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Unique local spots for coffee, shopping, and delicious street food

This PinGuide explores hidden cafes, shops, and local eats in Ho Chi Minh City. This guide features seven places. It provides a look into unique local spots. The guide includes a mix of coffee, shopping, and dining experiences.

Visitors can find a range of items from vintage jewelry to fragrances. The guide also highlights dining options, including Korean BBQ and traditional Vietnamese cơm tấm. These selections offer different aspects of the city’s urban culture.

🎬 Guide based on a video by Irie Timewatch the video

The Pins

01

Start your exploration at Inflow Cafe.

Inflow Cafe

Coffee · District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

08:00-22:00 daily 0786575464

Inflow Cafe is a coffee shop on Nguyễn Du Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The cafe is situated inside an old apartment building, a common characteristic for many independent cafes in the city. These types of establishments often repurpose residential spaces into commercial venues. The entrance to such cafes is typically through the main entrance of the apartment block, requiring visitors to navigate common hallways and stairwells.

The building itself, located at 91 Nguyễn Du, sits in the Bến Nghé ward. This area of District 1 is a central, high-traffic part of the city. It is characterized by a mix of colonial-era architecture, modern office buildings, and significant cultural landmarks. The street is near major sites like the Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral and the Independence Palace, placing the cafe in a historically significant and commercially active neighborhood.

The cafe’s format as a space within a residential building offers a different setting from street-front coffee shops. The menu focuses on coffee, serving a variety of traditional and contemporary preparations. The atmosphere is designed to be a calm environment. Music is part of the cafe’s ambiance. This model of a hidden or less obvious cafe is popular in Ho Chi Minh City, attracting patrons who seek out quieter, more intimate settings away from the main thoroughfares.

Open in Google Maps ↗

91 Nguyễn Du, Phường Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

1 insider tip

Irie Time · curator · Inflow Cafe

This cafe is located inside an old apartment building. It offers a calm space with music. Guests can enjoy various coffee selections here.

02

Next, visit The Dead Bird Jewelry.

The Dead Bird Jewelry

Ho Chi Minh City

10:00-21:00 daily +84792726675

The Dead Bird Jewelry is an accessories shop on Ký Con street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, that creates pieces from natural stones. The shop operates from a unit inside an old apartment building. It sits on the first floor of the residential block at 54 Ký Con. The brand specializes in unique jewelry designs.

The collection combines materials like silver with natural stones and crystals. The designers source stones from locations in Vietnam. They also import materials from countries such as India and Brazil. The design style focuses on simple and classic aesthetics. Many pieces have a bohemian character. The product line includes necklaces, rings, and earrings.

The shop’s location within an apartment complex is a common retail format in the city. Visitors enter the main building entrance to access the upstairs unit. The space functions as a small showroom for the brand’s handcrafted accessories. Each piece of jewelry is presented as a distinct item for customers to browse. The brand appeals to shoppers looking for non-mass-produced accessories.

The Dead Bird Jewelry has established a reputation for its use of natural materials. The focus remains on creating energy-focused pieces from stones with history. It is one of several independent accessory brands in Ho Chi Minh City. The shop offers a focused collection of its signature designs.

Open in Google Maps ↗

Lầu 1, 54 Ký Con, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam

1 insider tip

Irie Time · curator · The Dead Bird Jewelry

This shop is also inside an old apartment building. It specializes in unique jewelry. The shop also features vintage lifestyle items.

03

Continue to MoodMe Saigon for fragrances.

MoodMe Saigon

Ho Chi Minh City

10:00-19:00 daily +84908804565

MoodMe Saigon is a fragrance boutique on Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm in the Tân Định ward of Ho Chi Minh City. The store specializes in scents for personal use and for the home. It offers a collection of scented candles in various sizes. The shop also sells a range of perfumes. Customers can find room sprays among the product selection. The boutique is situated down a small alley, known as a hẻm, off the main street.

The product line focuses on curated fragrances. Each candle uses wax blended with aromatic oils. The perfumes come in several distinct scent profiles. The room sprays provide an alternative way to fragrance a space. The store presents its items in a clear, accessible layout. Staff are available to assist with product information. They can explain the notes in each perfume or candle.

The interior of the shop provides a focused retail experience. The space is dedicated to olfactory products. The packaging of the items reflects the boutique’s aesthetic. The location in Tân Định places it within a dense residential and commercial area. It offers a specific selection of fragrance goods. The business serves customers looking for scented products.

MoodMe Saigon operates as a small, independent retailer. Its collection is distinct from larger department store offerings. The shop provides a quiet environment for browsing scents. It caters to a clientele interested in home fragrance and personal perfumes. The staff maintains a welcoming and helpful presence in the store.

Open in Google Maps ↗

26/60 Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm, Đa Kao, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

1 insider tip

Irie Time · curator · MoodMe Saigon

This store offers scented candles and perfumes. Visitors can also find room sprays here. The staff is known for being kind and welcoming.

04

For a meal, go to Hanmaeum BBQ.

Hanmaeum BBQ

Restaurant · Ho Chi Minh City

10:00-23:00 daily 0902627325

Hanmaeum BBQ is a Korean barbecue restaurant on Nguyễn Huệ Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The restaurant serves grilled meats prepared at the table. Its location is on one of the city’s main central boulevards. The menu features a selection of beef and pork. The restaurant uses a wet-aging process for its meats. This process takes 144 hours at a low temperature.

