When doing some research on Vietnam I found an Instagram of a beautiful tea house in Hoi An and immediately texted my boyfriend Thor that WE. MUST. GO. THERE. He had been to Hoi An before and knew of it, so as soon as we arrived it was the first place we rode to when we got our bikes from the hotel.
Reaching Out Tea House is unique because everyone employed there has a speech or hearing impediment. It's very quiet and relaxing. On each table there are blocks with words + phrases like hot water, cold water, thank you, ice and a pencil + paper for you to write on. You communicate with the staff by pointing at the blocks and menu. Everyone working there gave us the sweetest smiles and truly wonderful service.
Vietnam in July is hot. Let me say that one more time. Vietnam in July is freaking hot. It's the kind of weather where you want the world's largest ice cold slurpee - not exactly a boiling pot of tea. However, when we were selecting drinks I had my heart set on getting one of the gorgeous tea pots that I'd seen on Instagram. So I ordered a pot of hot tea, while sweat dripped down the backs of my legs. Thor was much smarter than me and ordered a cold tea along with a glass of juice. My jaw dropped when his cold tea came out in a pretty little tea pot as well. So now you know. You can have your cold tea and Instagram it too.
We each ordered the cookie sampler which was really fun to try and nibble on bites of the unique flavors. The menu had details about which teas paired best with what kind of cookie. It was such a lovely chance to slow down and enjoy a little slice of peacefulness. Truly the tea party of my dreams!
