Container Café

Recycling has never been a new concept, but a coffee house built with two containers with wooden and glass windows might be the first in the city. However, one problem with using containers is that they absorb too much heat on sunny days. After trials and errors, Mr. Giang - owner of the café had come up with the best insulation panels. The interior of the cafe is now fully cooled and ventilated, creating a comfortable place for guests. He even made tables and chairs from fragments like motorcycle wheel rims, tires, and tanks, engine cylinder or vintage cameras, turning the café into an outrageous yet attractive place. 'Scrap materials will worsen the environment. Then why don't we use them to make an eco-friendly hang-out?', said Giang.

Address: #138 No.1 Street, Trung Son residential area, Binh Chanh District
Opening time: 8:00am - 9:00pm (Everyday)
Price range: 20,000 - 60,000 VND

The Other Person 

Originated from Akihabara and have become one of Japan’s popular culture icon, Maid Cafes are themed cafe shops with waitresses dressed as maids treating customers as if they are kings or masters. For those who are interested in Japanese culture, The Other Person is a must-visit. Located in a small apartment block on Ton That Dam St, this is one of the first coffee houses with the ‘maid’ concept in Saigon. The café has a ‘kawaii’ setting, with TVs always screening Japanese animes and a pink piano matching with its surrounding for those who wish to show their musical talents or just simply play for fun. Interestingly, they also organize periodical cosplay shows. Still, one minus point of this coffee house is that due to its small size and tricky location, finding the place can be quite challenging.

Address: #14 Ton That Dam Street, District 1
Price range: 30,000 - 60,000VND

The Workshop

Lied in a small alley of a central street, though you have to walk up a few flights of stairs to reach the place, it rewards with a great view of Saigon and exceptional cups of coffee. The Workshop is flawlessly bedecked in a rustic industrial design with high ceilings and a central open coffee brewing stand where customers are invited to watch how their espresso is processed. And guess what, they even feature an artisan coffee roaster in-store. How cool is that!

The baristas not only excel at espresso but also many other coffee making techniques such as cold brew, cold drip and immersion methods like Syphon, V60, Kone, Chemex or Kalita Wave. With an impressively extensive menu of Vietnamese/Western beans and styles, they never fail to enamor customers who eventually become regulars and some even praised The Workshop as the best place to enjoy the ‘art of coffee’ in town.

In addition, the coffee house offers some great food choice (including vegetarian pasta) in case you are looking for breakfast, lunch or even dinner. Some finger food and snacks are also available dining options. And if you are interested, they sell some coffee making tools, cups, and several pretty nice local artists work hung up on the walls.

That being said, the limited seating might turn some coffee seekers off and those stools can be a bit uncomfortable if you sit for too long.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/the.workshop.coffee/
Address: #27 Ngo Duc Ke Street, District 1 / 2nd floor|
Tel: (+84) 28 3824 6801
Opening time: 8:00am - 9:00pm (Everyday)
Price range: 60,000 - 90,000VND

Du Mien Garden

Despite situated quite far from the city center, Du Mien Coffee is still extremely famous for its extraordinary design. Taking advantage of the banyan trees that are hundreds of years old, the owner has beautified the café with unique nest-shaped wooden houses offering shades for those who fancy certain serenity and intimacy. But should you want to mix yourself with nature, then green grassland, beautiful blooming flowers, a crystal blue lake, and balconies in many different altitudes will definitely not disappoint you. As one of the biggest coffee houses in HCMC with an area of around 6000m2, there seems to be no sense of loss or imprisonment sipping a cup of coffee here and sudden inspirations can always spark off in seconds. Therefore, it is worth noticing that there might be no seat available on weekends considering that the drinks on the menu are quite cheap.

