The 160-square-meter cafe offers around 40 hammocks for customers to relax or nap. The services are affordably priced: scooter charging costs 8,000-16,000 VND, drinks range from 17,000-20,000 VND, and instant noodles are 5,000 VND. Hammocks, phone charging, showers, and restrooms are free.

This has been Bao's regular midday stop for over a month. He lives in Binh Duong Province and commutes daily to Ho Chi Minh City to work as a ride-hailing driver. Three months ago, he switched to an electric scooter, which required him to either ask acquaintances to charge it or find cafes that rented out power outlets for about 20,000 VND. Finding a charging spot wasn't always easy.

In mid-June, he discovered the cafe-charging station model and decided to give it a try. "It suits a ride-hailing driver's income," he said. "I no longer have to drive around looking for a charging outlet."

At noon on 22/7, around 20 other drivers and delivery workers were resting alongside Bao. The charging area accommodates up to 26 vehicles. With each full charge taking three hours, they take turns charging and resting in the hammocks.

A cafe combined with a charging station on Phan Van Tri Street, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City, at noon on 22/7. Photo: Ngoc Ngan

A cafe combined with a charging station on Phan Van Tri Street, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City, at noon on 22/7. Photo: Ngoc Ngan

Drivers like Bao are increasingly choosing cafes with integrated charging stations. A VnExpress survey in Ho Chi Minh City revealed that this model emerged in mid-2024 and has proliferated in recent months. There are now nearly 20 such cafes in the city, concentrated in Binh Tri Dong A, An Nhon, Binh Thanh, Phu Dinh, Binh Hung, and Binh Chanh.

This model primarily caters to drivers and delivery workers, providing charging facilities, rest areas, bathrooms, and restrooms. Some locations also offer electric scooter repair and maintenance services.

Tran Anh Thanh, 30, the founder of the 3T cafe-charging station chain in Ho Chi Minh City, said the model arose from user demand. In 4/2024, he opened his first station, serving 70-100 customers daily. Fourteen months later, he opened four more stations, with customer numbers increasing by 30-40%. He is preparing to launch a fifth location.

Depending on the cafe's size, each location has 15-20 charging spots, which drivers use on a rotating, self-service basis. A monthly package for 650,000 VND includes overnight parking and charging. Soon, the company will also offer a charge-and-deliver service within a 7-km radius.

Most customers choose these stations because the power supply and facilities at their rented accommodations are insufficient. Thanh's 3T stations have technicians to assist with the electrical systems, fire safety, and emergency responses.

According to Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City is finalizing a plan to transition all 400,000 ride-hailing drivers to electric scooters, which will further increase demand.

The city is a hub for ride-hailing, delivery, and courier services using two-wheeled vehicles. Currently, Xanh SM uses entirely electric vehicles, while other platforms allow drivers to choose between gasoline and electric scooters.

Drivers charge their vehicles at a station on Phan Van Tri Street, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City, at noon on 22/7. Photo: Ngoc Ngan

Drivers charge their vehicles at a station on Phan Van Tri Street, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City, at noon on 22/7. Photo: Ngoc Ngan

Tran Trung Hieu, director of F&B Academy, said the model of combining charging stations with cafes integrates food and beverage services with practical needs, a common practice in the industry.

He believes the model aligns with future trends, as customers can use the services while waiting two or three hours for their vehicles to charge. Each cafe will implement different approaches alongside charging services, depending on its value proposition. As urban areas promote electric vehicle use, this model increases convenience and reduces the worry of running out of power while on the go.

The expert suggested that this model could have an advantage in the next few years by meeting market trends and demands. However, its sustainability depends on user behavior, whether charging becomes as habitual as buying coffee, and how the electric vehicle market develops.

"For F&B businesses, charging stations are a supplementary service, while for charging station businesses, F&B is an added convenience. Each model requires a separate calculation," Hieu said.

The "charging stations everywhere" model is thriving in China and has helped many cities transition from gasoline to electric vehicles. For example, Chengdu has a network of small charging stations around convenience stores, grocery stores, or electric scooter repair shops, keeping tens of thousands of electric bicycles and scooters powered up. These stations also attract more customers to the stores.

Van Anh, 34, a ride-hailing driver, said this model is suitable for female drivers. She works 12-14 hours a day, often feeling exhausted and needing an affordable place to rest. However, many cafes discourage long stays. Six times a week, she visits a charging station on National Highway 13, Thu Duc City, to rest, change clothes, and prepare for her night shift.

"Thanks to these cafe-charging stations, I feel more secure," Van Anh said.

Ngoc Ngan