Hanoi’s Loc Tai House draws wave of Chinese tourists for its vintage tea

Chinese visitors are flocking to Loc Tai House, a tea shop on Cửa Đông in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, after posts on the Chinese social platform Xiaohongshu went viral. The modest storefront, resembling a traditional Hanoi house, has attracted thousands of views and comments praising its nostalgic décor, multi‑level layout and air‑conditioned upper floor with views over a narrow street.

Visitors highlight the shop’s Vietnamese‑style chè, especially chè cốm—a sweet rice‑grain dessert mixed with coconut milk and assorted toppings—as unlike the “water‑type” desserts common in China. Many Chinese tourists describe the experience as unforgettable, dubbing Loc Tai House “the strongest tea shop in Hanoi” and saying they will remember it long after leaving the city.