Address: #7 Phan Van Tri Street, Ward 10, Go Vap District
Opening hours: 7:00am - 11:00pm (Everyday)
Price range: 30,000 - 100,000VND

Hard Rock

Hard Rock is an American coffee house and must-go destination for rock lovers, located in the most crowded area of Saigon - the upscale shopping and entertainment complex MPlaza Le Duan (formerly known as Kumho Asiana Plaza) which is within minutes from the city’s prominent landmarks such as City Post, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Reunification Palace. It occupies 2 stories with a bar on the lower and a restaurant/gift shop on the higher floor. At Hard Rock, you can find pieces of clothes, instruments or other memorabilia belonging to many of the most legendary rockers and contemporary artists in the history of rock. There are live rock sessions every night and many tribute nights with no additional charge. Although pricier than other rivals, there is no doubt about the quality of the food and beverages here. Parking is also free if you stay there less than 4 hours.

Address: #39 Le Duan Street, District 1
Tel: (+84) 28 6291 7595
Opening hours: 11:00am - 12:00am (Everyday)
Price range: 30,000 - 90,000VND

The Lab 

  “Don’t drink anything in a lab, unless you’re at The Lab”
Located in a small quiet alley on Nguyen Chi Thanh St, The Lab seems to be distinct from the fast pace of life around the area. Resembling a chemistry laboratory filled with colorful, effervescent, smoke-filled test instruments and tube racks, The Lab mixes science with refreshment and is proving a magnet for young people interested in creativity, science, and unique drinks. Apart from the normal drinks, The Lab also has its signature drinks such as The Lab smoothie or The Lab cocktail, all are served in glass beakers or jars and put on medical trays. With its familiar customers, The Lab is not just any ordinary lab but a lab for new ideas - ideas that need to be tested and turned into reality, which is also their aim through the open-end message "Formula for life?". If you want to find peace after busy working days then The Lab is the place for you.

Address: #47 Pham Huu Chi Street, Ward 12, District 5
Opening hours: 8:00am - 10:00pm (Everyday)
Price range: 30,000 - 60,000VND

Toilet Café

Toilet cafés is not a new concept in Asian countries, but it is new in Vietnam as the first one just came to Vietnam 2 or 3 years ago. Customers sit on toilets and eat from bathtubs and drinks from toilet-shaped cups. The café space is laid out with many toilet seats and even the staircases look like those of a toilet. It may be unimaginable someone would come to a place like this and relish beverages but still, hundreds of customers still go to the Toilet Kingdom café every day for its coziness and reasonable prices.

 

Address: #29 D2 Street, Ward 25, Binh Thanh District
Opening hours: 8:00am - 10:00pm (Everyday)
Price range: 30,000 - 60,000VND

Kujuz 

Located on a small street of Saigon, what makes Kujuz so special is that it has walls made up of a plethora amount of old windows and doors. The quiet space inside this coffee house makes it an ideal place to relax or have some good read. It costs 50,000VND for a glass of drink but if you pay 100,000VND, you can have as many as you want and you can even leave and return within a day. Here, you can also make your own drink with the guidance of the staff.

Address: #35 Ly Tu Trong Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
Opening hours: 9:00am - 10:00pm (Everyday)
Price range: 60,000 - 90,000VND

Hoài Niệm

“A small place where we brothers and sisters sit together – tell some stories, have some good laugh and give each other memories that will last a lifetime” is what this coffee house on Tran Van Dang St strives for. Although it is not spacious, it’s a perfect place to sit together and recall all the old memories. When you go to Hoai Niem, you will get the feeling as if you’re in the 70s. You can even have a new haircut here if you’ve booked your reservations.

Address: #239/50 Tran Van Dang Street, Ward 11, District 3
Opening hours: 9:30 am - 10:30 pm (Monday to Saturday)
Price range: 15,000 - 40,000VND

Darkroom

Come here, sit on an old wooden chair, look at an old flower pot is a real pleasure after the busy lifestyle in HCMC. Darkroom is decorated with old familiar objects, such as vintage film cameras or film rolls which brings a sense of peace and nostalgia vibe. Coming to this place, you can find some nice talks with many film cameras enthusiasts since this is one of the last two places that scan film in modern Saigon.

