Exploring Saigon's Incredible Cafe Apartment

Built in the mid 1960s, the apartment block at 42 Nguyen Hue has seen many changes. It once held American military officers and high ranking officials working for the South Vietnam government. After the Fall of Saigon, however, some of the apartments were given to shipyard workers. As the city developed and construction changed Nguyen Hue to what it is today – a center of tourism – the tenants began renting out their apartments. It was illegal, but people did it anyway, and that is why there are so many shops in this apartment building. Unfortunately, the law is pushing back. Notices of eviction for all the businesses make the news regularly. They’re still open, but nobody knows for how long.

As you climb the floors, you’ll see signs and menus for the various cafes and shops. Each business faces Nguyen Hue Walking Street, but the entrances are on the backside of the building, where the staircase and elevator are. There is no set layout for the floors, so you may need to explore for a while before you find what you’re looking for. A good trick is to find the cafe or business you want to visit before you head into the building, while you’re still outside looking at it from the street. That way you’ll already have an idea of where to go.

There are over 30 business inside 42 Nguyen, as well as apartments for longtime residents. Tea and coffee addicts will find plenty of wonderful spots to watch the scenery on Nguyen Hue. We’ve included some of the more popular places below. Now, if you’re into fashion, then you’ll just have to explore on your own, because there are too many places and styles in this building to list them all – but that’s part of the fun.