Coffee lover will rejoice with the variety of coffee shops available in Ho Chi Minh City. In Vietnam coffee is a life force. Not only does it fuel the bustling metropolis but it is a growing artisan market. As a result you can find coffee chains such as Highlands in most busy streets – turning out reasonable, reliable cups of coffee. Alternatively small family run coffee bars are serving traditional rocket fuel style coffee. Or finally, micro roasters and small boutique cafes can be found tucked into the most surprising of places.
Coffee shops give an interesting take on the culture of a city. Viewed through the eyes of the young desperately attempting to innovate. Equally via the older generation desperately seeking to hold on to their long held traditions. Coffee is the perfect vehicle to witness these snapshots of daily life.
Here is a short list of recommendations on some of the best coffee in Ho Chi Minh City.
A guide to find the best coffee in Ho Chi Minh City
The Old Compass Cafe
63/11 Pasteur, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam
Blink & you’ll miss it. Wander down a side alley in the heart of district one. Climb a few flights of stairs and you’ll be rewarded with a true gem. With its modern colonial design and chic comfortable seating, it’s not hard to imagine sitting here to write a great novel. Featuring an impressive western breakfast/brunch menu -with highlights of smashed avocado on toast, eggs & bacon, or granola. It’s really the coffee we are here for- their ca phe sua was strong & addictive.
Price of a ca phe sea – 60k
The Hummingbird Cafe & Roastery
103BIS Võ Thị Sáu, Phường 6, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Hidden in the heart of District 3 this local roastery is an oasis for coffee lovers. Sit in the shaded outdoor areas and watch the beans be transformed by master artisans. With chic colonial design and a stunning air-conditioned area this is a perfect spot to fuel up. For a busy cafe in a busy neighbourhood this felt like an oasis of calm. The ice sua da was incredibly rich with condensed milk layered by a strong vibrant brew.
Cost of a ca phe sua – 65k dong
Hoff Specialty Coffee by BeanHop
170A Võ Thị Sáu, Phường 8, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
A light filled and spacious coffee shop where you could easily spend time relaxing with friends or use as a work space. Pull up a chair to its long coffee bar and watch the baristas transform beans into brew. We were lucky enough to grab a window spot on the lower level and could watch the outside work bustle by. I unfortunately made an ordering error and decided to try the ‘Mac Sui’/ Saigon Coffee which is a variation on a Vietnamese Ice coffee. The key difference is that Mac Sui is mainly milk (fresh milk with a small amount of condensed) with a splash of coffee. It was delicious but overall not the caffeine hit needed. The followup ‘Ca phe Sue iced’ and was delighted with its deep flavour, gentle sweetness and the harmony with its bitterness.
Cost- 55K
Every Half Coffee Roasters – Phạm Ngọc Thạch
32 Phạm Ngọc Thạch, Phường 6, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
A streamline, silver, pop up style cafe located in the lobby of an office building, produces one of my favourite coffees in HCM. The staff are very passionate about coffee, efficient and focused on their craft. The ca phe sua ice is blitzed/whizzed to create a truly thick & luxurious blend. The brew was intense, dark with a subtle bitterness. A constant stream of coffee aficionados kept the machines flowing, therefore pull up a chair to its coffee bar and enjoy watching artisans at work.
Price – 50 K
Coffee apartments
42 Nguyễn Huệ, Street, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
One of the most instagrammable places in HCM is the Coffee Apartment building on Ngygen walking street. The building has held many functions in it’s history – from it’s construction in the mid 1960s for use a dormitory for military personnel and government staff, and then after the fall of Saigon in 1975 as a housing project for local shipyard workers. For the past fifteen years the building has been used by small businesses who have transformed it into a rabbit warren of floors with tiny cafes, bars and stores.
Bravely climb the endless stairs (or pay the small fee to use the elevator) and explore this treasure. You’ll find barber shops, nail salons, giftshops, tiny bars and cafes. The cafe we visited did lean more towards the ‘instagrammable’ details of their business rather than the quality of their coffee. Regardless it’s still an interesting place to explore & features some of the best vantage points for snaps of the walking street below.
Price- varies on each store. Expect to pay average/higher prices.
Annam Gourmet
16-18 Hai Bà Trưng, Phường Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam
One travel habit I’ve established is a curiosity for exploring supermarkets in foreign cities. I stumbled upon this international grocery store in the heart of district 1. Here you will find everything from pastas, cheeses, deli meats, chocolates, etc. For us this was a handy spot for baby food supplies. Additionally on the top level you’ll also find a cute cafe with open windows overlooking the street below. We happily enjoyed a traditional Vietnamese phin drip coffee and some fresh pastries.
Price for a ca phe sua- 35K
Want to discover other destinations for coffee lovers? Check out our coffee guide to Hoi An.