Website: https://darkroom.vn/
Address: #30/1F Ngo Thoi Nhiem Street, Ward 25, Binh Thanh District
Tel: (+84) 98 747 96 95
Opening hours: 7:30am - 10:00pm (Everyday)
Price range: 20,000 - 50,000VND

1. Nguyen Hue Apartment Block - 42 Nguyen Hue Street

Built in the 20th century, this block used to house government and military personnel, including US advisors ad naval officers before and after 1975.

Visitors often wander floor to floor up the twisting stairs looking for something that suits their taste. As there are options galore, make sure you have a look through all the cafés

Before stepping into the block, don’t forget to take a photo of it from the other side of the Walking Street. The combination of lighting from all the cafes at night surely will take your breath away.

The ground floor is occupied by the Fahasa bookstore, the left side of which lies the small entrance to the Café apartment. It is a bit hard to find due to the electrical cables and signs.

Once inside, the building is like a maze. Keep to the stairs, or just take the elevator. The first café you bump into is the Saigon Vieux  (2nd floor), where suits anyone looking for a romantic landscape. The swing reminds customers of childhood memories, while balcony looking over the Walking street is a perfect place for a short chat. Right next door is a fusion of fashion boutique and café, the Balcony Cafeteria.

Upstairs is a perfect place for a dessert. Apart from traditional coffee, Mango Tree also offers a good choice of ice cream and bingsu - a Korean dish consisting of ice shavings, sweetened condensed milk, fruits, Korean rice cake, cereal flakes and ice cream. A few meters away is The Maker, which stands among the most popular coffee shops in the area. This is more of a café-workshop, for it gives visitors an arty vibe.

On the fourth floor is Partea. Heavily influenced by English style, this tearoom allows customers to choose from an encyclopedic section and even drink in an English teapot.

There are far more to explore upstairs. Perfect examples are Metsign Café –a utopia for European style fanatics and Boo Café, a milk-tea shop with playful interior and The Letter Café – specially designed for Japanese culture’s enthusiasts.

Cafe Apartment Block in Saigon

However, the coffee apartment is not just about coffee. There are numerous fashion boutiques (e.g Baddest Blue -3rd floor, Maison De Jenny- 4th floor, etc.), some furniture shops and a jewelry store, perfect for window shopping. You should spare at least one evening to explore the apartment with all these activities!

2. Pasteur Apartment Block–158 Pasteur Street

Located on Pasteur Street, another tourist quarter filled with fast food restaurants in District 1, this block seems pretty old and insignificant on the outside. However, the interior is far more lively. The spiral staircase provides a perfect background for a shot.  

The most well-known cafés here are She Café and Secret Garden.

She Café  is highly recommended for single ladies for its quiet, tender atmosphere. In particular, the place is furnished with small-sized sets of tables and chairs, each with a flower vase. What’s more, portraits of beautiful women such as Angelina Jolie, Julia Roberts, Marily Monroe and Princess Diana all the more honor women’s virtues. Despite being not so spacious, this design can create a feeling of comfort. Certainly, this indoor coffee shop remains at the top of the must-try list for energetic young ladies making the most of their youths.

Secret Garden, in contrast, provides families and close friends with a chance to gather. This café-restaurant also serves Vietnamese specialties and seafood in large portions for a group of at least 4 people to enjoy. After a long chat with homies, customers can comfort themselves watching the starry sky and Saigon’s nightlife while the gentle winds give them a good massage.

3. Ton That Dam Building - 14 Ton That Dam, District 1

Known as the most time-honored apartment block in Ho Chi Minh city, it was built in 1866 by the French, thus having some French influence in style. After the Vietnam War, it was given to government officials, whose families still live there now.

The old age and historic values turned it into a tourist destination. Consequently, some flat owners saw this as an opportunity to open up cafes and fashion shops with vintage style. Others soon caught up and turned what was simply a block into a frequently crowded area.

Located on the 1st floor, Banksy Studio is a perfect mixture of West and East. The traditional teapots are tastefully placed among the colorful furniture. Since the manager and his staff are knowledgeable about tea, they can give instructions on brewing your own drinks, which cannot be a more rewarding experience. Though it is arguably the best place to explore cultures, non-smokers are not well advised to go here, for smoking is allowed.

