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Exploring Saigon 🇻🇳 | Coffee, Thrift Shops, Jewelry & Local Finds | Ho Chi Minh City Guide

Come explore Saigon with me! In this video, I’m spending a day exploring some of my favorite local spots in Ho Chi Minh City - from a specialty coffee shop and Vietnamese chocolate to vintage stores, local shops, a bakery, a record store, and a camping & trekking shop.

by Irie Time · Watch on YouTube ↗

Explore Unique Spots and Local Treasures

This guide explores a selection of establishments in Ho Chi Minh City. The guide features eight distinct places. They include coffee shops, retail stores, and a bakery. These locations offer a variety of local finds.

Visitors can discover unique items and enjoy relaxing breaks. The guide provides specific tips for each stop. This helps travelers make the most of their visit to each location.

The Pins

01

Start your day at The Yellow Cup Specialty Coffee.

The Yellow Cup Specialty Coffee

Coffee · Ho Chi Minh City

08:00-22:30 daily

The Yellow Cup Specialty Coffee sits on Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai. It occupies a small alley in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1. This location offers a quiet setting. The cafe specializes in specialty coffee. It serves various espresso-based drinks. Customers also find many manual brew options. The menu lists classic preparations. These include cappuccinos, lattes, and cold brew. Baristas prepare each coffee to order. They ensure fresh drinks for all.

The cafe also offers a food menu. Its kitchen bakes fresh items daily. Customers enjoy items like croissants. Heartier dishes are available for breakfast and lunch. The interior design creates a warm atmosphere. The cafe frequently plays jazz music. This adds to its calm environment. Seating arrangements provide comfortable spaces. Patrons find many spots to relax.

The Yellow Cup focuses on the coffee experience. It presents drinks with great attention to detail. Baristas often create latte art. The central district alley location makes it accessible. Yet, it remains removed from the city’s hustle. This combination defines its service. It offers specialty coffee and food. A relaxed setting completes the experience.

The establishment serves many customers. Local residents frequent the cafe. Visitors exploring the area also enjoy it. The Yellow Cup provides a peaceful escape. It offers quality coffee and food. It presents a welcoming atmosphere.

Open in Google Maps ↗

12G1 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Phường Đa Kao, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

1 insider tip

Irie Time · curator · The Yellow Cup Specialty Coffee

This coffee shop is a green oasis. It offers a relaxing atmosphere in a busy city. Order an iced cappuccino to experience its smooth coffee and creamy milk foam.

02

Next, head to BINON CACAO CHOCOLATE.

BINON CACAO CHOCOLATE

Coffee · Ho Chi Minh City

07:30-20:00 Monday-Saturday; 09:00-18:00 Sunday +84 971173455

BINON CACAO CHOCOLATE sits on Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai street. It is in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. This Vietnamese farm-to-bar chocolatier operates a city concept store. It sells products from its factory in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu province. BINON CACAO manages its entire production. It controls everything from cultivation to the final chocolate bar. The company sources beans from its own farm. It also partners with farmers in the Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu region.

The shop offers many products from Vietnamese cacao beans. Its selection includes single-origin chocolate tablets. They also sell cacao nibs, cacao powder, and cacao tea. The store also provides prepared items. These include chocolate terrine, cookies, and granola. The company highlights the natural fruity and sour notes of Vietnamese cacao. All products omit additives or preservatives. This preserves their natural flavor.

Founder Endo Ayako opened the cacao farm and factory. She manages every step of production. The process includes tillage, planting, harvesting, fermentation, and roasting. Workers conch the beans for 48 hours or more. This develops a smooth texture and rich flavor. They then package the final products by hand. The Ho Chi Minh City shop offers direct retail. It also features a small café serving drinks.

BINON CACAO sells products individually or in gift sets. The store presents its chocolate as a local specialty. It is also a popular souvenir option. The brand has earned recognition for its quality. Its chocolate has received international awards. The shop serves as a retail outlet. It also educates visitors about Vietnamese chocolate’s origins.

Open in Google Maps ↗

12H Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Phường Đa Kao, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

1 insider tip

Irie Time · curator · BINON CACAO CHOCOLATE

Binon Cacao features Vietnamese specialty cacao products. The staff offers samples and information. This is a good place to find gifts made from local chocolate.

03

Continue to the vintage store, Have a good day.

