Ho Chi Minh City, formerly (and still commonly) known as Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam’s south, and the country’s former capital. Its chequered history led to the city being renamed after Ho Chi Minh, leader of the North Vietnamese forces during the country’s bloody civil war. But long before this, south Vietnam was a French colony, and the city’s famous coffee culture is a legacy of this period. Did you know that Vietnam is the second largest producer of coffee in the world, after Brazil?

The Best Coffee Shops in Ho Chi Minh City

Although Western brands such as Starbucks are present in Vietnam, you are best to visit one of the hundreds of independent coffee shops or authentic Vietnamese chains across Saigon to get your morning caffeine fix. Cafes in Saigon serve all manner of classic coffees and Vietnamese specialities, including the infamously delicious salt coffee. Coconut coffee is also popular, and you mustn’t knock egg coffee until you have tried it! In this article, at BesTripTips, we will show you six of the best coffee shops in Ho Chi Minh City, including the best places to try all of these regional delicacies.

The Best Salt Coffee in Ho Chi Minh City

Salt coffee originated in the central Vietnamese city of Hue but is now a popular drink throughout Vietnam. Made with condensed milk, this savoury coffee can be found in all of the best cafes in Ho Chi Minh City. 

If you’re looking for the absolute pinnacle of Saigon salt coffee, then Ca Phe Muoi Chu Long is a great choice. Founded by and named after Mr Long, who still runs the brand, this enterprise started after the COVID-19 pandemic with a single coffee counter. Thanks to the excellent standard of the coffee and the success of the business, there are now more than 13 branches across Ho Chi Minh City. 

Coffees are priced for locals and are cheap, at just 15,000 – 20,000 dong (less than USD $1!). Mr Long uses a special recipe for his salt coffee, including a hint of cocoa, and donates a large slice of the profits from his burgeoning coffee empire to fund charitable enterprises and meals for the homeless. For salt coffee in Ho Chi Minh City, it’s a great place to start!

The Best Egg Coffee in Ho Chi Minh City

Egg coffee is another local favourite in Saigon, and you will find it on the menu in many cafes, bars, and restaurants across the city. Egg coffee originated in the north of the country during a milk crisis in 1946. Whisked eggs were used as a substitute, and egg coffee was born. Typically, a good egg coffee will be layered, with a thick and frothy egg mixture on top of a strong espresso. When mixed, this results in a rich and creamy drink, often described by tourists as a liquid tiramisu. 

For the best egg coffee in Ho Chi Minh City, visit Goc Ha Noi, a tiny coffee shop in the heart of District 1 and very close to the popular Bui Vien Street. Although three storeys high, this miniscule establishment has room for just six tables and is simply and traditionally furnished. Nevertheless, it is often ranked as being amongst the best coffee shops in Ho Chi Minh City. The menu is small (always a good sign!) featuring just egg coffee, traditional Vietnamese coffee and a range of juices and teas. At 40,000 dong (approximately USD $1.70), it’s not the cheapest egg coffee in Vietnam but it’s not pricey either. Frequently ranked as one of the best eggs coffees in Saigon, this hidden gem is well worth a visit for anyone spending time in the city.

The Best Coconut Coffee in Ho Chi Minh City

Now, we must be honest. Cong Caphe is a chain, with shops and cafes across Vietnam. However, it is a Vietnamese brand, and this company is renowned for having the best iced coconut coffee, the perfect refresher for escaping the relentless Saigon heat.

As well as coffee, guests can choose from other flavours such as chocolate and cola, which are then blended with coconut ice and milk to create a thick milkshake like drink. This can be enjoyed in the company’s Vietnam War-themed cafes – the staff even wear military green, complete with a Viet Cong hat! Cong Caphe is popular with locals and travellers alike, and is often full of people working on laptops, spread out over several floors and rooms, sitting at simple wooden tables. As something of a tourist-trap, prices are reasonably high, at around 60,000 dong (USD$2.00) for a coconut coffee. But compared to Western prices, this remains a bargain, and Cong Caphe boasts great reviews and many happy customers. 

There are more than ten Cong Caphe coffee shops around Ho Chi Minh City, mostly centred in District 1 and other tourist areas. So as a visitor to the city, you are likely to have one nearby!

All-rounders: The Best Cafes in Ho Chi Minh City

Now you know the best places to try some of Vietnam’s specialty coffees in Saigon. But how about more general coffee spots across the city? Here are three of the best coffee shops in Ho Chi Minh City, whatever caffeinated drink you have in mind!

Ca Phe Do Phu

Regarded by some as the best café in Saigon, Ca Phe Do Phu is in District 1 of Saigon, easily accessible for travellers to the city. And actually, the coffee, although very good, is secondary here. As Ca Phe Do Phu has a captivating tale to tell…

It used to be the home of a member of the Viet Cong, and there’s a secret trap door leading down to a bunker, this is open for visitors. The former homeowner used to store weapons for Viet Cong fighters in the bunker, and even hid guerilla fighters from the American forces. Many of the weapons and uniforms are still in the bunker, and it is still possible to see the network of passageways that served as escape routes should the bunker ever be compromised!

After enjoying a coffee on the balcony and a tour of the bunker, at BesTripTips, we suggest Ca Phe Do Phu as a great spot to try com tam suon nuong (broken rice and pork). The café is usually packed with locals and travellers alike and is well worth a visit during your trip.

Mockingbird Café

Located in the shadow of the mighty Bitexco Financial Tower (inspiration for Stark Tower in the Marvel film series) and not far from the Opera House, Mockingbird Café is hidden in a well-preserved pre-war building, which it shares with a range of boutique shops, cafes and other businesses. It’s dated, yes, but it offers real old-world charm and an authentic Vietnamese coffee experience. Expect to find locals playing card games and don’t be surprised if someone offers you a rum in your coffee – don’t feel obliged to say yes! As well as coffee, the café serves a variety of sweet treats including ice cream and cakes. For those seeking the real Vietnam, this is one of the best coffee shops in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Café Apartments

Located at number 42 on Ho Chi Minh City’s Nguyen Hue Walking Street, visitors will see what at first glance appears to be a rundown apartment block. But gaze upward a little closer and you will see that each apartment has an advertising board outside. In fact, each apartment has been converted into a small café, coffee shop or bar. For the princely sum of 3,000 dong, guests can ride the elevator to one of the floors and choose a café at random in which to explore. 

The history of the building is very interesting. Built in the 1960s, it was used by the Americans during the Vietnam War before the apartments were given to city workers after the Fall of Saigon. These workers realised they could earn more money by renting out these apartments as the city became a tourist hub, and so it still goes today. Technically illegal, the authorities mostly turn a blind eye, but news of a café being closed down by authorities does still regularly make the news in Ho Chi Minh City. For a unique coffee stop, the Cafe Apartments are well worth a visit. 

Ho Chi Minh City & Vietnamese Culture

Coffee is as important to Vietnamese culture as it is to the Italian or French way of life. And it has taken on a form of its own, with regional specialties including egg coffee and salt coffee a must try for any visitor to this breath-taking country. When searching for coffee stops in Vietnam, you are best to stay away from the Western chains, and drink where the locals drink – you’re sure to enjoy a better coffee, at a better price!