Arul Coffee lies on the main street leading to Ako Dhong, an Ede and M’nong ethnic village in the heart of Buon Ma Thuot, capital of Central Highlands province Dak Lak - the land of coffee.

The cafe comprises three long houses with tiled roofs, one serving as a parking lot. The lush greenery and tall trees make the space charming.

Looking like a traditional Ede long house, or nha dai, the cafe easily blends into its surroundings. However, an inviting entrance and a rustic signboard distinguish it from the other long houses in the village.

The nha dai is a low stilt house which is 15-100 meters long and accommodates ethnic Ede people of different generations.

The cafe comprises three long houses with tiled roofs, one serving as a parking lot. The lush greenery and tall trees make the space charming.

The middle structure is a long house built in the 1980s. Its front faces the main street, a typical characteristic of houses in the village. From the front yard, a wooden staircase leads up to the porch.

The other long house was built recently also with wood and a tiled roof.

Before it was converted into a coffee shop, the house was a personal residence.

The architecture remains almost completely intact, with primary material being wood. It has doors in the front and at the back and many windows on the two sides. The wooden tables are low, and guests sit on the floor.

The kitchen is fully equipped with traditional utensils and appliances. With the exception of the kitchen, the house still preserves traditional Central Highlands decorative items like brocade tapestries, woven baskets, cauldrons, and ceramic jars.

The backyard is airy and open and filled with simple wooden furniture redolent of Central Highlands aesthetics.

The other long house was built recently also with wood and a tiled roof. But it is more contemporary than the others. There are no walls and all four sides overlook connected gardens.

Separating the houses are green areas with lots of trees and plants.

In the yard are wooden folk statues and furniture with intricate ethnic carvings.

Pham Quynh Anh (right), a local who was visiting the cafe with her brother, said: "Though it is our first time here, we are already in love with the place. The cafe is breathtaking in a minimalist, rustic way. It feels as if I am at home. I will definitely come back."

Prices start at around VND20,000 ($0.87) for a cup. Arul Coffee at 17-19 Tran Nhat Duat Street, Tan Loi Ward, Buon Ma Thuot is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.

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Source: VnExpress