Time pass time, Saigon has become the busiest and most developed city in Vietnam and a famous destination that most of tourists have ever heard. Apparently, people are getting used to living in a comfortable and convenient condition where everything seems to be modern and innovative. Glamorous as its appearance, there’s still somewhere in Saigon exists the beauty of the past time with the wooden doors and fainted windows designed in a retro style. There come some coffee shops hidden from those old buildings that still appeal many people coming to take a cup of coffee and enjoy the amazing peaceful atmosphere which hardly to be found in daily life.
1. The Maker Concept Café – 42 Nguyen Hue Street District 1
It does not have to be far away from the heart of Saigon, you can find an attractive place to have a sit and take a look at the wonderful view of Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street when the dark rises. Locating on the third floor in an old apartment at 42 Nguyen Hue Street, The Maker Concept Café is simply decorated but eye-catching. Opened from 8AM to 10PM every day, this coffee shop mainly serves some basic beverage such as ice blended and peach tea and biscuits. Whether you are looking for high-street trendsetting pieces or in need to stay caffeinated during a study power hour, there’s no need for want. A playground for the hardest workers, come bust at The Maker, where ideas are shared. Besides, thanks to the upbeat music, you can feel comfortable and easy to concentrate on work or communicating.
2. The Mockingbird Café – 14 Ton That Dam Street District 1
Having walked through Saigon for the whole morning, you must be tired of the burning sunlight and the extreme heat of the weather here, it would not be more perfect than to find a shelter where you can relax and enjoy a cup of coffee. Coming to The Mockingbird Café on the fourth floor, you would be firstly impressed by the charming amazing design influenced by French architecture. We would highly recommend you to walk upstairs instead of using the elevator so that you could explore how nostalgic and wonderful it is. The beverage here, costing around 20,000 to 55,000 vnd (~1-3 USD) is usually coffee and tea. If you come here in the afternoon at 5PM, you could sit at the balcony, enjoy your coffee and see those birds flying around the tree near there. If you are fond of photographing, than it seems to be a perfect choice where you can freely shoot numerous photos inside a small vintage and antique place like The Mockingbird Café.
3. Loft Café – 95 Pasteur Street District 1
Pasteur is a familiar street in the heart of Saigon where it crosses the Notre Dame Basilica in Ho Chi Minh City and so many beautiful attractions. Standing on the second floor of an old apartment on Pasteur Street, the difference between Loft Café and the two places that we mention above is that beside beverage, food can be served attractively here including pizza, beefsteak or spaghetti; thus, price is higher than the others. Of course you can walk to this place to have a breakfast, lunch or even dinner cause it opens from 8AM to 10:30PM. With the beige color as the background, this café gives you a feeling of something warm, tranquil but still charming. For those who want to come here to work or to relax staying away from the crowded city, lunch time is not highly recommend because it might be noisy and loud. Instead, getting a seat at 9 in the morning or 4 in the afternoon would be better and you can read book or talk to your friends and also watch the sightseeing.
Highlands coffee, Starbucks or some famous milk tea coffee shop have been always popular and common to all of you, especially teenagers. Instead, why don’t we take a chance to discover those hidden beauty coming from the old buildings in our amazing Saigon? Once you visit those coffee shops, you would love to come back soon!
