Years of working with traditional wooden clogs and ao dai (traditional long dress) gave designer Lily Hoang, who was born in 1989, a deeper appreciation of northern Vietnamese culture. To help people rediscover childhood memories and learn about the cultural traditions of northern Vietnam, she created the Am Cake cultural space in an alley on Lac Long Quan Street in Hanoi.
“To bring traditional wooden clogs back to life, I felt that producing them commercially and incorporating them into fashion was not enough. I wanted to create a space where people could experience and reconnect with them more easily. That inspired me to build a space that revives the cultural essence of northern Vietnamese villages. I was born and raised in northern Vietnam, and like many others, I have a deep love for its culture and a strong sense of nostalgia for it. I believe traditional wooden clogs belong naturally in a space that recreates the spirit of old northern villages,” Lily Hoang said.
Am Cake features a traditional kitchen with a wood-burning stove, an old cupboard, and farm tools such as knives and sickles used by villagers in the past. In the reception area, visitors can sit around an antique wooden table, drink tea, and talk. Every detail is arranged to recreate the atmosphere and rustic charm of a traditional northern village.
“At the entrance, we grow plants that were commonly seen in old northern Vietnamese villages. Inside, visitors can explore a recreated traditional three-compartment house. In the main room, we display an antique wooden table and chairs that have been preserved by my family for more than 50 years. The kitchen has an earthen wood-burning stove, along with shelves and a cabinet handmade by my maternal grandfather. It’s a warm, welcoming space where people can roast corn and sweet potatoes while sitting together and chatting,” said Lily Hoang.
Am Cake was created around the ideas of revival, reuse, and recycling, while drawing on the cultural heritage of northern Vietnam. The space takes an environment-friendly approach, making use of existing materials rather than building new reinforced-concrete structures. The aim was to create a simple, welcoming setting where visitors can experience the atmosphere of the past.
“Lily Hoang is very creative and passionate about preserving and reviving the traditional culture of northern Vietnam. I find Am Cake to be a peaceful place filled with positive energy. Whenever I feel down, I come here to talk with people, and I always leave feeling happier and more uplifted,” Visitor Nhu Quynh from Thanh Hoa province said.
Am Cake offers a wide range of interactive activities that give visitors a chance to experience traditional northern Vietnamese culture firsthand. Lily Hoang guides them through the process of making their own wooden clogs.
“Visitors can take part in a variety of traditional activities, including preparing betel quid, bamboo dancing, and wearing traditional northern Vietnamese costumes. They can also try on wooden clogs and learn how to make them themselves. We hope these hands-on experiences will give visitors a deeper appreciation for this traditional footwear,” Lily Hoang said.
Am Cake often hosts talks and cultural exchanges featuring stories, folk traditions, and shared memories passed down through generations.
“We offer a variety of programs for different age groups. For children, there’s a program called ‘Reviving memories, awakening the future.’ They can feed chickens, participate in bamboo dances, play traditional games, wear traditional northern Vietnamese costumes, make wooden clogs, reuse old fabric to make stuffed toys, and create Dong Ho folk paintings. For adults, we have a program called ‘Come here and listen to me,’ which gives middle-aged visitors a chance to relive memories of the past and experience the atmosphere of traditional northern villages. The program is very popular with international visitors,” said Lily Hoang.
Ngoc Huyen, a representative of Hanoi’s Dream School Education System, brought a group of students to Am Cake for a hands-on cultural experience. She said, “We’re impressed by Lily Hoang’s dedication and passion for preserving traditional culture. The children and foreign teachers were excited to try their hand making Dong Ho folk paintings on do (poonah) paper. Am Cake offers a meaningful cultural experience to both children and adults.”
