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The Ultimate Side Hustle: Unlocking Massive Profits with a Hammock Cafe and Charging Station

4 August, 2025

In recent years, electric vehicles (EVs) have been steadily gaining traction in Vietnam’s transportation landscape. A testament to this burgeoning trend and the pressing need for charging infrastructure in Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam as a whole is the development of 3T, a unique cafe-charging station chain founded by Tran Anh Thanh, a resident of Ho Chi Minh City.

VIDEO: Reaping massive monthly profits from a hammock cafe combined with a charging station

Thanh shared that the idea for 3T stemmed from his personal experience in 2020 when he used an electric vehicle and occasionally ran out of battery mid-journey, unable to find a charging station, even at cafes. This spurred him to contemplate opening a charging station in 2021. In 2023, when he learned that Xanh SM was preparing to introduce electric vehicles for drivers, Thanh decided to venture into this field, combining the concepts of a cafe, repair shop, and resting area.

What’s remarkable is the rapid return on investment that the 3T charging station model has achieved. With an investment ranging from VND 180 million to over VND 200 million per facility, Thanh revealed that the first location recuperated its investment in just six months. Currently, he operates five locations, each generating a profit of VND 80-100 million per month, an impressive figure underscoring the venture’s exceptional profitability.

Subsequent locations have seen even faster returns on investment, taking only three to four months. Thanh plans to open two more similar locations and install additional electric car charging stations in Ho Chi Minh City.

Thanh’s establishments, such as a 160-square-meter cafe with 40 hammocks for napping, have become a haven for delivery drivers. The services offered here are designed to optimize costs for drivers: charging fees range from VND 8,000 to VND 16,000, drinks cost VND 17,000 to VND 20,000, and instant noodles, which drivers can cook themselves, are priced at just VND 5,000. Notably, the cafe also offers free hammocks, phone charging, and shower facilities.

To meet the continuous and stable charging demand, Thanh manufactures his charging stations according to the required electrical load, ensuring “excess capacity” instead of merely “sufficient” load as in off-the-shelf products. Each motorcycle charging station comprises four sockets at a cost of VND 600,000, and each facility is equipped with 20 such stations.

Charging fees for electric motorcycles at this hammock cafe are not calculated by the hour but based on battery capacity: VND 10,000 for charging from 50% to 100%, and VND 16,000 for charging below 50% to 100%. Drivers can relax on the hammocks without any time restrictions.

Electric car charging station at the 3T facility on National Highway 13.

To diversify services and meet the evolving needs of electric vehicle users, Thanh has also established an electric car charging station and a Selex Moto battery swap station at the facility on National Highway 13. Here, drivers can quickly swap their depleted batteries for fully charged ones in just three minutes, effectively addressing concerns about charging time and travel range for electric motorcycles. This marks a significant step forward in promoting the adoption of electric vehicles in Vietnam, especially given the public’s apprehension about charging infrastructure.

When a vehicle’s battery is low, drivers can use the app to locate the nearest swap station. They can then use a QR code to open the charging compartment, swap the depleted battery for a fully charged one, place the used battery in the charging station, and continue their journey. The entire battery swap process takes just a few minutes.

“The model is generally convenient, but we need more charging stations and battery swap stations to reassure electric motorcycle users. People are still hesitant about electric vehicles due to charging concerns, fearing that charging at home may lead to fire hazards. Therefore, we need more public charging and battery swap stations.” – Mr. Hai, a Grab driver, shared his thoughts. He also mentioned that electric vehicles are more cost-effective than gasoline-powered ones, and vehicles from reputable brands are less likely to experience fire hazards, unlike those from unknown sources.

In addition to the cafe-charging station chain, Tran Anh Thanh has also developed a non-profit application called “Quan Quen Gan Day” (Familiar Local Spots). This app is designed to support the driver community by helping them easily locate the nearest electric vehicle charging stations, including those operated by 3T and other public stations. Notably, the app also incorporates a public restroom locator feature, providing maximum convenience for drivers on the go.

The app can be easily found on AppStore and CH Play.