Vintage store – Have a good day

Vintage Store · Ho Chi Minh City

10:00-21:00 daily +84 94 350 08 15

Have a good day is a vintage clothing store on Trần Quý Khoách in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The shop offers a curated selection of secondhand apparel and accessories. It specializes in unique and rare items, providing an alternative to mainstream fashion retailers. The collection includes a variety of clothing styles, allowing for diverse fashion expression.

The store’s inventory is sourced and selected by its team. Shoppers can find items like graphic t-shirts, outerwear, denim, and other staple pieces. Beyond clothing, the shop also carries a range of accessories to complement its apparel. The selection changes regularly as new items are acquired. This creates a consistently fresh inventory for repeat visitors and collectors of vintage goods.

In addition to clothing, the store features a collection of vintage toys and character figures. Items featuring characters like Snoopy are among the non-apparel goods available. The shop presents its merchandise in a compact, organized retail space. This format encourages browsing and discovery of one-of-a-kind pieces. The store is part of a growing scene of independent, curated thrift shops in Ho Chi Minh City.

These boutiques cater to a clientele interested in sustainable fashion and distinct personal style. Have a good day contributes to the city’s diverse and dynamic retail landscape. It operates with a focus on carefully chosen, pre-owned items. The shop maintains an active social media presence to showcase new arrivals.

Open in Google Maps ↗

17 Trần Quý Khoách, Phường Tân Định, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

1 insider tip
04

Then, visit 8 Giờ Tối Nay.

8 Giờ Tối Nay

Vintage Store · Ho Chi Minh City

8 Giờ Tối Nay sits on Trần Quý Khoách street. This vintage clothing store is in District 1. Locals know it for its curated selection. The shop specializes in second-hand designer wear. It also offers statement apparel. Its name means “8 PM Tonight” in English.

The store sources pre-owned items. It sells a collection with a rugged style. Shoppers find edgy pieces here. The inventory includes international fashion houses. The store offers designers like Jean Paul Gaultier. It also features Vivienne Westwood. Brands such as Gucci supply accessories. Just Cavalli accessories are also available.

The collection spans clothing and jewelry. It includes handbags and other fashion accessories. The store selects each item individually. Shoppers discover unique and rare finds. It stocks vintage apparel for both genders. The product assortment lists graphic tees. Leather jackets are also available. Reworked denim is another highlight. The store sells vintage watches. Belts and rings complete the accessory range. Newly sourced items change the collection.

8 Giờ Tối Nay operates in the Tân Định ward. This area is central to District 1. It has commercial and residential activity. The store maintains an active social media. It showcases new arrivals there. It serves clients seeking distinctive fashion. Patrons find non-mainstream pieces here.

Open in Google Maps ↗

47 Trần Quý Khoách, phường Tân Định, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

1 insider tip

Irie Time · curator · 8 Giờ Tối Nay

This vintage clothing store offers a rugged and edgy style. Explore the many beautiful accessories and jewelry. The shop's name translates to "8 PM Tonight".

05

Make your way to Fanfan Outdoor Equipment Store.

Fanfan Outdoor Equipment Store

Shopping · Ho Chi Minh City

09:00-21:00 daily +84988999130

Fanfan Outdoor Equipment Store is a retailer of camping and trekking gear on Hoàng Văn Thụ in Phú Nhuận District, Ho Chi Minh City. The store provides equipment for a range of outdoor activities. It serves customers who participate in hiking, camping, and climbing. The product selection includes tents, sleeping bags, and backpacks. The store also sells specialized outdoor apparel and footwear.

The shop stocks a variety of tools and accessories for outdoor pursuits. It offers multi-tools, knives, and flashlights from several brands. The inventory includes items from Naturehike, Blackdog, and Victorinox. Customers can find cooking equipment for camping. The store also carries water sports gear and travel bags. It is an official distributor for brands like Gerber and Leatherman.

Fanfan provides gear for motorcycle and bicycle touring. This selection includes helmets, protective clothing, and riding gloves. The store also has panniers and other luggage solutions for bikes. A range of electronic gadgets is available. These items include action cameras, GPS devices, and portable power sources. The store aims to supply a comprehensive set of equipment for travelers.

The store presents a wide array of products at different price points. It caters to both beginner and experienced outdoor enthusiasts. The shop layout organizes gear by activity type. This allows for easy browsing of specific categories like climbing equipment or camping furniture. The company maintains an online presence with a full e-commerce platform.

Open in Google Maps ↗

121/6 Hoàng Văn Thụ, Phường 8, Phú Nhuận, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

1 insider tip

Irie Time · curator · Fanfan Outdoor Equipment Store

This store stocks gear for camping, hiking, and outdoor activities. Find clothing, bags, shoes, and cool accessories. Prices here are more affordable than many international brands.

