An integral part of Vietnamese culture is the café scene you’ll find in every city. They vary from sidewalk shops to plush A/C environments, and can be found on just about any street. While the cheapest coffee has you squatting on plastic stools with your knees up by your ears, it can be a fun way of meeting the locals. They call it “café coc”, meaning “coffee toad”, as that’s how you look sitting on those miniature stools.
Many people go for the garden setting cafés, with trees and plants scattered about, sometimes with babbling streams or compact waterfalls adding to the ambiance. In the last 10 years, A/C cafés with plush chairs, cool decor, and good sound systems have cropped up all over town. These A/C places can be heavenly if you’re here in the hot season, and want a nice place to chill out or to write some postcards.
There are literally hundreds of cafés in town, so here’s a selection of the most popular with the best atmosphere. Almost all have English menus. Check the map for locations, and you can decide which variety you want to sample, either a garden setting or A/C contemporary.
Air Conditioned Cafés
M Café, 30 Nguyen Thien Thuat St. Ultra modern interior with a roaring DJ at night, perfectly situated in the tourist area.
Café Let It Be, 81A To Hien Thanh St. Small and quirky, this charming A/C café has Rolling Stone Magazine wallpaper and classic rock music. The most unique café in town, and near the tourist area.
Tuoi Ngoc B&W Café, 126 Hong Bang St. A new spacious café near the tourist area, with fun patio tables under umbrellas or A/C inside. Next door to Do Dien Khanh’s photography studio.
Si Si Hawaii, 29B To Hien Thanh St. Beautiful art on the walls, and not far from the tourist hub.
Idea Café, 13 To Hien Thanh St. A/C upstairs in an ultra-modern setting, with plush pillowed chairs in the rear. Near the tourist area.
UFO, 50 Vo Tru St. Modern interior, down the street from Xom Moi Market.
Katlynn, 109A Hong Bang St. A wonderfully decked out place on two floors, with deep chairs and even a plush couch if you can get it!
Golden Café, 69 Vo Tru St. Tall glass panes and a funky blend of eclectic art add to the allure here.
Beverly Hills Café, 25 Hong Bang St. A new A/C café with bright decor and a DJ at night.
Sonata, 77 Le Dai Hanh St. Soft music with indoor A/C or outdoor patio, in a quiet neighborhood.
Diamond, 7 Ly Tu Trong St. Modern interior, and right next to two other 3-story cafés, down the street from Nui Church.
Paramount Café, Tran Phu St. A brand new café on the beach, with plush A/C inside or sit at a raised terrace facing the street.
Café Bambo, 10B Nguyen Trung Truc St. Big and festive at a nice corner location, not too far from the tourist area. Loud music with patio and A/C indoors.
Hoan Hai, 6 Phan Chu Trinh St. An urban decor on one of the city’s best streets for shopping.217 Dining and Nightlife 217
Si Si Café, 120 Hong Bang St. Soft lighting in deep chairs, near the tourist area.
Corner Café, 53 Le Hong Phong St. A small café near Nui Church with A/C inside.
GMC, 3/37 Pham Van Dong St. The hottest spot on Chong Beach! Enjoy A/C inside or look at the calm waves from outside. DJ’s get this place jumping at night.
Babolat Café, 7 Hoang Hoa Tham St. A nice two-story A/C café near Dam Market. It makes for a great stop if you’re hot and sweaty after a market tour.
Garden Style
Cung Dinh, 102 Hong Bang St. A café specializing in traditional tea blends, with actual herbs and spices stuffed in each cup. Try any of their “tra cung dinh”, or “royal teas” for a delicious Asian treat.
4 Seasons, opp. Lodge Hotel on Tran Phu St. Simple in style, and the only place right on the beach.
Fuji, 50 Yersin St. Fantastic artistic decor and live music at night have made this one of the most popular cafés in the city.
Hon Kien, 56 Dong Da St. A garden atmosphere with fossilized sea shells on every surface. Relaxing live music at night sets the mood.
Tuoi Ngoc, 21 Ngo Gia Tu St. A garden-style café in an urban settings, good for people watching on the busy street near Xom Moi Market.
Tuoi Ngoc, 9 Ly Tu Trong St. Tall urban café next to Diamond, near Nui Church.
Goc Tien, 1A Ly Tu Trong St. A nice outdoor garden setting, not far from the beach.
Huong Xua, 7B Ly Tu Trong St. More urban than garden, it’s a nice 3-story café near Nui Church.
Café Truc Mai Vien, 71 To Hien Thanh St. Charming garden courtyard, set in a Chinese style of dark wood and rattan. Near the tourist area.
Café Ngoc Hoa Vien, 144 Vo Tru St. Outdoor garden setting in a traditional style, with Chinese rooftops over the pavilions.