Coffee giant Starbucks has expanded into Vietnam’s capital city.

Nestled in the Hanoi’s vibrant Hoan Kiem district, at the Lan Vien Hotel, the store embraces the local traditions and coffee culture.

It was followed by a second outlet at 314 Ba Trieu and a third one slated for opening on July 31 at 59A Ly Thai To.

The openings demonstrate Starbucks’ commitment to the Vietnamese community, after entering the market in February of last year.

“Our stores are designed as gathering places for our customers to enjoy a personalised, handcrafted cup of coffee with friends and family,” said Jeff Hansberry, president, Starbucks China and Asia Pacific region.

Starbucks stores in Hanoi will feature artwork created by Hanoi-based artists, as well as décor sourced from local Vietnamese market vendors to create distinctive store features – such as a community table made of reclaimed wood that will draw customers together as they connect over their coffee.

The Starbucks stores in Hanoi will offer a variety of locally distinct beverage options, most notably the Asian Dolce Latte, which debuted at the opening of the Ho Chi Minh City store last year. Created specifically for the distinct taste preferences of coffee-lovers across the region, the Asian Dolce Latte was inspired by Vietnam’s coffee culture and lifestyle. Through this strong, velvety espresso-based beverage, Starbucks sought to introduce one of the many facets of Vietnam’s rich coffee tradition to the rest of the Asia Pacific region.

Starbucks, through a licensed partnership with Coffee Concepts (Vietnam), a subsidiary of Hong Kong’s Maxim’s Group, opened its first store in Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City in February 2013, and since then has opened eight stores across the city and hired more than 200 part- and full-time staff across Vietnam.