06

After that, stop at Tiệm bánh đủng đỉnh.

Tiệm bánh đủng đỉnh

Desserts Pastry · Ho Chi Minh City

Tiệm bánh đủng đỉnh is a bakery on Nguyễn Văn Nguyễn street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The bakery operates from a small space tucked within a residential alley. It specializes in a focused menu of baked goods made in small batches. The shop bakes items such as French canelés and sourdough bread. Other offerings include double chocolate cookies and Brazilian cheese bread.

The bakery’s interior is compact and functions primarily as a production kitchen and takeaway counter. The space does not offer dedicated indoor seating for customers. The shop’s location inside a deep alley provides a quiet setting away from the main street’s traffic. Customers approach the venue on foot through the network of local alleys.

Tiệm bánh đủng đỉnh communicates its daily or weekly offerings through social media channels. The menu can vary based on the availability of ingredients and the baking schedule. The bakery serves a local clientele and those who seek out its specific baked items. It packages its products for takeaway consumption. The business maintains a simple, product-focused approach to its operations.

Open in Google Maps ↗

214/19/33 Nguyễn Văn Nguyễn, Tân Định, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

1 insider tip

Irie Time · curator · Tiệm bánh đủng đỉnh

This small street-side bakery sells freshly baked pastries. The owner and staff are known for their warm and friendly service. Enjoy a quick and fresh snack here.

07

Next, explore JELLYFISH SAIGON.

JELLYFISH SAIGON

Shopping · Ho Chi Minh City

Jellyfish Saigon creates gender-neutral jewelry. The brand operates a store on Nguyễn Văn Nguyễn street. This location sits in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Jellyfish Saigon designs and crafts all pieces in Saigon. The store showcases its collections with a museum-inspired aesthetic. Every piece uses solid 925 sterling silver. Independent local silversmiths handcraft each item.

The brand’s collections draw from Vietnamese culture. They find inspiration in familiar objects. Designs reinterpret everyday items into wearable accessories. The NAM Stool pendant references common plastic street stools. Other designs feature fork and spoon charms. These celebrate local food culture. Collections transform common memories into personal symbols.

Jellyfish Saigon champions freedom of expression. The brand creates all jewelry as gender-neutral. Two brothers founded the brand. They sought to connect with Saigon’s creative community. The store functions as a gallery for their local products. The brand also collaborates with local artists. They work together on illustrations and other creative projects.

Some pieces incorporate native Vietnamese gemstones. The Native Stones collection features local gems. It includes Garnet from Lục Yên. It also uses Sapphire from Bình Thuận. Craftsmen cut these stones in a smooth, rounded cabochon style. The brand sells products exclusively through its official store. Select local concept stores also carry the items.

Open in Google Maps ↗

14 Nguyễn Văn Nguyễn, Phường Tân Định, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

1 insider tip

Irie Time · curator · JELLYFISH SAIGON

Jelly Fish is a silver jewelry store. It resembles a contemporary art installation. The pieces are inspired by culture, memories, and lively objects.

08

End your outing at Hãng Đĩa Thời Đại (Times Records).

Hãng Đĩa Thời Đại (Times Records)

Shopping · Ho Chi Minh City

Hãng Đĩa Thời Đại, also known as Times Records, is a record store and independent label on Nguyễn Văn Nguyễn Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The store distributes official music releases from Vietnamese and international artists. It sells physical music formats including vinyl records, CDs, and cassette tapes. The selection covers a wide array of genres for collectors and music enthusiasts. Lam Thoi Dai and Pham Anh Phu founded the company in 2018.

As a record label, Hãng Đĩa Thời Đại focuses on discovering and promoting artists. The company provides services for music production and publishing. It handles the entire process from recording to distribution. The label also produces music videos and other visual content for its artists. This dual function as a store and label makes it a key part of the local music scene.

The physical shop provides a space for browsing new and classic albums. It stocks debut albums from local artists alongside well-known international releases. The store also sells related merchandise and books. It serves as a distribution partner for many Vietnamese musicians, helping them publish and sell physical copies of their work, including vinyl LPs and cassettes.

Hãng Đĩa Thời Đại operates both its physical retail location and an online store. The company manages international shipping for its products. Beyond sales, it also engages in event organization and other music-related services. The business was established to support and preserve the culture of physical music formats in Vietnam.

Open in Google Maps ↗

6 Nguyễn Văn Nguyễn, Phường Tân Định, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

1 insider tip