Do not be put off by the cold reception you get at this cafe in Hanoi - that is part of its charm.

The cafe's interiors - from the animal statues to the tables and chairs - are all carved out of blocks of ice.

Aptly named Ice Coffee, the bistro in Dai Co Viet Street has seen its popularity surge as locals and tourists find cool respite within its walls from a heat wave that has hit the Vietnamese capital over the past month, with temperatures hitting 40 deg C.

Inside Ice Coffee, however, the temperature is kept at about minus 10 deg C. Customers are provided with thermal jackets and gloves.

Cafe owner Le Bach told online newspaper VNExpress he hopes the eatery will give travellers "a unique experience".

As long as temperatures continue to soar in the city - and is forecast to remain high for at least another week - customers will continue to flock there to keep cool.