The 10 Best Coffee Shops in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City

Trung Nguyen is the most famous chain of coffee in Vietnam. Not only you will come across many of their cafes dotted around the city but you will also see their products sold in supermarkets and convenience stores. Try their signature Legend Coffee, or if you’re brave enough, their weasel coffee. If you don’t know what that is, you may want to read about it before trying. You can also buy their beans sold in souvenir packs, as it is cheaper per kilo than what you find in markets, which often quote a “tourist price.”

Vietcetera (an amalgamation of Vietnam + et cetera) is a website that shares local stories with a global audience. It soon expanded into a café. The location is right on the border of Districts 1 and 3, making it very central, and the space is extremely welcoming with its simple black, white and grey décor. Vietcetera has partnered with local artisans, designers and artists, and you can find their work displayed on shelves decorating the cafe. The venue has two floors, and upstairs is perfect to sit in silence and get some work done while enjoying a birds eye view of the whole space and people going about their day.

Vung Oi Mora is located on the first floor of an old decaying French colonial building in a popular café street, and is accessed by a narrow staircase that seems to be crumbling apart. You will be welcomed by a dim-lit, cozy and very intimate setting, with walls adorned with prints and sketches, and inviting dark colored couches. Vung Oi Mora is better if you are with some friends or a significant other, as come night time, the venue lights up with candles and the sounds of piano, guitar, violin and soft vocals fills the air. This cafe is well hidden in the alleys of Ho Chi Minh City, and you will find that it is mostly locals who come here.

i.d Café is an atmospheric place that’s popular among expat and local entrepreneurs, who spend their day sipping coffee and working on their laptops. The couches are comfortable, the lights dim, the décor subtle, the music mellow and the menu delicious. i.d Café is an ideal space to get away from life for a little while. The smell of lemongrass air freshener only adds to the experience. There is also a location in District 1 offering a similar environment.

Yoko Café is named after Yoko Ono. Opened in the early 2000s, this was one of the first live music venues in Ho Chi Minh City. Many young Vietnamese musicians owe their success to Yoko Cafe, as this is where their musical careers began. There is live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and styles range from jazz, blues and rock to indie and experimental tunes. While it is most exciting at night, during the day Yoko Café remains a quiet venue in which to enjoy some coffee in peace or socialize with friends.

For cups of nostalgia, head to Café Saigon Retro. As the name suggests, this café is decorated in a retro manner, with sofas, coffee tables, a writing desk, music played on a cassette player, and plenty of antique ornaments, taken straight from the ‘60s. The menu is not overwhelming and includes very creative items, such as the Saigon Prune. Enjoy this in the cool interior or on the leafy balcony and picture yourself looking over Ho Chi Minh City 40 years ago.

Oromia Coffee & Lounge is a warm, bright and inviting space. The contemporary decor has a very elegant vibe and will also motivate you to work. You will be surrounded by colorful flowers, and there’s even a piano, if you play. The menu is quite diverse—coffee, tea, smoothies, as well as rice dishes, pasta, snacks and cakes. While you work you may be joined by a cat looking for a belly rub or a place to sleep (like on your laptop).

If you are looking for information on bikes or help planning biking routes in Vietnam, hit up the friendly people in Bike Café. This is not only a café with great coffee, a great interior and great people, but it is also the headquarters for everything bike related in the city. You can rent bikes, repair your bike, learn about bikes, or join others on biking adventures to the mountains and forests around the country.

Monkey in Black is an interesting coffee lounge. It offers a cozy space with different themed areas and funky decorations to suit your mood. It also offers special events on different days: for example, on Wednesday, girls get discounts; on Fridays, you are entitled to a free hug. There is also speed dating and free tarot card readings. The bucket of peach iced tea is best here. (Yes, bucket). There are also edible coffee cups made of cookies!

If you are looking for a calm oasis in the hectic metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City, head over to Fly Cupcake Garden Café. The interior is charming and resembles a secret garden, with white string lights, bird cages and bird figurines, foliage and quirky furniture. The food quality here is excellent but the portion sizes may be a little small. But, at least you will still have room for cupcakes for dessert! There is a glass display cabinet with a variety of cupcakes, such as velvet, chocolate, lime, matcha, etc., all looking like delicate, delicious works of art.