Reaching Out Tea House

Reaching Out Tea House is one of the most memorable places to stop in the Ancient Town, and not only for the tea. It is a social enterprise whose staff are speech and hearing impaired, and the whole experience is built around quiet: guests write their orders on paper rather than speaking, and the room is calm even when the street outside is busy. It is at 131 Tran Phu Street, the main street of the old town.

The menu focuses on Vietnamese teas and coffees. The Vietnamese Tea Tasting Set is the signature order: you choose three teas from a selection of green, oolong, jasmine and organic herbal teas, and they are served with cookies. A cookie sampler is also available if you want something more to eat, and Vietnamese coffee is on the menu for those who prefer it to tea. Tea sets and ceramics are sold on site, so you can take home the equipment to recreate a tasting.

The interior has low chairs and large round windows that look out onto the street, and there is a small courtyard at the back. It is a good place to slow down between heritage visits, and the silent setting is a contrast with the activity of Tran Phu Street outside.

The tea house is linked to a sister arts and crafts workshop down the alley, which sells work made by Vietnamese artisans with disabilities. Visiting both is a simple way to support the enterprise, and the workshop is an obvious place to look for gifts made in Hoi An.

Travel writers list the opening hours as longer on weekdays than at weekends, opening from the morning into the evening, so check the times posted at the door before you plan a late visit.

Reaching Out suits couples, solo travellers and anyone interested in tea or in responsible travel. Respect the quiet atmosphere by keeping phones on silent and voices low. It sits close to the Fujian Assembly Hall at 46 Tran Phu and the Museum of Trade Ceramics at 80 Tran Phu, so it fits naturally into a morning of sightseeing on the same street.