The Other Person Coffee on the 2nd floor, however, is radically different in style. All the objects resemble Japanese culture, while “waiters” are dressed in kimonos like geishas or anime characters. Since its operation in 2012, this café has never stopped appealing to anime and cosplay fans in the neighborhood.

If you are looking for a sweet, sugary and a bit unorthodox dessert, nothing suits you better than The Mockingbird (4th floor).  The specialty here - coconut ice cream mixed with pear and wine- is not something to be forgotten. Likewise, Coke Float makes visitors’ mouth water with the funny, fatty look. Regrettably, this image cannot maintain for too long before the cream melts and turns the drink into a hideous sight. What’s more soothing than enjoying a luscious dessert while watching the unceasingly exciting life of our country’s biggest city?

4. Ly Tu Trong Apartment Block-  26 Ly Tu Trong Street

Another café apartment in District 1! This one is situated at the intersection of Dong Khoi and Ly Tu Trong street. As it is just opposite the luxurious Vincom Centre, the background cannot suit you better for a good pose! Inside you can find bars, pubs, galleries, second-hand clothing shops, and, of course, cafes on offer. Styles range from classic to modern as you wander from floors to floors. Also constructed by the French, it is a symbol of great influence from their architecture, which can easily be seen in the staircase and the old lift. Unlike others, Ly Tu Trong apartment block has not undergone much reconstruction, therefore looks relatively more original.  Nonetheless, there has been little, if any, deterioration.

The Le Xuan art gallery, besides catching western travelers’ eyes, helps decorate the hallway with its stunning oil paintings.

Cong Café reminds nostalgic adults living in post-war years of those hard times. Enjoy the coffee and see the streets from the balcony. Don’t forget to look around to discover what your parents/ grandparents described as something “today’s kids never know how hard it was!”

The Loft on the same floor is another good choice for visitors. Ice-blended, soda and fruit juice are on the menu to freshen your day. This also serves dishes for the main course: European dishes like pasta are fantastic! One feature that makes The Loft stand out is the clock-like window.  This European object has acted as an icon for this café, attracting both city dwellers and tourists. In addition, jazz music is carefully selected by the owner to create an artistic landscape, so having lunch here would be something you cannot resist.

Bong Cai Xanh, despite being a cafe, is mainly known for main courses. A nutrient-rich meal in the vintage atmosphere here will suit office workers well.

Too much food and drinks already? Try shopping or photography. Saigonese love both. There are detailed instructions in the hallway, so getting lost will not be a problem. Otherwise, just wander to a random place. Photographers can help you with some memoirs of the trip, while shops have a variety of souvenirs for your friends.

5. Thai Van Lung Apartment Block, Thai Van Lung & Nguyen Du street

This one may be a bit different since the hallway is dark and a bit creepy. Still, this is all the more interesting for intrepid, curious visitors.

Cafes in this block are typical of Saigonese coffee culture: simple decoration. Reflections of this city’s culture can be seen anywhere. There are paintings, wooden doors, black and white TVs, and live acoustic music. For middle-aged adults willing to liven up their youth, there cannot be a more ideal place.

Bang Khuang Café, which was previously an old, abandoned flat, can revive memories of the good old days in every elder Saigonese. Listen to the door creaking, the people chatting. Look at those shelves and indoor hanging plants. Bang Khuang may have limited space, but the new owner managed to re-furnish and redecorate the flat to offer customers the airiest place possible. The warm and charming lighting from lanterns, with its focus on the paintings, turn this place a heaven for book readers. Beside the authentic homemade coffee, give the main courses a try.

Nguoi Sai Gon Café has its walls full of photographs, paintings and meaningful sayings about life. Music, sets of teapots and other potteries of the pre-1975 style give foreigners an overview of the city’s history. In the evening, several invited artists give live acoustic performances, mainly pre-war pieces.

