{"id":904,"date":"2020-03-09T17:50:52","date_gmt":"2020-03-09T09:50:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=904"},"modified":"2021-07-08T11:51:09","modified_gmt":"2021-07-08T03:51:09","slug":"instagrammable-cafes-saigon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/instagrammable-cafes-saigon\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Instagrammable Caf\u00e9s in HCMC From Treehouses To 1970s Vietnamese Decor To A Bird\u2019s Eye City View"},"content":{"rendered":"

Instagrammable caf\u00e9s in Saigon<\/h2>\n
\n

When your usual street coffee stall isn\u2019t hitting the spot, cafe-hopping covers our goals of getting good coffee and food, IG-worthy pictures, and relaxation – and that includes those of Vietnamese millennials.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re a caffeine lover or simply looking for pictures to brighten up your feed, check out these unique Instagrammable caf\u00e9s in Saigon<\/strong> with treehouses, windmills, vintage cars, and sprawling water features for your next Saigon snaps.<\/p>\n

\n

1. Cong Caphe \u2013 back to 1970s Vietnam<\/h3>\n
\n

\"cong
\nImage adapted from: Cong Caphe<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Cong Caphe<\/strong> has more than 50 outlets in Vietnam – and more in South Korea. But while their decor is pretty much the same across the board, the outlet that you\u2019ll want to visit is the one in Huong Vuong in District 7 as it is their largest outlet.<\/p>\n

Once you enter, you\u2019ll be greeted by an impressive 5-metre high book wall literally stuffed with real old books. It houses a wooden mezzanine half-floor reminiscent of an old shophouse.<\/p>\n

\"congImage credit: Cong Caphe<\/a>
\n<\/em>
\nThe antique typewriters, rotary dial telephones, Singer sewing machine-tables, flowery cushions set on low wooden benches, the intentional dim lighting, and even the serving staff\u2019s traditional communist-style green outfits simply ooze 1970s retro charm.<\/p>\n

\"cong
\nImage credit: Cong Caphe<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Their coconut with coffee (VND45,000, ~USD1.95)<\/strong> is a favorite among those who want a cuppa that\u2019s not too strong.<\/p>\n

\"cong|
\nImage adapted from: Cong Caphe<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

While they don\u2019t sell many food items here, they do sell more traditional snack items such as spicy starchy corn (VND25,000, ~USD1.08)<\/strong>, dried pulled beef (VND40,000, ~USD1.73)<\/strong>, croissant served with condensed milk (VND25,000, ~USD1.08)<\/strong> – all of them meant to remind you of the flavours of 1970s Vietnam.<\/p>\n

Address:<\/span> <\/b><\/span>Various locations<\/a>
\nOpening ho<\/span>urs:<\/strong><\/span> 7AM-11PM, Daily
\nWebsite<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

2. Au Parc \u2013 a chill hangout with Mediterranean and Arabic vibes<\/h3>\n
\n

\"au
\n<\/em>The Middle Eastern-themed room<\/em>
\nImage credit: Au Parc Saigon<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n

Just a short hop away from the must-visit-while-in-Saigon Reunification Palace is Au Parc<\/strong>, a one-of-a-kind Mediterranean and Middle Eastern bistro caf\u00e9 that faces the gigantic Thong Nhat Park in front of the palace.<\/p>\n

\"au
\nA bar counter<\/em>
\nImage credit: Au Parc Saigon<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Every floor in this caf\u00e9 has a different theme and flavour, so chill at the lounging chairs in its yellow Middle Eastern-themed room, enjoy the hustle and bustle at the bar counters on the ground floor, or soak in the thoroughly Mediterranean mood up on the rooftop floor with a gorgeous park view.<\/p>\n

\"au
\nThe rooftop floor<\/em>
\nImage credit: Au Parc Saigon<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Throngs of diners flock this cafe for its awesome food, and it\u2019s packed during lunch hours starting from noon, so it\u2019s best to visit in the morning to get pictures that are not cluttered with people. Au Parc does well in almost all their dishes, but their extensive vegan menu is one that received rave reviews from numerous vegans.<\/p>\n

\"au
\nVegan Mezze<\/em>
\nImage adapted from: Au Parc Saigon<\/a>
\n<\/em>
\nWhile you may not be a vegan, you just might want to try some of their vegan dishes simply because of how good they look even in photos. One of them is the Vegan Mezze (VND180,000, ~USD7.73)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Address:<\/strong><\/span> 23 Han Thuyen, Ben Nghe, District 1
\nOpening hours:<\/strong> <\/span>7.30AM-10.30PM, Daily
\nTelephone:<\/strong> <\/span>028 3829 2772
\nWebsite<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

