Best Cafe’s to try in Ho Chi Minh/ Saigon, Vietnam

In every visit, I love hopping to different Cafes of any town. And Vietnam being second largest coffee exporter in world, it meant its raining cafe’s everywhere. Literally. There are at least 2 cafes in every block. From big to small. From artisanal to chain. From an experience to utility. There is a Café to cater to everyone.

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Here is my list of Ca Phe’s one must visit in Ho Chi Minh/ Saigon

1. Little Hanoi café – This is a quaint coffee shop built in an apartment. So the layout of the café makes you feel home. Their repurposed chair, homely sofa and collection of books and paintings just all the more adds to the homely café vibe. Best part is one of their table located in the balcony which provides a nice privacy corner for unlimited coffee with painting, coffee with chat or just coffee with your own thoughts. They have two locations and the original location is cutest of them. Little Hanoi serves you unlimited green tea which is at no cost. Absolutely love their breakfast menu as well. Definitely try the egg coffee, Kumquat tea, and mango toast and spoil yourself with their deserts.

This cute place is an old apartment turned café

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2. Soo Café (The Hidden Elephant Books Café) – Coffee, books, and a window is just match made in haven. Soo Café that all of that. Its a café which has a good book collection, but mostly books in Vietnamese and a small shelf full of books in English. The wall library gives a amazing vibe which makes you want to open your book and sip with coffee for hours. They also have an amazing reading corner which was my favourite. The open balcony over looking the Ben Thanh market is just ideal when you want to sit and sip and see the world go by. So whatever you would like to do, ensure to visit this place for sure. Definitely try their pour over, chocolate coffee, and rye bread sandwich. Unfortunately when I was visiting they didn’t have deserts due to some technical issue, but I bet they will be tasty.

This café is just perfect to grab your book and sit with some coffee

3. Padma De fleur café – This is an unique place that has a flower shop on ground floor and a café above it. This is place where you dress in vintage and grab your cuppa to experience timetravel. They also have a good lunch menu, so ensure to spend long hours if time permits. Unfortunately when I reach the coffee shop was shut and only the flower shop was open.

Photo credit: Padmadafleur

4. Phe La Café – This is chain of café mainly in Saigon, Dalat and Hanoi which mostly frequented by local youth. This was the first café I happen enter on day 1. This place is usually not on any recommendation list which now I think is mainly because of the simplicity of the Café. This place looks like any other café which is frequented by locals (we were the only foreigner) and explains why the staff ‘doesn’t speak any English. Definitely try their Ca Phe Sua, Bubble tea, Black black, and highlight of their menu is the Savory sponge cake topped with salted egg yolk and pork floss. Yes, you read it right. Its a unique cake from Vietnam which I believe is a must try if you are non vegetarian. The sweet sponge cake taste mingles with savory taste from salted egg yolk and pork floss creates a unique burst in palette.

Here is the photo of sweet spong cake with pork floss and salted egg yolk

5. Manki Café – Its an artisanal café serving delicious handmade coffee made by a specialist barista in an café refurbished from an old office. The marks of steps and other furniture from the previous office are kept on the walls for us to imagine, what kind of people would worked there and how their life could have been. Some of the tables chairs are also refurbished from office furniture adding charm to the entire place. The real highlight is the coffee made by the barista. The menu itself speaks volume of the coffee knowledge with the 1st bar diagram explaining various types of coffee to order from with their acidity level. Absolutely loved their black coffee, Hojicha tea, and their cheese cake. The food and coffee is heaven.

Hojicha tea with cheese cake

Other coffee shops to try are:

5. Ca Phe Do Phu – This is a really cool Cafe with a lovely table in a balcony to sit. However, the coolest part if the history of this place, which actually has an underground bunker which the owner used to hide weapons, artillery and Vietnamese freedom fighters during America-Vietnam war. The only reason this cafe is down in this list as I could not visit and found out about it after I left Saigon.

6. Okkio Cafe is a chain which is nice for both, chilling & working.

7. Nap by Napoly Café is a quaint place to try

8. 1987’s House Coffee & Flower is a small place with very local feel – CLOSED

9. Cong Ca Phe – This is a café chain with communist political theme. Its like Starbucks of Vietnam, they are present across Vietnam and serves nice coffee.

10. The Letter café in Café Apartment – There is an entire apartment filled with cafes