• Address: No. 5 Dinh Le street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi, Vietnam (Following Google Maps is the best way to get there: reach no. 5, go into the narrow alley, follow the signboard to the 2nd floor, you’ll find the store on the left side of the stairs.)

• Website: http://nhasachmao.com

SUMMARY:

✅ A perfect place to find Vietnamese books from old times. 99% of the books here are in Vietnamese (either original or translated).

✅ Chill atmosphere, cozy space, friendly staff, reasonable price (a real bargain for old books). The books are organized by categories, but it isn’t very clear how to look for a particular title. You can spend time skimming through the whole thing yourself or just ask the staff for their assistance.

✅ Respect others’ space and follow the instructions printed on the white paper signs. If you want to take some photos to check in, be quick and don’t obstruct other visitors.

📍A RARE PLACE WHERE TIMEFLOW SEEMS TO SLOW DOWN AND ALLOW YOU TO IMMERSE YOURSELF IN RETROSPECT. I randomly found this gem during my afternoon walk around the Old Quarter in Hanoi on Mùng Năm Tết (the 5th day of the first lunar month). It’s a tiny hidden bookstore filled with classic old books. It might be tough to visit the store on a crowded day since there is only so much space they can offer, but in my case, my visit was sweet and comfortable. Once I step into the small alley of No. 5 Dinh Le, it feels like I just hopped on a time machine. An invisible wall suddenly appears to block out the noise of the hustling street life I’ve just witnessed a few steps before. Maybe the timing of my visit, when the sunlight was slowly dimming, is another contributing factor to this retro vibe that I get.

Although the books are divided into genres, I still find it quite difficult to locate which area I should find my target books. The 1st floor contains Vietnamese literature (prose writings, poems, novels, short stories, etc.), self-help, spiritual books, and children’s books. Some recently published books are also available there, well-presented on the display tables. The 2nd floor contains more Vietnamese literature titles, overseas literature (mainly Chinese and English), and the reading space abutting the railing. I think it is the store owner’s intention to bring about the old-time browsing experience. It’s the environment of the bookstore that makes it unique. There is no background music here, just the sound of pages turning and small chats from the visitors. Lovely to see the friendly staff and well-educated visitors who are mindful not to disturb the tranquil ambiance.

In the end, I found some lovely books published in the 2000s, and finally, I got 3 of them for only VND 55,000 (~S$3.2) 🤯 What a steal! I honestly don’t know how the bookstore can profit and survive with such discounts. Well, if anything, they also have a charity box to donate to the poor children in the mountainous areas of Vietnam. Please give a helping hand if you can.

Last but not least, my special thanks go to a kind lady in a cerise light-down parka I came across in the bookstore. She helped me take some beautiful shoots for my Instagram update 🥰

Disclaimer: How funny I didn’t know about this place even though I spent around 8 years in Hanoi because I’ve never been a bookworm nor had the patience to explore the city on foot. I am trying to read more this year, though 🤭