Placed next to a bus stop with no shelter, the chairs bear a small sign that reads: “Free seating”.
Two wooden chairs are put at a bus stop in HCM City
The chairs are provided by a small local café a few steps away. Each morning, when the shop opens, staff members carry out the chairs and place them in the shade. When it rains, they move the seats under the eaves. Late at night, after the street quiets down, the chairs are brought back inside, ready to return the next day.
Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh, 32, the café owner, said the idea came after seeing people, especially the elderly and young children, waiting for the bus under the scorching sun, without anywhere to sit.
“All we wanted was to give people a place to rest their legs,” she said. “At first, people hesitated, unsure if they were allowed to sit. So we added a sign saying ‘Free seating’ to make everyone feel welcome.”
Since the café opened three months ago, the routine has remained unchanged: the chairs go out at 5am and come back in at 11pm. “Whenever I see someone sit down and rest, it makes my day,” Ngoc Anh said. “If the crowd grows, especially with elderly or children, we bring out more chairs.”
Next to the chairs sits a jug of iced tea, free for anyone to drink or refill their bottles. “Seeing delivery riders and commuters take a sip of cool tea on a hot day warms my heart,” she said. “One time, a driver stopped, drank a glass of water, nodded in thanks, and that was enough to keep me happy all day.”
Free ice tea offerred to passers-by by the coffee shop
Ngoc Anh shares that she plans to offer free morning coffee to drivers and early-morning workers, continuing the spirit of kindness and community care.