* Address: The quarter 288 (Cư xá 288) Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Ward 8, District 3

* Address: Alley 106 Binh Loi, Ward 13, Binh Thanh District

* Address: Alley 36 Nguyen Huy Tu, Da Kao Ward, District 1

   Alley 60 Le Thi Rieng Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1

   Alley 153 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1

* Address: Alley 62, 64 Nguyen Khoai Street, District 4

* Address: Alley 70 Dong Khoi Street, District 1

Flower Alley

* Address: Alley 57, Ho Thi Ky Street, Ward 1, District 10

* Address: Alley 498 Le Quang Dinh Street, Ward 1, Go Vap District

* Address: Alley 96 Phan Dinh Phung Street, Ward 2, Phu Nhuan District

* Address: Alley 284 Le Van Sy Street, District 3

* Address: Alley 123 – 125 Chau Van Liem Street, Ward 14, District 5

* Address: Alley 200 Xom Chieu

* Address: Alley 14 Tran Binh Trong, District 5

* Address: Alley 206 Tran Hung Dao Street, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 5

1. Cheo Leo

Opened in 1938, Cheo Leo is now the oldest café in the city and has remained practically unchanged ever since. The name ‘Cheo Leo’, which means ‘high and dangerous’ in Vietnamese, was due to the fact that the café was miles away from downtown when first built. Before Reunification Day, it was a favorite venue among students of Saigon’s high schools for the gifted such as Pétrus Ky (former name of Le Hong Phong), Chu Van An, Kien Thiet and many famous artists at that time. Presently, it is a preferred drink stop of many foreigners, expats and locals aspiring for a reminder of what Vietnamese coffee used to taste like. The process of making coffee is infinitely elaborate and meticulous. To have a good batch of coffee, tap water must be stored in a tank for 2-3 days to get rid of unwanted smell of disinfectants in water because of which determines the fragrance of coffee. Then the finely ground coffee will be put into a strainer and go through two filtration to produce a perfect cup of coffee. Notably, the best-known drink here is ‘bạc xỉu’- a Chinese-style coffee with a huge amount of condensed milk.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/cheoleocafe/ (Vietnamese)
Address: #109/36 Nguyen Thien Thuat Street, Ward 2, District 3, HCMC
Opening hours: 5:15 am to 6:45 pm (Everyday)
Tel: (+84) 1669 626 363
Price range: 8,000 – 15,000VND

2. Chiêu

Built in 1969, through numerous events, Chieu Café has been an iconic symbol for the persistence of Saigon’s coffee culture. The major space of the first floor, considered as Chieu’s ‘soul’, still remains intact, including its furniture and colors. With the interior design full of warm colors, the blend of orange and brown, Chieu Café gives you immensely comfortable vibe. Later, when the shop has more customers, the owner requisitioned the second floor as a small music stage. As the background is filled with music written by Vietnamese famous composers such as Ngo Thuy Mien, Vu Thanh An and Trinh Cong Son, the beautiful green lianas, and ornamental trees make it comfortable to stay for a while. The menu varies from many types of juices, coffee, cocktails to Vietnamese cuisine for breakfast and lunch.

Address: #124/1 Cao Thang Street, Ward 4, District 3, HCMC
Opening hours: 7:30 am to 10:00 pm (Everyday)
Tel: (+84) 28 3839 3217
Price range: 25,000 – 75,000VND

3. Âm Phủ

This was the first café in Saigon that was set on a trolley, has no official name, no brand and no stop for a long period of over 60 years. Therefore, it has such a creepy name Âm Phủ, or Hell café, called by its repeated customers. In Mr. Dang Ngoc Con’s memory, his father began pushing a trolley to the road to sell coffee during the French colonization in the mid-1950s. Then he followed his father’s footsteps and started a small business together with his wife. The coffee trolley is now set inside their small house along with one or two plastic stools and some more outside in the alley after sunset, when there is much more people’s arrival to enjoy this signature coffee.

