District 4 is one of the most energetic parts of Ho Chi Minh City. In this bustling neighbourhood, a hearty dose of caffeine is a requirement. Culture Trip discovers the 10 best coffee shops the area has to offer.
Ho Chi Minh City’s smallest district is becoming ever more hip and trendy, and its coffee shops are following suit. From modernist co-working cafes to cosy, colourful spots, District 4 has plenty of coffee shops worth exploring. Visit the area to experience a fresh take on Saigon’s coffee culture.
With comfy chairs, softly glowing lanterns and twinkling fairy lights, this cosy coffee shop is best suited for chill-out sessions over a steaming mug of expert brew. Tea fans will be delighted to know Relax’s brews are served in delicate bone china mugs, which naturally make it taste 10 times better. There’s not much natural light inside the coffee shop, but if you’re in desperate need of some vitamin D there’s a patio outside to sit and read in a wicker chair or to simply enjoy some people watching.
This American-owned chain is especially popular among the city’s fashionable young crowds that frequently populate Instagram with snaps of colourful frozen drinks. Inside, it’s spacious, stylish and comfortable with mosaic-patterned tiles and comfy chairs. Strong WiFi connection makes it a favourite working spot among District 4’s many students and young professionals. Although Ho Chi Minh City never gets too cold, the lightly spiced Aztec hot chocolate is particularly delicious – and worth the extra sweating.
With its bare-brick walls, minimalist design and influx of natural light, this industrial-chic cafe is a decidedly cool place to spend time. The spacious, gabled-roof attic area is perfect for some quiet work or study and tends to be filled with laptop users at all times of the day. But it’s not all work and no play at LALA. If you’d prefer to sit back and relax, the garden area is home to several luxurious cabanas for you to lounge in.
This homely cafe welcomes customers with its warm colours and wooden decor. It’s a small, cosy space with a cute little attic area that’s perfect for some Insta snaps. It’s a favourite gathering place for young groups of friends thanks to its delicious selection of milkshakes and bubble teas – the white bubble milk tea is a sweet treat definitely worth trying.
As its name suggests, this cafe offers more than just coffee. It’s known locally for its tasty matcha milkshakes, milk peach tea and delicious selection of cheesecakes – particularly the tiramisu flavour. The vibrant murals on the walls create a fun, artistic vibe and the painting of Copenhagen’s colourful Nyhavn waterfront is especially pretty.
This adorably named open-air cafe is the perfect place to enjoy an iced beverage on a sunny day. Cafe Cub keeps things sweet and simple with a white, leafy interior and a small outdoor area. Their selection of ‘Snow Ice’ frozen lemonades serves as a zesty, refreshing treat on a hot Saigon day – the Lychee Freezy is a favourite. If you’re feeling competitive, there’s the option to play a game of Jenga while you sip away.
With a clean, black-and-white interior, large tables and floor-to-ceiling windows, this cafe-slash-co-working space is a modern, distraction-free space for you to power through your project. There’s plenty of seating, plugs everywhere and fast WiFi to boot. If you need some productivity fuel, try one of their artisan milkshakes made with fresh local ingredients and marbled with chocolate sauce. It’s a dose of syrupy goodness served in a hipster-friendly jar and topped with a muffin of your choice.
This quirky cafe mixes rainforest scenery with a splash of art deco. The brightly coloured toucan murals and tropical decor clash with black-and-white, Chevrolet-patterned furniture to create one of Ho Chi Minh City’s kitschiest cafes. The drinks on offer, such as the eye-catching kiwi and strawberry smoothie, are every bit as colourful as the cafe itself and you can even enjoy a cocktail or two in the evening. If you’re feeling peckish, there are some healthy fruity snacks on offer, including the delicious frozen yogurt and berry assortment served inside a coconut.
The Coffee House is the favourite of young Saigonese hipsters. It’s sort of like a cooler, more reasonably priced Starbucks. District 4’s branch is a light, airy space with simple wooden furniture and murals that praise the many virtues of coffee. Its speedy WiFi and peaceful atmosphere make it a great place to sit and work or chill out with a book. If you need a sweet treat to accompany you, they serve creamy, soft cheesecake all day long.
Located along the Ben Nghe river, this no-frills coffee shop is a great spot for watching District 1 light up in the evening. Head there around 5.30pm to grab a seat and see the skyscrapers begin to sparkle as the sun goes down. The coffee is rich and strong, the staff are friendly and there are even a couple of resident cats that often like to snooze on the little blue chairs.
