it’s been a long time since my last visit to Nê Tống, probably over a year. and actually I never really enjoyed the atmosphere or the drinks there since this last visit. I once had come to Nê Tống a lot when I was young. being there again feld like “cảnh còn người mất” - the place is still there, but the people and the feeling are gone. it brought back memories of the early days, when Hanoi only ad a handful of small cocktail bars. back then, I was always wandering around the Old Quarter and Hang Da Market, sharing moments, both tears and joy, with my friends at Mojito Bar, Nguyễn Quang Bích. or sometimes when I was rich (just receive my salary), went upstair, to the Alchemist.
today, Phương ordered a Phở cocktail. the first time I tried one was at Angelina Metropole, and it was actually quite good, but I’ve never felt the need to have another since. “Không phải người con miền Bắc đắm chìm trong phở” - I’m just not that into this one, whether as a soup or as a cocktail. back then, Nê was quite popular. Tuấn Anh was still the head bartender - or at least he was working there - and they had acoustic live music every Tuesday. there was this older man who would perform alone, play rock songs on his guitar with a quiet intensity. then, somehow, we all drifted apart, me, my memories, and these cocktail bars. some places are still around but they’ve lost their fire, holding onto faint sparks of what they once were. others have closed and replaced by something new. and the bartender I used to know have all disappeared.
we grew apart. until now, I hadn’t been able to recall these faint memories. and you see, I’ve never really nurtured relationships long or patiently enough for them to become something lasting - something deeper.
then Spotify is playing a playlist called “Indie Cinema”. maybe it’s the music that brings me back to these memories.
and “The Air That I Breathe”, song by The Hollies ‧ 1974