Feature: Vietnam's first keeper-less shop amazes youth, provokes behavioral revolution

"They believed that my idea was crazy and impossible and simply would not work in Vietnam, but I made up my mind and went ahead anyway believing that my customers would trust me and that I could help change self-awareness of people in Vietnam."

So said Dao Khanh Hiep, the owner of Vietnam's first-ever keeper-less store, where the youth of the capital are astounded at being fully entrusted to serve and pay for coffee and snacks by themselves.

Located in a busy street in downtown Hanoi, the little coffee shop looks quite eye-catching with a diverse menu offering snacks, raw chocolate, ice-cream, and drinks.

On entering the store customers ring a bell which opens an automatic gate and are welcomed into a tiny yet cozy space with mellow music playing. Once inside they can select their own food and beverages, pay for them, and clean their tables, all by themselves.

"There are no assistants, waiters or waitresses in the shop. The customers do everything by themselves and then leave," Hiep told Xinhua in a recent interview, adding that when deciding to open the shop, he faced drastic opposition from his family and friends.

But it's not all simply down to trust, customers are closely monitored on entering the shop and until they leave by a system of cameras which record all day and night. Those who do not pay, or pay an inadequate amount of money will be blacklisted by the system and the shop's gate will no longer open for them to enter.

Hiep told Xinhua however that in the past five months since his shop's debut, he has never experienced anyone who did not pay or paid less than their due amount.

"When the shop first opened, I was a bit nervous about the business and its unique concept. However, now, things have become quite easy for me," Hiep said.

"I'm a shop owner but I come here just twice in the morning and in the afternoon to restock goods in the fridge and clean up. In the future, I plan to open more shops with a wider selection of food," the shop owner said proudly.

The distinctive shop attracts curiosity, surprise and excitement from local customers. There's a space in the shop for customers' reviews and almost all of the customers said they came not only to experience freedom of shopping but also enjoyed learning about "self-awareness."

Le Dinh Anh, a student, told Xinhua, "I like the shop's space. Coming here, I can do everything on my own, without having to bother anyone. The drinks here are also great and suit young people's tastes.

Nguyen Nhu Quynh, 20, agreed with Anh. "Despite it being only a tiny space, I love this shop so much and hope there will be more and more shops like it the future to raise awareness of 'Do-It-Yourself' among the young in particular and among Vietnamese people in general."

Pham Hung Thang, a communications expert, said that by having no shopkeeper, the shop is intentionally being different to grab the spotlight while penetrating an increasingly demanding market in Vietnam. The expert thought the new business model is feasible, with the availability of technical solutions.

"An automatic shop like this also helps save costs. Normally, to open a shop, people need at least two or three shop assistants. However, in this instance, only one is needed and even one can manage three to four shops at the same time," Thang said, encouraging other local firms in Vietnam to follow suit.

"In addition to solving economic problems, the shop is also meaningful as it provokes a revolution' in behavior among Vietnamese people. There may not be any cheating, theft or fraud while shopping," Thang said. Endit