3. Propaganda \u2013 for propaganda pop art and local food<\/h3>\n
\n

\"\"
\n<\/em>Image credit: Propaganda Saigon<\/a>
\n<\/em>
\nPropaganda<\/strong> is right next to Au Parc, and is its Vietnamese sister bistro caf\u00e9. Now before you get uneasy about that name in communist Vietnam, their key motto has cleverly explained that they, \u201cPropagate The Food, The Mood, The Art\u201d.<\/p>\n

So if there\u2019s anything you should be worried about, it should be about which camera angle will get you the best pictures of their gorgeous propaganda \u201cpop art\u201d splashed everywhere — on their walls, couches, menus, and so on.<\/p>\n

\"bbq
\nBBQ pork and fried spring rolls on rice noodles<\/em>
\nImage credit: @trinh.m28<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Here, you can order home-cooked Vietnamese dishes to savor and obviously to snap more photos of. Try the rather sinful yet refreshing mix of BBQ pork and fried spring rolls on rice noodles<\/strong> at VND125,000 (~USD5.37).<\/strong> It is not as cheap as those at the street food stalls, but the great view overlooking the park more than makes up for it.<\/p>\n

Address:<\/strong> <\/span>21 Han Thuyen, Ben Nghe, District 1
\nOpening hours:<\/strong><\/span> 7.30AM-10.30PM, Daily
\nTelephone:<\/strong> <\/span>028 3829 2772
\nWebsite<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

4. Co Ba \u0110\u1ed3ng Kh\u1edfi Rooftop Caf\u00e9 \u2013 stunning views and retro charm<\/h3>\n
\n

\"co
\nImage adapted from: Ca Phe Co Ba Dong Khoi<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Co Ba Dong Khoi Rooftop Caf\u00e9<\/strong> is prominently located on the corner of Dong Khoi street – the most famous shopping street in Ho Chi Minh City.<\/p>\n

\"co
\nImage credit: @_nguyencao<\/a>
\n<\/em>
\nIts strategic location means you can catch views of both the majestic Saigon river on one side, and the bustling cityscape on the other.<\/p>\n

\"co
\nImage credit: @caphecoba<\/a>
\n<\/em>
\nOther than its panoramic view of Saigon, items such as a gramophone and a real BMW vintage motorcycle, with intimately arranged old school wooden furniture and paintings, all help to create the perfect backdrop of old 1980s Saigon.<\/p>\n

\"co
\nC\u01a1m T\u1ea5m S\u01b0\u1eddn Ch\u1ea3 Tr\u1ee9ng
\n<\/em>Image adapted from: Ca Phe Co Ba Dong Khoi<\/a>
\n<\/em>
\nThough having rice for breakfast might be a little too filling for many, one of Vietnam\u2019s favourite breakfast is exactly this sumptuous dish of C\u01a1m T\u1ea5m S\u01b0\u1eddn Ch\u1ea3 Tr\u1ee9ng (VND79,000, ~USD3.39)<\/strong>, which is broken rice with grilled pork, a fried sunny-side up egg, and a slice of Vietnamese steamed omelette meatloaf with pork. Eat it with crunchy preserved vegetables, complete with a sweet blend of fish sauce that most locals will drench their rice in.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s available only for breakfast, so come before 11AM – that’s usually when they switch to selling the lunch menu – if you want to try this delicious brunch.<\/p>\n

Address:<\/strong> <\/span>5th floor, No. 2-4-6 Dong Khoi, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1
\nOpening hours: <\/strong><\/span>7.30AM-11PM, Daily
\nTelephone:<\/strong> <\/span>028 3823 3658
\nWebsite\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

5. Country Houses Caf\u00e9 \u2013 of windmills and vintage cars<\/h3>\n
\n

\"countryImage adapted from: Country Houses Cafe<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Featuring a whopping 7-metre tall windmill as its anchor decoration, numerous miniature windmills, varying styles of country houses, ponds and water fountains, remodeled vintage cars, Vespas and virtually extinct Vietnamese cyclos<\/em> all spread out over their terraced floors of varying heights, you\u2019ll feel as if you\u2019ve entered Alice\u2019s Wonderland at Country Houses Caf\u00e9.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"country
\nImage credit: Country Houses Cafe<\/a>
\n<\/em>
\nOn any given day, you\u2019re bound to run into couples posing for wedding photos here, or groups of youths excitedly exploring the space and finding the best backdrop for a cute photo. These groups certainly help create an exciting vibe around the cafe, almost like that of a country house theme park.<\/p>\n

\"country
\nImage adapted from: Country Houses Cafe<\/a>
\n<\/em>
\nService staff are extremely helpful too and will not hesitate to help you take a few pictures, and might even advise you on which angle to take the best shot.<\/p>\n

