If you have the chance to pass by Soc Son town, then try stopping at Dom – a cafe that made me stop for a long time and spend the whole afternoon enjoying it. In an area where there are dozens of cafes springing up like mushrooms, from affordable to high-end, the fact that Dom is always crowded even on regular days is something worth noting.
First, let's talk about the price – which might make many people hesitate when coming here for the first time. The average price for each drink here is about 2 dollars, and that does not include toppings. You might think this price is a bit “expensive” compared to the general level in Vietnam, but if you look at the space and experience that the shop brings, I think many people will see this as a worthy investment.
The first impression when stepping into the shop is the super spacious space. The shop is divided into two main areas: outdoor area and indoor area.
The outdoor area has many green trees planted and cared for in a classic style. The trees are arranged cleverly, creating a space that is both cool and nostalgic. Wooden tables, small roofs placed next to old brick walls – all create a beautiful space that makes people want to sit for a long time.
As for the inside, it is truly a miniature world for all types of people. Do you like to sit at a table to work? Yes. Do you like to sit on the floor leaning against the wall to drink tea and read books? Also yes. The shop even has a large bookshelf with countless titles of all genres – from literary novels, self-help books, to comics, economics, politics... You can sit for hours just flipping through the pages in this quiet space.
Although it is an open space with large glass doors to let natural light in, the shop does not have private rooms, so there is no absolute privacy. However, the surprising thing is that even without private rooms, many people still come here to work – each table has at least one person bringing a laptop, typing, working in a focused way. Maybe because of the neat, aesthetic arrangement, bright and clean space, the shop still keeps a professional feeling, creating a friendly open office vibe.
About drinks – special and strange taste
This time I didn’t choose the usual milk tea or coffee but chose to drink a fresh coconut and a cup of jasmine tea with sugar palm seeds.
I have to say right away that this is the first time I see a cafe using sugar palm seeds as a topping for milk tea or flower tea. For those who don't know, sugar palm seeds are the seeds of the sugar palm tree (Arenga pinnata), white and opaque, about the size of a fingertip. This type of seed is often used by Vietnamese people in sweet dessert soups rather than in drinks. But Dom was very bold when combining sugar palm seeds rimmed with pineapple with jasmine tea – and surprisingly, the drink was very delicious and strange.
The sugar palm seeds were rimmed in pineapple, so when eating, they have a sweet, nutty taste, crispy texture, and a light pineapple aroma. This topping costs 0.4 dollars separately, but totally worth it. When eaten with jasmine tea, the gentle sweetness and crispiness of the sugar palm seeds blend with the light bitterness and coolness of the tea, creating a very pleasant feeling. I ordered 30% sugar to reduce the sweetness, so I could feel the strong flavor of jasmine tea clearly, not overwhelmed by sugar or other flavorings.
About the coconut – unfortunately this time the coconut was quite old, so the water was a bit bland, not as naturally sweet as expected. This may be a small minus point in today's experience, but it does not affect the overall impression too much. Next time, I will definitely try other types of tea here, because the menu of the shop seems quite rich with many unique types of tea that I have never seen anywhere else.
Although the price is somewhat higher than the general level, the shop deserves to be in the high-end segment with what it brings: from space, decoration, creative menu and delicious drinks, very worth trying.