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All about the history of Vietnamese coffee in District 1

The Saigon Post Office cafés scattered around this one corner of District 1 give you the whole history of Vietnamese coffee in a single short walk. Stand on the steps of the Saigon Central Post Office, with Notre-Dame’s red brick at your back, and within a few unhurried minutes you’ll pass French colonial cafés, a homegrown trend chain, a bean-to-bar chocolate house, and a Japanese specialty brand that flew across the world to roast beans right on the square.

So this isn’t a “turn left, walk 200 metres” guide. Every spot is close enough that order doesn’t matter. What matters is what’s in the cup. Pick the coffee style you’re in the mood for, and let it choose your café.

The Pins

01

Choose this if you want to slow all the way down over a proper brunch in a colonial building, with a house Arabica-Robusta blend on the side.

Au Parc Café

Coffee · District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

07:30-23:00 daily +84 28 3829 2772

Au Parc Café is a Mediterranean and Middle Eastern restaurant on Hàn Thuyên street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The restaurant operates from a preserved colonial-era building. It sits directly opposite the April 30th Park, between the Reunification Palace and the Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral. The venue serves a menu inspired by a wide range of cuisines. These include Spanish, French, Italian, Turkish, Greek, and Lebanese food.

The kitchen prepares an extensive all-day brunch and à la carte menu. Specific dishes include shakshuka, beef kofta kebabs, and various mezze platters with hummus and baba ghanouj. The restaurant makes many items in-house, including multiple types of bread, pastries, and falafel. The drink selection features Italian coffee, freshly prepared juices, smoothies, and a curated list of wines. The restaurant provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner service daily.

The building itself retains many original architectural details. It has exposed brick walls, original cement tile floors, and large window frames. The interior space spans multiple floors, offering views of the adjacent park. Restaurateur Noelle Carr-Ellison co-founded Au Parc, which opened in 2003. It ranks among the city’s long-standing international restaurants.

Au Parc serves a clientele of local residents, expatriates, and tourists. The establishment is known for its consistent brunch service, particularly on weekends. The ground floor has indoor and outdoor seating options. The upper floors provide additional dining space, including areas suitable for families. The restaurant maintains a focus on fresh ingredients across its food and beverage offerings.

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23 Hàn Thuyên, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh

1 insider tip

Mr.Pin · curator · Au Parc Café

Au Parc Café, situated in a beautifully preserved colonial building on Hàn Thuyên street, offers a unique backdrop for your coffee. It provides an opportunity to enjoy your beverage in a setting that evokes a sense of old Saigon. The location directly opposite the April 30th Park also offers pleasant views.

02

Choose this if you want the real thing: thick phin-dripped robusta with sweet condensed milk, or the custard-like magic of egg coffee (cà phê trứng).

Gióng Cafe

Coffee · District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

06:30-22:00 daily +84 28 3535 3457

Gióng Cafe is a coffee shop on Nguyễn Du Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The cafe occupies a building that was once the site of a historic Saigon printing house, Imprimerie de l’Union. The venue serves a menu of Vietnamese coffee, specialty teas, and other beverages. The space draws inspiration from its location’s past. The design incorporates elements intended to evoke old Saigon.

The interior features yellow walls, green-trimmed doors, and a prominent red counter. The decor uses dark wood furniture and includes leather sofas. This combination of colors and materials creates a distinctive visual style. The cafe provides a setting for both individuals and groups. It offers a space away from the busy city streets.

The Gióng brand name comes from the Vietnamese phrase “Gióng trống mở cờ.” This phrase symbolizes a new beginning or undertaking. The cafe is one of several Gióng locations in Vietnam. The brand focuses on high-quality Vietnamese coffee beans. It aims to create cultural experience spaces for its customers.

The cafe is situated near several of the city’s central landmarks. It is a short distance from the Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Independence Palace. The location makes it accessible within the city’s commercial and historical center. The cafe serves a mix of local residents and international visitors.

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57 Nguyễn Du, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam

1 insider tip

Mr.Pin · curator · Gióng Cafe

Gióng Cafe, on Nguyễn Du Street, is housed in a building that was once the historic Imprimerie de l'Union printing house. Enjoying coffee here offers a subtle connection to Saigon's past. The cafe's unique history adds an additional layer to the experience beyond the menu itself.

03

Choose this if you want clean, precise, world-class espresso and the most photogenic coffee moment on the square. Order the Kyoto Latte, take it to the Post Office steps.

% Arabica Ho Chi Minh City Roastery

Coffee · District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

06:30-22:30 Mon-Fri; 07:00-23:00 Sat-Sun

% Arabica Ho Chi Minh City Roastery is a specialty coffee shop on Công xã Paris street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The roastery occupies a prominent location adjacent to the historic Saigon Central Post Office. It offers views of the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon. The cafe serves a focused menu of espresso-based drinks and pour-over coffee. Signature drinks include the Kyoto Latte.

The establishment roasts its own coffee beans on-site within a dedicated glass-enclosed roasting room. This makes the roasting process visible to customers. The space features a modern and minimalist design aesthetic. It combines clean white tones, stainless steel, and wooden accents. The design preserves some traditional materials from the original structure. Large glass panels connect the indoor and outdoor areas.

The seating arrangement includes both interior and exterior options. Outside, the cafe provides its signature minimalist stool seats. The interior space is open, with a central pathway guiding patrons. Natural light illuminates the room through a rattan ceiling feature. The overall design creates an industrial yet warm atmosphere. It was designed by Nguyen Khai Architects & Associates.

This location is the first roastery for the % Arabica brand in Vietnam. It attracts both local residents and international tourists. The venue’s position in a central, high-traffic area makes it a notable landmark. The menu is simple, focusing on the quality of the coffee itself. The brand originates from Kyoto, Japan, and emphasizes a love for coffee and design.