\"hue
\n<\/em>B\u00fan B\u00f2 Hu\u1ebf B\u1eafp B\u00f2 (Hue Beef Noodles with pork trotters at VND60,000, ~USD2.61) <\/em>
\nImage credit: Country Houses Cafe<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

This place is not just pretty, it serves up some pretty unique coffees too – such as Mexican coffee with kahlua, cream, and Chantily, Bailey\u2019s coffee, and rum coffee. Their beverage options include cocktails too, such as Margarita, Long Island, and Singapore Sling. The best part? Most of their items are priced at around VND55,000 (~USD2.39)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Address:<\/strong> <\/span>18C Phan Van Tri, Go Vap District
\nOpening hours:<\/strong> <\/span>7AM-11PM, Daily
\nTelephone:<\/strong> <\/span>028 3921 2350
\nWebsite<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

6. Khanh Casa \u2013 whimsical and opulent<\/h3>\n
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\"khanh
\nImage adapted from: @ntan567<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Charm a date or catch up with the girlfriends at Khanh Casa\u2019<\/strong>s whimsical Ho Chi Minh City outlets. A good place to start is Khanh Casa Vegetarian and Tea Garden<\/strong>, opulent with plush Tiffany blue Victorian-style leather seats and a ceiling completely covered in beaded, hanging crystals.<\/p>\n

\"khanh
\nImage credit: @huang.liiiii<\/a>
\n<\/em>
\nTheir Khanh Casa Dong Khoi<\/strong> outlet is a palatial-looking three-storey caf\u00e9 with a full grand piano sitting on its ground floor, a full-sized porcelain horse sculpture, and dozens of floating bird cages acting as a giant chandelier.<\/p>\n

\"khanh
\nImage credit: @davu2357<\/a>
\n<\/em>
\nEven though their newest outlet, Khanh Casa Tea House<\/strong>, is much smaller compared to its sister outlets, you will still be wowed by their signature theme of grandeur when you enter – with its gigantic low-hanging chandelier, paired with the plush royal blue sofas fitting a Disney princess movie scene.<\/p>\n

\"afternoon
\nImage credit: @nekohoang<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

To complete the royal look, order their Sweet Cake Set (VND195,000, ~USD8.37) t<\/strong>hat comes on a golden two-layer dessert stand, complete with their unique teas such as Champagne Sangria Tea<\/strong> or Berry Almond Amaretto Tea (VND125,000, ~USD5.37 each)<\/strong> that are served in golden tea pots.<\/p>\n

Address:<\/span> <\/strong><\/span>Khanh Casa Vegetarian and Tea Garden, 77 Ham Nghi Street, District 1
\nKhanh Casa Tea House, 48-50 Dong Khoi Street; or 66 Le Loi, Saigon Centre, District 1
\nOpening hours:<\/strong><\/span> 8AM-10.30PM, Daily<\/p>\n

\n

7. Maison Marou Saigon \u2013 boutique, caf\u00e9, and chocolate factory all in one<\/h3>\n
\n

\"maison
\nImage credit: @doracho__<\/a>
\n<\/em>
\nMaison Marou Saigon<\/strong>\u2019s founders were two expats who chanced upon hectares of abandoned cocoa farms in different parts of Vietnam due to the abrupt departure of the French in 1954, leaving local farmers not knowing what to do with the cocoa beans they were commanded to grow.<\/p>\n

\"maison
\nImage credit: @by.pong<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The founders are now using their award-winning, locally sourced cocoa to create all the delish choco-products right here in this caf\u00e9. Chocolate connoisseurs around the world sat up and took notice when Marou won the coveted Gold Medal at the International Chocolate Awards in 2014.<\/p>\n

\"maison
\nImage credit: Maison Marou Saigon<\/a>
\n<\/em>
\nThough small, Maison Marou houses a chocolate boutique shop up front, caf\u00e9 in the middle, and a real chocolate factory in the back. Sure, you can certainly order coffee here, but their signature Marou hot chocolate (VND90,000, ~USD3.86)<\/strong> and the brownies (VND60,000, ~USD2.58)<\/strong> are the reason why you\u2019ll return.<\/p>\n

Address:<\/strong> <\/span>167-169 Calmette Street, District 1
\nOpening hours:<\/strong> <\/span>Mon – Thu 9AM-10PM, Fri – Sun 9AM-11PM
\nTelephone:<\/strong> <\/span>028 7300 5010
\nWebsite<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

8. Du Mien Garden Coffee \u2013 a legit treehouse caf\u00e9<\/h3>\n
\n

\"du
\nImage credit: @ngadoan_98<\/a>
\n<\/em>
\nBring all your friends to Du Mien Garden Coffee,<\/strong> probably the only caf\u00e9 in Ho Chi Minh City with a real treehouse that can sit up to 20 people at any one time. The treehouse overlooks a gigantic water fountain and pond in its front yard, so you can soak in tranquility while enjoying the food and view.<\/p>\n

