Near Caravelle Hotel Saigon: Coffee, Bars, Food

Coffee and Cafes

Runam Đồng Khởi

The ground floor provides a modern setting for casual meetings. Meanwhile, the upper level offers a quieter dining space with large windows overlooking the street. The menu blends Vietnamese and Western dishes, such as oxtail pho and broken rice with grilled pork. Coffee is prepared using traditional phin filters with house-roasted beans, highlighted by the signature Cà Phê Phin Sữa Đá RuNam.

🕑For a sit-down Vietnamese coffee in air conditioning, this bistro on Dong Khoi Street occupies a prominent corner near the Opera House and operates daily from 07:00 to 23:00.

Maison Marou Cafe

Located on Mac Thi Buoi Street, this chocolatier and patisserie focuses entirely on single-origin, bean-to-bar chocolate made from Vietnamese cacao. Founded in 2011, the brand sources beans from different provinces and controls the entire production process. Visitors can observe parts of the chocolate-making process from the interior seating.

🕑The menu features chocolate-based pastries, cakes, and signature hot chocolate, and it opens daily from 09:00 to 22:30.

Au Parc Café

Operating from a preserved colonial-era building on Han Thuyen Street, this Mediterranean and Middle Eastern spot sits directly opposite the April 30th Park gardens. Exposed brick walls, original cement tile floors, and large window frames furnish the multi-level interior. The kitchen prepares an extensive all-day brunch and à la carte menu. It features shakshuka, beef kofta kebabs, and various mezze platters with hummus. Many items, including bread and falafel, are made in-house.

🕑The restaurant opens daily from 07:30 to 23:00.

Lacàph Coffee Bar

Perched on the upper floor of a building on Dong Khởi Street, this specialty coffee shop directs its focus entirely toward Vietnamese coffee beans. The intimate space showcases the history and ✦culture of local bean production. It offers a menu of espresso and filter drinks sourced straight from farms across the country.

🕑It serves modern takes on traditional brewing styles daily from 09:00 to 18:30.

Restaurants and Dining

Vietnam House Restaurant at Union Square

Occupying the third floor of Union Square on Dong Khoi Street, this contemporary restaurant is led by Vietnamese-Australian chef Luke Nguyen. The dining room balances modern architecture with ✦warm wood tones, stone textures, and an ✦open kitchen. The menu presents refined versions of traditional Vietnamese dishes for lunch and dinner services. A champagne bar provides a social space within the venue, which suits both casual meals and formal occasions.

Hoa Túc Saigon

Tucked into a quiet courtyard off Hai ✦Ba Trung Street, this restaurant occupies a ✦remodeled French colonial-era opium refinery. The kitchen serves modern interpretations of traditional Vietnamese dishes. These include soft-shell crab with tamarind sauce, grilled beef wrapped in betel leaves, and braised pork with coconut. The venue features an indoor colonial-style space. It also has an outdoor terrace with wrought iron furniture and an Art Nouveau metro-style roof.

🕑Doors open daily from 11:00 to 22:00.

Antico Fornaio at Union Square

Situated on the lower basement level two of Union Square, this Italian spot specializes in Roman street food traditions. The kitchen prepares focaccia using a dough that ferments for seventy-two hours. This process achieves a crisp crust and a soft interior. Fillings include classic Italian ingredients.

🕑So the venue provides a convenient counter-service format for hungry shoppers in the city center daily from 10:00 to 21:00.

The Monkey Productions Dessert Bar

Operating on Mac Thi Buoi Street with a distinct art gallery theme, this dessert bar presents plated creations as visual works. Head Chef Hanh Le blends French pastry techniques with Vietnamese and Japanese flavors. She uses them to reinterpret traditional ingredients and street food concepts. Each dessert pairs with custom alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks. The minimalist space welcomes guests from late afternoon into the evening.

The Refinery Restaurant

Occupying a courtyard space that once served as the city’s opium manufactory built in 1881, this French brasserie sits on Hai Ba Trung Street. An archway leads past the main street into a covered outdoor terrace and an atmospheric indoor dining room. The kitchen prepares classic bistro dishes like steak frites and duck confit. These are complemented by an extensive wine list featuring both Old and New World selections by the glass.

Shopping and Markets

Vincom Center Đồng Khởi

Located at 72 Le Thanh Ton Street, this large shopping mall occupies a twenty-six-story glass tower directly near the hotel. The retail section spans multiple floors from basement level three upward, housing over 250 international and local brand outlets. A large food court on the B3 level offers Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, and Thai cuisines alongside a supermarket.

🕑A CGV cinema operates on the third floor, and the mall opens daily from 10:00 to 22:00.

Ben Thanh Market

Located on Le Loi Street in District 1, this historic central market features a prominent clock tower at its main entrance. Constructed in 1914 by French contractors Brossard et Maupin, the 13,000-square-meter building preserves its original French colonial architecture. Nearly 1,500 indoor stalls sell textiles, ao dai, clothing, handicrafts, souvenirs, fresh produce, and spices.

🕑The market operates daily from 06:00 to 18:00, with a night market taking over the surrounding streets after closing.

The New Playground Vincom Đồng Khởi

Positioned on basement floor B1 of the Vincom Center, this indoor retail concept brings together dozens of homegrown Vietnamese streetwear brands. Industrial decor with raw concrete textures and directional spotlights frames the shared floor plan. Independent boutique stalls sell graphic t-shirts, oversized hoodies, denim trousers, and accessories from labels like Hades, Levents, and Helios.

🕑Fitting rooms and central checkout counters assist shoppers during daily hours from 10:00 to 22:00.

Navigating the immediate blocks around Lam Son Square becomes straightforward once the right doors are located. They are found among the thoroughfare’s dense commercial sprawl. Staying on foot allows visitors to bypass street traffic entirely. Meanwhile, they move directly from morning phin filters and historic postal halls to air-conditioned boutiques and evening martinis. Every recommended stop sits within minutes of the lobby. This ensures that a short stay near the Opera House delivers both historical depth and contemporary local flavor without requiring long transit times.

Keep exploring

Two more routes through the same streets.

Ho Chi Minh City Luxury Shopping Guide

Explore flagship fashion houses and fine watchmakers with the Ho Chi Minh City Luxury Shopping Guide.

4 Days in Ho Chi Minh City: Cafes, Shopping & Sights

Plan four days of boutique shopping and classic dining using the 4 Days in Ho Chi Minh City guide.