Ngo Quy Hai, 27, is the owner of Sunhouse Coffee, a coffee and cake shop that features many of the great things in Vietnam. The coffee and cake house has an inspiring story of overcoming limitations, frustrations, and pursuing dreams for Hai, a burn survivor.
When Hai was a toddler, an accident involving a baby walker in the kitchen caused him to fall into the woodstove. The accident caused significant burns on parts of his body. Hai was transported to Children's Hospital 1 in Saigon. The Epoch Times wrote that he stayed there for two years, undergoing lifesaving intensive care and treatment.
Although he had several reconstruction treatments, he was still left with significant scarring. That caused him to be constantly bullied in school, forcing him to drop his subjects. However, he was lucky enough to find a friend who also had disabilities, Hoàng Xiên, and they would spend much time together as kids.
The dream is to open a cake shop
Hai said that he would never forget the day he had the dream to open his bakery. When they were ten years old, he and his friend passed by a beautiful bakery.
The pair decided to save their money, walk proudly into the store, and purchase a cake. When they had enough funds, they returned to the bakery. Hai said that it was his friend's birthday and they were so excited to eat a cake for his friend's celebration.
The boys ran to the bakery in excitement. However, the security guard and the staff kicked them out. He said they were poor, so their clothes were not fancy as the others. Hai remembered that they both cried a lot while explaining that they had money. Worst, they were chased away.
Hai said it was truly humiliating. However, he said that the experience gave him the determination to do what he truly wanted: to open up his bakery and bake delicious and beautiful cakes. Hai also vowed to serve everyone good food, regardless of social status and disabilities.
Fortunate enough
In 2016, a charity organization Interplast sent him to Germany to undergo operations. He was in a coma for 21 days, but the doctors and nurses cared for him. He remembered kindness from everyone there, which changed his life tremendously.
When he returned to Vietnam, he was introduced to Koto Villa, a Hanoi restaurant and hospitality training school for neglect, abandonment, and abuse victims. There, he finally learned to read and write. He then worked at restaurants to gain experience and save enough capital to build his dreams.
He returned to his hometown to open his bakery. He opened at the height of the pandemic. At first, people were wary of his appearance, but eventually, they got used to his presence and loved his cakes, coffee, and other foods. His loyal childhood friend still visits often and even stays for a week to help. They did not have to beg for a cake anymore as they now own a bakery.
