by the golden sunshine, and in the melodious music makes us feel drunk for the moment, feel how fragile life is, and feel life passing by.
The color of the moss on the gate and the brick walls make us feel like sitting in a corner of the café to escape from the noise and the haste of life which cause much stress and tension.
The café is not very elaborated but it still gives us the feeling as though we have been lost in an arranged space, which is both country-like and cozy. The flower vases in the corners or near the entrance, some banana bushes leaning against the wall on which there are lots of bamboo baskets causing the familiar feeling. The café itself is small with the small nice tables, the small beautiful paths, and a generous Trinh’s musical atmosphere.
Cuoi Ngo Café is called Trinh’s café by its regular customers since it is ‘specialized’ in Khanh Ly. We can hear Khanh Ly singing Trinh’s songs here in a way as if the lyrics are coming from the singer’s heart, as if she isn’t singing a Trinh song but she is interpreting what she has experienced in her life.
On the first of April, for the celebration of Trinh’s Passing Away, Cuoi Ngo Café always has Trinh Cong Son Music Night when Trinh’s music lovers have an opportunity to be absorbed in Trinh’s private world.
There is a specialty here that you wouldn’t forget. That is a tasty tea pot generously served by the owner. The excellence of the tea is made by the impressive tea set and by the refined way of brewing. In many other cafés in Hanoi, a good tea pot for customers is a luxury, since most cafés here serve a variety of coffee, fruit juices, cocktails but not any tea.
Nguyen Hoang - P.M