King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium visit a café on Hang Mam Street, Hanoi, to enjoy the city’s famous egg coffee on April 1.
On the afternoon of April 1, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium visited a café on Hang Mam Street, Hanoi, to enjoy the city’s famous egg coffee during their state visit to Vietnam from March 31 to April 4.
Speaking to Dantri/Dtinews, Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, 32, expressed her pride and honour that her café was chosen as a stop for the Belgian royals.
She revealed that a week prior, the Belgian Embassy had contacted the café to reserve a spot for two VIP guests on April 1. They discussed the preparation details, with the embassy requesting that the visit remain as natural as possible.
It was only a day before the visit that Thu Trang was informed of the royal guests' identities. As per the embassy’s request, the café operated as usual, opening at 7 am and welcoming other customers.
The cafe lies in the Old Quarter of Hanoi.
"On the morning of April 1, security personnel were stationed outside the café. From early afternoon, security was tightened. Every step of the coffee preparation was meticulously handled under supervision," Thu Trang shared.
The two cups of egg coffee served to the King and Queen were prepared using the café’s standard recipe. The staff made them five minutes before the guests’ arrival to ensure optimal warmth.
According to Trang, the drink consists of black coffee at the base, topped with a creamy mixture of whisked egg yolk, sugar, honey, a pinch of salt, and a dash of Bailey’s liqueur.
"At 2 pm, the King, dressed in a sharp suit, and the Queen, wearing an elegant Vietnamese traditional long dress ao dai, walked through the narrow alley into the café. They sat at a simple table in the middle of the shop, under lush green foliage, leisurely enjoying their egg coffee. The King and Queen praised the drink’s rich flavour and the café’s harmonious blend of nature and recycled décor. “The Queen commented that the taste was sweet and creamy, reminiscent of a dessert," Trang recounted.
Tran Phuong, 24, the staff member who served the royal guests, was impressed by their warmth and friendliness throughout the 15-minute visit.
"After introducing the egg coffee, I also shared the idea behind using recycled materials for the café’s furniture and creating a green oasis in the heart of the Old Quarter," Phuong said.
Before leaving, the King and Queen took a commemorative photo with the café staff.
The King and Queen take a photo with the café staff.
"My husband and I will print and frame the photo to display it as a cherished memory. The two cups, decorated with lotus flower patterns, used to serve the King and Queen, will be kept and exhibited in the café," Thu Trang shared.
Opened in 2018, Trang and her husband’s café is a hidden gem in the Old Quarter, known for its intimate atmosphere.
The café’s furniture is crafted from repurposed materials such as bicycle wheels, paint cans, and plastic buckets. Through Trang’s creativity, these discarded items have been transformed into unique tables, chairs, and shelves, giving the café a distinctive charm.