Address: #330/2 Phan Dinh Phung Street, Phu Nhuan District, HCMC
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 10:00 pm (Everyday)
Price range: 15,000 – 40,000VND

4. Mr. Thanh’s

Mr. Luu Nhan Thanh, a Chinese-Vietnamese man in his 70s, is a coffee lover who used to make coffee for himself and some neighbors every morning. Then one day, one of them proposed a brilliant idea to open a coffee shop and now, the coffee shop has been opened for more than 30 years in the Chinatown of District 11. Like Âm Phủ café, this café has no signboard and is poorly-equipped with only a couple of wooden tables and stools. Yet, the neighbors are still able to find the place by following the combined smell of sweet coffee and firewood smoke. On a daily basis, he always gets up early at 5 am to light up a charcoal stove to boil water, put coffee powder in a racket kept inside a pot and pour in boiled water. After a few minutes, the coffee is poured into a steel kettle, which is heated on the stove before bringing to his very first customers, and many people also call this process coffee-braising. And the result is a fragrant cup of coffee with surprisingly cheap price unchanged for more than 3 decades. There is also a small diner near the shop with just VND 20,000 for a bowl of Chinese-style glass noodles. Then, what is more refreshing than kicking off your day with a bowl of hot noodles and a cup of Saigon coffee with just VND 30,000?

Address: Alley 313 Tan Phuoc Street, District 11 / Behind Thiếc Market
Opening hours: 6:00 am to 17:00 pm (Everyday)
Price range: 4,000VND – 10,000VND

5. Bâng Khuâng

The oldest coffee shop in the red basalt area called Bang Khuang (opened in 1967 at 176 Phan Boi Chau Street, Buon Ma Thuot City) was brought to Saigon by the daughter of the owner. In Vietnamese, ‘Bang Khuang’ is a dazing emotion of human, but here it’s the name of a beautiful purple flower known as Angelonia goyazensis in Latin. Renovated from an apartment in an old building, the path to the café are faded stairs. A nostalgic space with old floral tiles, old bookshelves, and tall, open ceilings. Its simple interior decor with paintings, bicycles, plant baskets hung on the wall are arranged randomly, making customers feel like visiting a close friend’s home. Interestingly, the cuckoo sound will resound whenever someone pushes the door in. The café is on a one-way street so it’s a bit inconvenient that you have to take a detour. Parking is free but just keep in mind to get the free parking ticket at the cashier after paying your bill!

Address: #9 Thai Van Lung Street, District 1, HCMC / 2nd floor
Opening hours: 8:00 am to 11:00 pm (Everyday)
Tel: (+84) 903 878 667
Price range: 40,000 – 110,000VND

#1. Ly Tu Trong Apartment Complex

It’s rather surprising that despite its location in the heart of Saigon, Ly Tu Trong Apartment Complex can still keep its quiet and colonial charm – the elevator is the original one from the French colonial period, the type of elevator you only see in movies. The home of many cafes (Cong and Loft being two local favorites), eateries (most notably Bong Cai Xanh - a lovely cafe/diner with a mean lunch menu), art galleries, a cookery center, and multiple shops, the complex is a little alcove of peace amidst the rapidly changing landscape of the city centre.

Address: 26 Ly Tu Trong Str, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1

#2. Toa Tau

Inspired by Japanese author Kobayashi Sosaku’s book Totto-chan by the window, Toa Tau is a creative learning hub for people of all ages – creative being the main word. Toa Tau hosts classes and workshops teaching art, music, creative writing, dancing, and so on. Yet, the main purpose is not to teach you to draw or write, or dance better; but rather teach you how to understand yourself, understand everything around you, and express yourself through a creative medium. It’s an escape, a place to surround yourself with creativity and positivity. Courses are limited, so book before you come there.

Address: 632 Dien Bien Phu Str., Ward 22, Binh Thanh District
Telephone: 091 796 10 71
Website: http://toatau.com/
Opening hours:  8:30AM–9:30PM

#3. An Dong Market

Located in District 5, Saigon’s very own Chinatown, An Dong Market is a slice of the hectic, yet simple life of the city. Here, meet ethnic Chinese vendors selling you silver earrings and dried fruit, sit down at one of the stalls in the basement and enjoy a bowl of mi xa xiu (noodles with braised pork), listen to the raucous conversations in Yue and Teochew Chinese, or perhaps just stroll through the kiosks and breathe in the air of excitement. It’s truly the embodiment of Chinatown.

