"In 2007, Vietnamese artist Linh Dung opened the first Cộng Cà Phê in the heart of Hanoi’s downtown quarter. It was frequented by members of the local art community, who stopped by for the heavenly signature Cốt Dừa Cà Phê, iced coconut milk with dark, strong Vietnamese coffee. According to the website, “Cộng” refers to Vietnam’s official name, Cộng Hòa Xã hội Chủ Nghĩa Việt Nam (the Socialist Republic of Vietnam), though the cafe interior also includes lots of design references to the Viet Cong. The city’s young residents — who tend to think of the war differently than older generations and the international community — have embraced the vintage decor and military-esque furniture as period kitsch, and the cafe has become immensely popular in HCMC with many locations." - Linh Phan
