Deaf café goes with the flow

From the outside, Flow-ee café might seem like any other in downtown Hà Nội. But step inside, and you’ll notice something special. The staff, affectionately called "Flowers", are all hearing impaired, taking orders by exchanging written notes with customers.

Communication between the staff is done entirely through sign language, creating an unusually quiet atmosphere that patrons appreciate.

I find this café ideal for working," said regular Trần Phương Uyên with Việt Nam News. "It's so quiet here. I enjoy coming to work and enjoy a drink."

Another patron, Hoàng Minh Châu, frequents Flow-ee for a different reason. "I want to support the disabled in their jobs to help boost their confidence," she said. "The drinks here are as good as other cafés, and the staff are always enthusiastic and friendly."

Among the staff members is Vũ Thế Dương, the youngest, who has been hearing impaired since childhood. His job at Flow-ee has greatly increased his confidence.

"I faced many challenges finding a job before," he said. "Then I came across this opportunity online and applied. Initially, it was difficult to adjust, but over time I’ve improved my skills."

INSPIRED: Nguyễn Thái Hà has gained lots of confidence at the job. VNS Photo Lê Hương

Dương noted that communicating with customers has not been a significant challenge, thanks to sign language and his ability to make quality drinks.

"Customers enjoy their time here," he said.

"I’m confident in my role at Flow-ee. Many hearing-impaired people struggle to find jobs, and I hope society offers more opportunities for us to showcase our abilities."

Another server, Nguyễn Thái Hà, also highlighted how he interacts with customers using sign language and writing.

"I often smile at them," said the 23-year-old. "I observe customers closely and serve them with care. Working here is wonderful because the customers are happy, and the staff are cheerful."

Flow-ee café was established to support the disabled by providing them with meaningful employment. The café’s co-founder, Hoàng Thu Thủy, explained that hearing-impaired people are particularly well-suited for this environment.

"We don’t face significant challenges communicating with our staff," Thủy said. "The operation runs smoothly because they’re skilled in sign language."

TEAM WORK: The cafe is a good working environment for hearing-impaired people. VNS Photo Lê Hương

The staff at Flow-ee are given considerable autonomy.

"Our disabled employees have the highest level of self-management," Thủy said. "They run the café independently, handling all tasks without oversight. Over time, they’ve become more adept at managing situations and communicating with customers."

Thủy expressed hope that more people will support this business model, allowing it to thrive and create more opportunities for the disabled to demonstrate their abilities.

Beyond its welcoming atmosphere, Flow-ee attracts customers with its unique offerings. Bingsu, a shaved ice dessert, is a standout, blending the sweetness of ice with the subtle bitterness of alcohol. The café’s lime, orange, and tiramisu-flavoured coffees are also popular.

Bingsu is relatively rare in Việt Nam, and creating it posed a challenge for the Flow-ee staff.

Initially, they aimed to combine fresh ice cream with wine, but after months of experimentation, they perfected a fruit-flavoured snow cream mixed with various wines. Each cup contains just a hint of alcohol, allowing guests to savour each bite.

TAKING A BREAK: Outside the pretty cafe. VNS Photo Tạ Nguyên

“To make sticky rice Bingsu, or watermelon Bingsu, it seems simple, but initially, we spent two months working from 6pm to midnight to perfect the recipe,” said Ngô Quốc Hào, CEO of Flow-ee.

"The result is a truly unique menu, only found here. Each serving is small enough to be enjoyed leisurely."

Customers not only return but also spread the word about this unique café. Visitors range from family and friends of the staff to foreign tourists, children, and other hearing-impaired people. Many young people and children even visit to learn basic sign language from the staff to thank the "Flowers" for their delicious drinks.

HOT SPOT: The cafe has been a rendezvous for hearing-impaired people. VNS Photo Thu Trang

"This is a great business model for creating jobs for disabled people," said customer Uyên. "I’ll definitely come back and encourage my friends to visit as well."

Customer Châu echoed this sentiment, noting that this type of business can help integrate the disabled fully into society.

Flow-ee also hosts sign language classes every Wednesday and Saturday night, fostering a stronger connection between the hearing-impaired community and the broader public.

Messages sent by customers to the staff at the cafe. VNS Photo Thu Trang