Address: 34-36 An Duong Vuong Str., District 5
Opening hours: varies.  Most shops open at 7 AM and close at 6 PM.

#4. Snuffbox Lounge

For those who live on the wilder side of life, Snuffbox Lounge is a bar reminiscent of early 20s American speakeasies. The bar has some pretty nice views, most notably of the quaint stone-clad National Bank of Vietnam. With mellow jazz playing, and live band performances almost every night, you’ll soon forget you’re in Saigon and be teleported back to Prohibition-era Chicago. A nice daiquiri, craft beer, or perhaps good ol’ whiskey on the rocks would only further your experience with Snuffbox.

Address: 14 Ton That Dam Str., Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1
Telephone: 0126 387 2603
Opening hours: 12PM-3AM

#5. Cakes & Ale

A little coffee shop, or rather bakery with really good coffee and beer, Cakes & Ale has that certain vintage, homely charm that you really can’t get anywhere else. From the phonograph in the corner to the wooden fan humming on the ceiling, it's almost like you’re transported to a Vietnamese relative’s living room, and not a cafe. The cakes and pastries here are all made by the owner, and while it is nothing fancy, the flavor cannot be beaten anywhere else in Saigon.

Address: Room 9, Floor 1, 23 Ly Tu Trong Str., District 1
Telephone: 090 684 05 00

#6. Soul Burger

One of the most discreet eateries in Saigon, Soul Burger offers Motown-inspired burgers in a bluesy, folksy setting. Located on the second floor of a nail salon, and accessible only via a narrow staircase in the back, it’s a well-kept secret, and many expats would be quick to extol its virtues. The burgers are regarded as the best in the city, so juicy, so fresh, so delicious that you can’t help but dig in. Favorites include the Diana Ross, with Swiss cheese and mushroom cream sauce, and the Little Richard, which is anything but little.

Address: Second Floor, 4 Phan Boi Chau, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1
Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 11:00AM-2:00PM, 4:30AM-10:00PM

#7. Co Hong’s Com Tam

A nameless stall in District 4, Co Hong’s place serves up a hearty portion of com tam every night to weary construction workers, taxi drivers and the late-night partygoers. If you’re looking for a place to satisfy you late night cravings, Co Hong has you covered. A classic fare of broken rice with grilled pork chops and eggs sunny-side-up, with the yolk just oozing over the bed of rice is more than enough to please even the pickiest of the bunch. It’s open until 4 AM too, perfect for any of you clubbers looking to fill your empty stomachs.

Address: corner of Calmette and Hoang Dieu Street, District 4

#8. Saigon Superbowl

The first ever shopping mall in Saigon, opened back in 1996, Saigon Superbowl has since been eclipsed by many trendier and newer malls. However, you don’t come here for the shopping - though there are a decent selection of outlets here. You come here for the bowling. The first, and best, bowling alley in the city, it is packed with locals (and a few tourists) looking to have some fun. Prices are a little steep, but it’s definitely worth it. The selection of Korean and Singaporean restaurants are also worth checking out, as well as the KFC on the first floor - Vietnam’s first ever fast food restaurant. A relic of the early stages of development of a modern Vietnam.

Address: A43 Truong Son Str., Tan Binh Ward

#9. Bia Hoi Huy Beo

Not so much “hidden” as “tourists somehow manage to overlook the place”, Bia Hoi Huy Beo is a decidedly Vietnamese establishment. Bia Hoi is a cheap, lager-like beer that is brewed fresh every day, very similar to Czech Pilsner. More of a beer-flavored water than beer, it’s perfect for those looking to down a few jugs and escape the heat of this city. The food here is decent, with a selection of appetizers and entrees to accompany your alcoholic beverage. Look out for red-faced middle-aged Vietnamese men, going through the tables eliciting toasts, a good old sign of Viet hospitality. (The local version of ‘Cheers!’ is ‘Mot, hai, ba, dzo!’, pronounced ‘Moht, high, bah, yow!’. Keep that in mind. You’ll impress many a local with it.)

Address: 176 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, District 3
Opening hours: 10:00AM-10:30PM