The fourth-year university student was among the many young people attracted by the “working at the bar” habit that has caught on in recent times.

Thus, in the past few months, instead of going to cafes and libraries, which she deems suffocatingly quiet, Ngoc has spent every night at bars doing her assignments.

She claims high-tempo music is a unique white noise that helps keep her brain in a constant euphoria, improving her performance. “[With this background noise]I can finish my tasks more quickly and productively”.

An evening at a bar costs her VND200,000-1,000,000 (US$7.6-38).

Khanh Ngan, a 21-year-old freelancer, also views nightlife venues as the perfect second office.

For her, bustling bars provide the spark needed for creative breakthroughs and secluded hidden pubs are ideal for deep concentration.

She usually goes with a group of friends to work and socialize simultaneously, blurring the lines between labor and leisure. “Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I will shift my focus [from the computer screen] to the people around me or chat with bartenders. This allows me to return to my tasks with a fresh perspective”.

Bars have emerged as the latest it-workspace across social media. On platforms like YouTube, House and Techno playlists curated specifically as ‘Work Music’ have attracted millions of streams.

Entertainment venues in Hanoi are quickly catching on with this trend.

Nguyen Viet Hoang, known as DJ Edgar at a bar in Dong Da, notes that the number of guests working on laptops has doubled or even tripled in recent times, with the working crowd typically peaking between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m.

While his typical sets consist of House and Techno, he says, as this new demographic grows, he will adjust the music to suit both those working and partying.

Further embracing the trend, his bar releases one-hour for work, attracting millions of views on social media. “For our music video visualizers, we have modelled an office with DJs performing in the background, and a lot of our viewers has expressed a desire to live out that setup”, Hoang says.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Van Sy, owner of Zero Point bar in Hanoi, notices a significant surge in working guests in 2025 compared to previous years.

On average, 10 or 15 guests bring their laptops each evening, typically coming alone and opting to sit at the bar with the bartender or in the outdoor areas, he says.

Aware of this new client demographic, the establishment has divided its space into “high-energy” and “mellow” music zones besides adding sofas to accommodate those staying for long work sessions.

Minh Ngoc (left) works on her computer at a bar in Hanoi on Dec. 20, 2025. Photo by Nga Thanh

Nguyen Viet Chung, a lecturer at Hanoi Medical University, says high-tempo electronic music can amplify the performance of the sympathetic nervous system by keeping the mind from wandering, thus enhancing focus.

“The euphoric, bustling atmosphere at bars triggers our brains to release dopamine, which helps turn tasks that are typically considered monotonous into something exciting”.

But stimulation only enhances productivity up to a certain point, as evidenced by the Yerkes-Dodson law, and if it exceeds that threshold – if the music becomes too loud or the lighting too erratic – productivity begins to decline, he points out.

Extended work sessions in ill-lit spaces such as bars can also lead to eye strain and visual impairment, he warns.

He advises young people to scrupulously obey the 20-20-20 rule (20-second break every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away) and prioritize open-air venues with minimal exposure to secondhand smoke.

According to psychologist Dr Nguyen Thi Minh of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, the post-Covid flexibility in working habits has encouraged Gen Z-ers to blur the lines between work and play.

For this group, seeing their peers working in public spaces provides a sense of collective motivation and alleviates feelings of isolation, making them more likely to stay focused and productive, he says.

As the clock strikes 12, Ngoc closes her laptop after completing the last chapter of her thesis. For her, the bar has evolved into a hybrid of office and party venue, helping her power through the busiest season of the year.

“Working at bars is my way of handling stress. When I turn off my laptop [and go home]I leave all my worries at the bar counter”.