“Happy Restaurant” staff members take orders from customers. (Photo: Hong Nhung)

“Hello. Welcome to Happy Restaurant” may sound like an unremarkable greeting you might hear at any restaurant, but the greeting at this restaurant is out of the ordinary because all the staff members have autism. The restaurant is part of Vietnam’s Autism Projects (VAPs), the first economic model for autistic people in Vietnam.

All 10 staff members at the “Happy Restaurant” are multitaskers. Some receive guests and take orders. Some serve diners and collect the money. Others prepare pizza, fries, salad, and herbal tea. 

“I’m preparing three sausage pizzas, one seafood pizza, and three vegetarian pizzas. First, I take the pan, grease it, and put in the pizza dough. I pour on tomato sauce and spread it evenly over the pizza. Then I add bell peppers and all the other ingredients,” one of the cooks, Vuong Khoa An, said.

The “Happy Restaurant” has already served 7,000 customers, which means there have been 7,000 opportunities for the staff to improve their life skills. Despite difficulties in communicating and managing their emotions and behavior, they interact with and serve the customers professionally, reflecting a concentrated effort toward self-improvement.

“I’ve worked here for three and a half years. I’m in charge of serving food and accepting the payment. Since I began working for VAPs, I’ve become happier, more open, and have overcome depression. I used to avoid interacting with others and was guilty of absenteeism, but now I’ve improved and shaped myself for the better,” staff member Quang Anh said.

Nguyen Duc Trung, the founder of VAPs, has a strong economic background, with nearly 10 years of research in autism worldwide. He has accompanied with many families in Vietnam who have autistic children. Trung said training the staff takes a lot of time and effort.   

“Because many autistic individuals don’t know how to behave properly and may have psychological issues, I have to address those problems before training them and involving them in economic activities,” said Trung.

No matter how hard they try, they can’t succeed without the support of others. The trust and encouragement of their families, peers, and customers is the key to their day-by-day improvements, according to Trung.

"Everyone should have faith in their children. We’re all born with a mission. The most important thing is to have faith. If we have faith, there is a chance for anyone, no matter how vulnerable they may be. Society also needs to have faith. It starts with belief, and belief leads to action,” said Trung.

A “Happy Restaurant” staff member performs a song. (Photo: Hong Nhung)

The efforts of Trung and his staff have paid dividends. Customers keep returning and recommend the restaurant to their friends and relatives.  

“This is my sixth or seventh time here, and I’m always satisfied with the food, drinks, and service. The young guys have become happier, more professional, and more sociable. They even sing and play games. Every visit, I bring new friends and encourage them to return and invite others,” said a customer.

“I am really impressed with their confidence. Although autistic people typically lack confidence and limit their social interactions, I find the people here very confident. They sing and work. I’m surprised and impressed,” said another customer. 

Good news has wings. The project has become known outside Hanoi. Parents with autistic children in other localities have visited VAPs to learn from its model.

“We live in a difficult area of Lai Chau province and my child is totally dependent on me. Early intervention is essential, but it must be the right kind. If I just complain instead of proactively seeking a solution, it will be hopeless,” said Mai Thuy Duong.

The aim of Vietnam’s Autism Projects is to create a welcoming work environment for people with autism, where they can work, earn an income, find happiness, live an independent life…and even sing in English to entertain themselves and their customers.