Brian Jeffrey
One weekend afternoon, 26-year-old L.N.H.M from District 5 in Ho Chi Minh City parked her motorbike and ascended the charming old stairs of a cozy coffee shop. There, she chose a piece of paper to jot down her personal thoughts, content to keep them private.
M. frequently visits the ‘Give a Hug’ station, situated in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, where individuals express their emotions through written letters.
This unique café was founded by 30-year-old Nguyen Vu My Hanh from Long An, just one year ago.
Hanh, feeling exhausted and hopeless at that time, crafted a bicycle adorned with flowers. She placed a sign on it that read, “If you’re happy today, come to the station to share your thoughts. If you’re sad, take a flower, and we’ll share a hug.”
Through this, she recognized that many young individuals harbor feelings and thoughts they are hesitant to share.
This realization inspired Hanh to establish a small café, a sanctuary for anyone facing challenges, to openly express themselves and find healing through writing. The café was aptly named ‘Tram Om Mot Cai’ or ‘Give a Hug Station.’
“Sometimes, when you’re weary and stuck in despair, all you need is a hug to rediscover joy and warmth from others. This is why I chose that name for the café,” she elaborated.
At the station, visitors are welcome to write letters conveying their feelings or respond to letters they read. They also have the opportunity to connect with potential pen pals.
After composing their letters, patrons can opt to take them home or leave them at the station. They may request the station to send their letters to designated recipients.
Hanh manages the letters using a customer relationship management (CRM) system, assigning codes to each letter to track the sender and time. Additionally, there is a notebook available for visitors to express their thoughts, which others can read.
Hanh finds joy in knowing her café offers support to those yearning for empathy. When she read one particular letter from a troubled schoolboy, she reached out to a teacher for assistance. In a delightful outcome, a couple even married after meeting at her station.