\"du
\nImage credit: DU MI\u00caN Garden Coffee<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The grounds are expansive – covering around 1.5 hectares, the size of a football field or a small shopping mall. Just a 30-minute drive from the city center, this is an ideal place to escape from the city\u2019s busy traffic and chill with your friends.<\/p>\n

\"du
\nImage credit: @canaryhoangyen<\/a>
\n<\/em>
\nB\u00e1nh m\u00ec and B\u00fan B\u00f2 Hu\u1ebf are just two of the numerous local cuisines at the cafe, while vegetarians have plenty of dishes and salads to choose from. They even have unique beverages such as Matcha with Sticky Pineapple (VND59,000, ~USD2.55) a<\/strong>nd the decadent Du Mien Special Milk Tea aka \u201ctr\u00e0 s\u1eefa DU MI\u00caN \u0111\u1eb7c bi\u1ec7t\u201d (VND61,000, ~USD2.62)<\/strong> which contains cream, black and white pearls, cheese jelly, fruit pudding, and yoghurt glass jelly.<\/p>\n

Address:<\/strong><\/span> 07 Phan Van Tri Street, Go Vap District
\nOpening hours:<\/strong><\/span> 7.00AM-11.00PM, Daily
\nTelephone:<\/strong> <\/span>028 3894 5555
\nWebsite<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

9. L\u2019Usine \u2013 chic and retro caf\u00e9s that are also boutiques<\/h3>\n
\n

\"l\u2019usine
\nImage credit: @bebennbenn<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

One of Ho Chi Minh City\u2019s first boutique-and-cafe hangouts, L\u2019Usine<\/strong> is a local scenester\u2019s favorite. Feel as if you\u2019re in a high-end New York boutique at L\u2019Usine\u2019s Dong Khoi outlet<\/strong>, built in a warehouse-like building with floor-to-ceiling arched windows.<\/p>\n

\"l\u2019usine
\nImage credit: @ritasuzy<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Their Le Loi outlet<\/strong> has a large balcony facing one of the busiest streets in the city. Paired with the interior design that\u2019s a mix between industrial chic and antique, it makes for the perfect backdrop for a retro photo op.<\/p>\n

\"tenderloin
\nTenderloin Beef Kimchi Fried Rice
\n<\/em>Image credit: @lusinespace<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Their fusion dishes such as the Tenderloin Beef Kimchi Fried Rice with Poached Egg (VND195,000, ~USD8.37)<\/strong> and all-day breakfast items such as Crab & Avocado Toast with Salmon Caviar (VND210,000, ~USD9.01)<\/strong> are worth trying.<\/p>\n

\"\"
\nCrab and avocado toast
\n<\/em>Image credit: @lusinespace<\/a>
\n<\/em>
\nMost of their dessert items are winners – such as their classic brownie (VND40,000, ~USD1.72)<\/strong> and their fried banana with coconut ice cream (VND85,000, ~USD3.65)<\/strong> will leave you wanting more.<\/p>\n

Address:<\/strong> <\/span>Various locations
\nOpening hours (Le Thanh Ton, Dong Khoi, Le Loi, Thao Dien, and Phu My Hung outlets):<\/strong> <\/span>7AM-10PM, Daily
\nWebsite<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

10. Caf\u00e9 EON \u2013 for breathtaking views of Saigon<\/h3>\n
\n

\"view
\nImage adapted from: Cafe EON<\/a>
\n<\/em>
\nCaf\u00e9 EON<\/strong> is on the 50th floor of the Bitexco Financial Tower, the city\u2019s second-tallest building, and boasts a full-glass 360-degree view of the city.<\/p>\n

\"cafe
\nImage credit: Cafe EON<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

You can also take a photo with Bitexco Tower\u2019s famed helipad from the cafe\u2019s bar on the 52nd floor.<\/p>\n

\"vietnamese
\nHu tieu bo kho (beef stew with noodles) <\/em>
\nImage credit: Cafe EON<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

For munchies, you can select from a wide variety of Vietnamese side dishes and mains<\/strong>, averaging VND125,000 (~USD5.37)<\/strong> each, while business lunches<\/strong> with salad and a drink are good value too at VND195,000 (~USD8.37)<\/strong> each. That\u2019s also the reason why this caf\u00e9 deserves a mention – it does not make its prices exorbitantly high despite its prime venue, and is suitable even for young children given its fully enclosed grounds.<\/p>\n

Also check out this view from the 49th-floor observation pad while you\u2019re at Bitexco:<\/p>\n