Recently, mobile coffee carts have taken over streets of Da Nang. The increasing popularity of takeaway coffee in the city has been attributed to new trends in coffee drinking habits and preferences of local residents.

Starting takeaway coffee business requires a considerably low investment, and adapts to changes in consumer tastes. Photo: N.H

Every day, around 6:00 p.m., a white bicycle decorated with dried flowers and sparkling yellow lights takes over the one end of the Nguyen Van Troi Pedestrian Bridge located in Son Tra District. It is a mobile coffee cart with "Roaming around with coffee - Waiting for someone" sign to provide a takeaway service for coffee. This takeaway coffee model is not new, and even quite familiar with residents in Vietnamese big cities, including Da Nang. However, this takeaway coffee business model impresses its guests with its unique, rustic and extremely "tasteful" design.

This mobile coffee cart will provide its guests with a coffee cup and a nice handle for convenient carrying. The coffee cart owner can also lend folding chairs to his customers to allow them to sit and watch the sunset over the river. Furthermore, you can enjoy coffee to-go from this mobile coffee cart’s takeaway service at its surrounding areas to admire the scenery while sipping your coffee.

Luong Hau, 22, coming from Quang Tri Province, the owner of a coffee cart, said that he has run this take-away coffee business model for more than a month, and he expressed his delight at seeing many people to buy takeaway coffee and take photos . Hau works at a design and decoration shop during the daytime. After work, he cycles around the city to provide a takeaway coffee service from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. every day.

Hau remarked: “Previously, I had worked as a barista at a coffee shop for about a year. I then decided to open a takeaway coffee shop with experience in bartending. I chose to run a takeaway coffee business as I can serve diverse customers, including school pupils, college students, white-collar workers and freelancers. No premises is required to operate a takeaway coffee business, and starting takeaway coffee business requires a considerably low investment. I am very happy as I can earn extra income from takeaway coffee business, and interact with diverse customers, as well as help them enjoy a relaxing cup of coffee after a hard-working day"

Hau now operates a takeaway coffee business with a total investment of around VND 8 million. He uses paper cups and straws instead of plastic ones in order to ensure customer health and safety, as well as protect the environment even though the price of paper cups and straws is nearly double than that of plastic ones.

Le Minh Ngoc, 19, a student of the University of Foreign Languages said: " I often go out for coffee to relax on weekend afternoons. Recently, the "Waiting for Someone" Coffee Cart which takes over the one end of the Nguyen Van Troi Pedestrian Bridge has gone viral on social media, so I come to this recommended venue to experience it firsthand. This coffee cart offers a diverse menu that include coffee, and cooling tea. I like Kombucha tea, a fermented drink made with tea, sugar, bacteria and yeast which is included in this coffee cart’s menu as it is quite delicious and novel, but it is not available at many coffee shops in Da Nang. My favorite thing is that after buying coffee, the coffee cart owner will lend a folding chair to me in order to allow me to sit by the river to admire the scenery and enjoy the breeze while sipping my coffee."

In addition to popular drinks such as Vietnamese salted and egg coffee, the coffee cart also offers cooling tea, milk tea, juices, smoothies, and more.

According to Nguyen Luong Gia Bao,18, a resident of Ngu Hanh Son District, he only needs a motorbike and close to VND 3 million to start a takeaway coffee business.

“I have operated takeaway coffee business for 3 months. Every day, my coffee cart takes over Tran Hung Dao Street, near the eastern end of Dragon bridge. My takeaway service operates daily from 6:00am until 11:00am. I choose this crowded street to sell takeaway coffee so that I can be able to sell between 40 and 50 cups of coffee a day," Bao said.

Starting takeaway coffee business requires a considerably low investment, and adapts to changes in consumer tastes. Due to its convenience, low investment and familiarity with many customers, takeaway coffee carts are taking over streets of Da Nang. Many people can earn their living from takeaway coffee business while this business model creates a new trend in coffee drinking among young people.

Reporting by NGAN HA – Translating by H.L