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2 Công xã Paris, Bến Nghé, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

1 insider tip

Mr.Pin · curator · % Arabica Ho Chi Minh City Roastery

This District 1 roastery, located on Công xã Paris street, offers a prime spot for observing coffee craft. Its adjacency to the historic Saigon Central Post Office makes it a convenient and scenic stop. Consider taking a moment to appreciate the precision in their roasting process, which informs every cup served.

04

Choose this if you want the same third-wave quality, but Vietnamese-roasted, hidden up an old apartment staircase, and quiet enough to linger with a laptop.

Hoff Coffee Brewers

Coffee · District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

07:30-21:30 daily +84989984506

Hoff Coffee Brewers is a specialty coffee shop on Lý Tự Trọng street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The cafe operates as the retail coffee bar for local roaster Beanhop Coffee Roastery. It sits on the first floor of an older apartment building, accessible via a staircase. The venue serves a menu of espresso-based drinks, pour-over filter coffee, and cold brew. The coffee selection often features single-origin beans from Vietnam, Ethiopia, and Kenya.

The cafe prepares a range of signature beverages. These include yogurt coffee, tiramisu latte, and a drink named Hoff Beo. Other specialty items are a bac xiu with brown sugar boba and a summer breeze cold brew. The menu also lists non-coffee options like sparkling matcha. In addition to drinks, the shop sells bags of coffee beans roasted by Beanhop for customers to take home.

The interior space has a minimalist design. It features dark wood furnishings, concrete textures, and large windows that provide natural light. The layout includes a main serving counter with bar seating and several small tables. A small outdoor balcony offers additional seating. An upper half-floor level contains beanbags for a more relaxed seating arrangement.

This coffee shop follows third-wave coffee traditions, focusing on brewing techniques and bean quality. Baristas at the counter prepare each drink to order. The space attracts students, remote workers, and coffee enthusiasts. Its location within a residential building gives it a distinct setting compared to street-front cafes.

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Lầu 1, 42bis Lý Tự Trọng, Phường Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

1 insider tip

Mr.Pin · curator · Hoff Coffee Brewers

Hoff Coffee Brewers, on Lý Tự Trọng street in District 1, serves as the retail coffee bar for local roaster Beanhop Coffee Roastery. Located on the first floor, it is an excellent place to taste freshly roasted beans directly from the source. This ensures a high-quality and consistent cup.

05

Choose this if you want coffee as a pairing, with world-class Vietnamese bean-to-bar chocolate as the star. Pair a small cup with a rich hot chocolate.

Maison Marou Café Nguyen Du

Coffee · District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

08:00-22:00 daily 1900 636996

Maison Marou Café Nguyen Du is a bean-to-bar chocolate café on Nguyễn Du street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The café is a retail and dining space for the Vietnamese chocolate brand, Marou. Founders Vincent Mourou and Samuel Maruta established Marou in 2011. The company was Vietnam’s first bean-to-bar chocolate producer. Marou sources all its cacao from six specific provinces in Southern Vietnam. Each café location functions as a small-scale chocolate factory. Guests can observe parts of the chocolate-making process on site.

The menu features a wide range of chocolate-based items. The kitchen prepares pastries, cakes, cookies, and macarons. It also serves viennoiserie like croissants and pain au chocolat. The drink selection includes signature chocolate drinks, espresso, and Vietnamese coffee. Specific items include the Signature Marou hot chocolate and an egg cream coffee. All products use 100% local Vietnamese ingredients. The café provides free samples of its single-origin chocolate bars for tasting.

The space on Nguyễn Du has a modern design. It includes both indoor and outdoor seating areas. The interior combines warm lighting with contemporary furnishings. The café serves as a showcase for the full range of Marou’s retail products. These include single-origin chocolate bars, cacao powder, and gift sets. The brand has received international acclaim, including from the Salon du Chocolat.

Maison Marou operates multiple locations across Vietnam’s major cities. The brand exports its chocolate to more than 20 countries. The Nguyen Du branch sits near prominent city landmarks. It is located close to the Notre Dame Cathedral and the city’s Book Street. The café attracts both local customers and international visitors.

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57 Đ. Nguyễn Du, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

06

Choose this if you want a sweet, cold, photogenic signature drink over actual coffee. Think avocado-coconut milk and fruit teas in a pastel-pink room.

Katinat Saigon Kafe – Nguyen Du

Coffee · District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

07:00-22:00 daily 02838239289

Katinat Saigon Kafe is a coffee and tea house on Nguyễn Du street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The chain, founded in 2016, draws its name from the historic Catinat Street. The brand’s design concept combines modern aesthetics with elements of old Saigon. This specific branch occupies a prominent corner location, a common strategy for the chain.

The menu focuses on two main pillars: coffee and tea. Coffee offerings include traditional Vietnamese phin-brewed drinks and espresso-based beverages. The shop serves items like Cà Phê Sữa Đá and specialty lattes. The tea menu features a range of fruit teas and milk teas. Signature drinks include Trà Sữa Chôm Chôm (Rambutan Milk Tea) and Bơ Già Dừa Non, a blend of avocado and young coconut.

The interior design often uses a color palette of teal, grey, and beige. The space provides seating for individuals and groups. It caters to a clientele of students and office workers. The brand is known for its rapid expansion across Ho Chi Minh City and other Vietnamese urban centers. Each location often features a distinct but recognizable architectural style.

Katinat develops seasonal product innovations alongside its core menu. The chain also offers a variety of toppings, such as cheese jelly and caramel pearls. The brand has evolved its name to Katinat Coffee & Tea House to reflect its dual focus. The venue provides amenities like Wi-Fi for customers working or socializing.

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59B Nguyễn Du, Phường Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh