Business Spotlight: HI:EN FROM VIETNAM
Located right at the intersection of two iconic Chinatown streets, Hester and Mott, Hien From Vietnam might be nestled in a little nook but it spreads the distinct aroma of Vietnamese coffee beans that often makes passersbys pause in curiosity. If you are looking for a purely Vietnamese coffee experience, highlighted by a cup of crushed ice, look no further than HIEN FROM VIETNAM, (121 Mott Street).
It’s the perfect spot to not only enjoy coffee but also admire the nostalgic, handmade beauty crafted by the owner's artistic vision and hands.
In 2015, Hien (known as Christmas Le) moved to New York in her 20s after a nearly 10-year journey spanning various fields, from restaurants to fashion and art, she opened her coffee shop in August of 2024. With her roots in the Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam, Hien developed a fierce love for Vietnamese culture, especially Vietnamese food. Before opening the coffee shop, she also experimented with various pop-up formats, selling coffee and homemade food at local stores and restaurants, gradually shaping her personal brand with customers.
"Vietnam is often known for iconic dishes like Pho and Bun Bo Hue, and every customer who comes into my shop asks if I sell those," Hien laughed as she recalled. "When I first opened the shop, it was true that I sold some Vietnamese dishes to go with the coffee. But then I realized that New York already has enough trendy things, and the Vietnamese food market also has a certain diversity, so I decided to focus solely on authentic Vietnamese coffee- and make it truly high quality."
One of the rare authentic Vietnamese coffee shops in New York
Vietnamese coffee is famous for its rich, intensely bitter flavor from Robusta beans, filtered slowly through a phin, which Vietnamese people often drink with condensed milk or sugar. In the eyes of many people from other cultures, a true Vietnamese coffee holds great charm in its deeply fragrant, yet remarkably strong aroma.
A photo of the shop when it opened in 2024
"A strong cup of coffee is probably normal for Vietnamese people. But when I came here, I realized that many people in New York find Vietnamese coffee to be quite strong and are mostly familiar with Americano or cold brew, which are lighter and less intense," Hien shared. "So I added more options to reduce the caffeine content, like decaf, so customers can fully enjoy an authentic Vietnamese coffee without worrying about getting jittery after drinking it."
Not only distinguished by its quality coffee made entirely from authentic beans imported from Vietnam, HIEN FROM VIETNAM also features crushed ice, which in my opinion is extremely rare, elsewhere in New York. This seemingly simple detail actually takes a great deal of time to prepare, and reflects the shop owner's meticulous dedication to delivering a truly authentic Vietnamese coffee experience.
"A cup of coffee with crushed ice is a familiar and rustic image for Vietnamese people, where each ice cube gets smashed into small pieces. At first, I also planned to do it the traditional way, but it took more effort than I thought," Hien smiled. "I later bought an ice maker- and what's even better is that many customers now come to the shop just for the ice."
From the moment you walk in, you will be surrounded by the charm of the space, anchored by a beautiful wooden counter and captivating wall art- all of which, according to Hien, was lovingly crafted by her own hands, along with the majority of the shop's decorations and paintings.
In a neighborhood still navigating the ripples of the pandemic and the weight of today's inflation, seeing a small business built with such intentional, hand-crafted detail feels like a vital sign of Chinatown's resilience. Amidst the rising costs and economic shifts of 2024, HIEN FROM VIETNAM stands as a welcoming landmark of what's possible. So, don't hesitate to stop by 121 Mott Street this summer- a delicious, ice-cold Vietnamese milk coffee is waiting to welcome you home.
