What is Café Culture?
The café culture in Vietnam is truly fascinating and unlike that of anywhere else in the world. The streets of Ho Chi Minh City are lined with cafés, each buzzing with people at all hours of the day. Oftentimes, most cafés are open-air, meaning that there are no walls that separate the indoor dining space from the outdoor dining space, so expect to be seated on the sidewalk with a view when enjoying a delicious cup of cà phê sữa đá (traditional Vietnamese iced coffee).
The iconic Café Apartments are located on Nguyễn Huệ Walking Street in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City and house numerous cafés, each with their own unique aesthetic.In Vietnam, cafés are not just for coffee drinkers but also serve as a social hub for hanging out with friends, catching up on work, or simply a spot to relax. Unlike in most other cultures, late-night plans in Vietnam typically involve chatting or catching up with friends in a café over a cup of coffee or tea.
Late-night cafés offer a unique atmosphere where genuine relationships can blossom, which is a refreshing change from typical nightlife culture. Trốn Café, located in Bình Thạnh District, has a vibrant ambience and can be seen filled with friends gathered to laugh, chat, or people-watch until as late as 10 p.m. Cafés foster an authentic sense of community and truly reflect the importance of relationships in Vietnamese culture, which is beautiful to experience.
My Go-To Cafés and Drinks:
Cafés are everywhere in Vietnam, and the possibilities are endless when it comes to what to order. I’ve found that you can pretty much go to any café, and the drinks will be delicious, the hospitality will be welcoming, and the energy will be serene. With that being said, I do have some favorites, so here are my top drinks that I’ve tried so far and where to find them!
1. Traditional Vietnamese Coffee – CaRo Coffee
I stumbled upon CaRo Coffee one morning, and it has since been a go-to spot for me. Its quaint and cozy energy instantly drew me in. Stepping into the space feels like entering a tranquil oasis, thanks to the comfortable seating and the lush greenery that hangs throughout. My first time trying traditional Vietnamese coffee was at CaRo Coffee, and it still tops my list!
Traditional Vietnamese coffee, or cà phê sữa đá, is intensely rich and brewed using a metal drip filter called a “phin.” Drinking traditional Vietnamese coffee requires some patience, as you must wait for the freshly ground coffee to pour through the phin into the cup. It is then poured over sweet condensed milk and can be served cold or hot. The traditional Vietnamese coffee served at CaRo Coffee has a perfect balance of sweet and strong flavors and is definitely worth a try!
The lush greenery outside of CaRo Coffee immediately welcomes guests into this serene space.2. Egg Coffee – Trốn Café
The sound of eggs and coffee never sounded too appealing to me, which is why it took me a couple of weeks to work up the courage to try this curious drink, but its harmonious flavor took me by surprise. Trốn Café is well known for its delicious egg coffee, or cà phê trừng, and the appreciation is well deserved! It is made with egg yolks, sugar, condensed milk, and coffee to create an indulgent drink with the perfect mix of sweet and savory! The texture is rich and creamy, making it a for-sure must-try when coming to Ho Chi Minh City.
3. Salt Coffee – Cà phê Sài Gòn Ơi
Cà phê Sài Gòn Ơi is located on the fifth floor of the iconic Café Apartments on Nguyễn Huệ Walking Street. It is a charming café with an open-air balcony that provides a gorgeous view of the vibrant city life down below. Aside from its comfy and inviting atmosphere, the drinks at Cà phê Sài Gòn Ơi are delicious.
The salted coffee, also called cà phê muối, is a fun twist on traditional Vietnamese coffee. The process of making salted coffee involves adding a pinch of salt to the coffee grounds before brewing. I tried this drink served cold, but it can be served hot as well. It is a refreshing treat, and the salt enhances the coffee flavor while providing a perfect balance to the sweet condensed milk.
The fifth floor of the Café Apartments is where you’ll find this adorable café that is perfect for trying diverse flavors.Café culture emphasizes the importance of relationships and quality time in Vietnamese culture. Cafés in Vietnam serve a variety of bold and flavorful drinks that reflect the vibrant culture. Being surrounded by an abundance of cafés filled with tranquil energy has been so lovely and has made living abroad much more comfortable.
Isabelle DeMeo, University of Kansas, is interning abroad in Vietnam with TEAN.