The main courses come with numerous side dishes, known as banchan. These small plates are a standard part of a Korean barbecue meal. The restaurant provides staff to assist with grilling the meat at each table. The interior dining space is spacious and arranged to accommodate groups. It offers a comfortable setting for sit-down meals.

Hanmaeum BBQ is associated with former football coach Park Hang Seo. He acts as a brand ambassador for the restaurant. This connection attracts both locals and tourists. The restaurant serves a clientele interested in authentic Korean cuisine. It handles both small and large dining parties.

The venue is a multi-story establishment directly facing the pedestrian walking street. Its menu also includes other Korean dishes beyond barbecue. Diners can order items like stews and rice dishes. The restaurant operates throughout the day and into the late evening.

Open in Google Maps ↗

45 Đ. Nguyễn Huệ, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

1 insider tip

Irie Time · curator · Hanmaeum BBQ

This Korean BBQ restaurant serves fresh meat. It comes with many side dishes. This spot is a favorite for its delicious food.

05

Afterward, stop at Funnyland Takashimaya.

Funnyland Takashimaya

Ho Chi Minh City

09:30-21:30 daily +84 28 3821 1819

Funnyland Takashimaya sells toys and collectibles. It sits on the third floor of the Takashimaya department store. This store is in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The Saigon Centre building houses it at 92-94 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa. Funnyland focuses on imported toys. It also offers educational games. The store features many collectible items. Most items come from Japanese brands. A large area holds capsule toy vending machines. Locals call these machines Gashapon.

Rows of Gashapon machines fill the store. Each machine dispenses a different series of miniatures. Visitors buy tokens at a counter. The machines accept these tokens. Prizes inside capsules include anime characters. They also feature manga and video game figures. The store also sells blind boxes. These contain a random collectible figure. Popular series include Sonny Angel or Smiski. The store offers a unique retail experience. It focuses on the chance acquisition of small collectibles.

Funnyland offers more than just capsule toys. It stocks many other items. STEAM toys, puzzles, and building sets are available. These come from various international brands. The store’s layout is open. Customers easily browse Gashapon machines and shelves. It forms a distinct section. This section sits within Takashimaya’s children’s department. The environment is brightly lit. Products are organized by type. It serves collectors and families alike.

Funnyland operates within a major retail hub. It is part of the upscale Takashimaya department store. The Saigon Centre building is a landmark. It sits near Bến Thành Market. Nguyễn Huệ Walking Street is also close by. The store attracts local residents and expatriates. Tourists interested in Japanese pop culture visit too. It caters to hobbyist collectors. The store provides a niche retail space. It thrives within a mainstream shopping environment.

Open in Google Maps ↗

Level 3, Takashimaya, 92-94 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Bến Nghé, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

1 insider tip

Irie Time · curator · Funnyland Takashimaya

This location has Gashapon machines. Visitors can play to receive various characters. It is a good place for a fun, quick activity.

06

Then, explore Vina Design Store.

Vina Design Store

Ho Chi Minh City

Vina Design Store at the Post Office is a design and gift shop on Hai Bà Trưng Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The store sells a curated selection of cultural products from local Vietnamese creatives. It operates from a location near the historic Saigon Central Post Office. The shop’s collection aims to reflect contemporary Vietnamese life and design. Each item represents the work of local practitioners.

The store offers a range of apparel, accessories, and home goods. The product lineup includes graphic T-shirts, scarves, and tote bags. Smaller items like pin badges, acrylic keychains, and notebooks are also available. The inventory features collaborations with specific Vietnamese artists and designers. Collections are sometimes organized around creative themes, such as the “7 Sins” series. The brand’s motto is “Studying the past, honoring the present, and designing the future.”

The retail space occupies two floors. The ground floor displays a variety of gift items and accessories. An upper floor contains apparel and other larger goods. The store presents products that celebrate Vietnamese culture and innovation through modern design. It is one of several physical retail locations for the Vina Design Store brand in the city. The brand itself functions as a platform for local designers.

Vina Design Store provides a commercial outlet for the country’s creative community. The shop selects pieces that tell a story about life in Vietnam. It sources its products from a network of designers and artists. The store’s parent company is the Hundred Dot Joint Stock Company. It maintains an active online presence alongside its physical shops.

Open in Google Maps ↗

125 Hai Bà Trưng, Bến Nghé, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam

1 insider tip

Irie Time · curator · Vina Design Store

This shop sells colorful and unique products. It offers good quality t-shirts with special prints. The store features other creative and thoughtful items.

07

End your tour at Cơm Tấm 44 for local cuisine.

Cơm Tấm 44

Vietnamese Cuisine · Ho Chi Minh City

15:30-00:00 daily +84767623123

Cơm Tấm 44 sits on Trần Bình Trọng Street. This District 5 restaurant offers broken rice. It serves evening and late-night diners. The simple, open-fronted space welcomes guests. Locals know the venue for its wide topping selection. Staff assemble each plate to order. They prepare meals right in front of customers. This ensures freshness.

The menu lists classic cơm tấm items. It includes grilled pork ribs (sườn). Shredded pork skin (bì) and steamed pork meatloaf (chả) are also available. A signature item is chả mai cua. This fried cake blends crab and pork meat. Diners can also add fried chicken. Braised shrimp and Chinese sausage complete the options. The restaurant provides sweet and sour fish sauce. Pickled vegetables and a side broth accompany each dish.

Cơm Tấm 44 has operated for over three decades. It opened as a small stall elsewhere. The name comes from its original address. The establishment later moved to its current location. The interior offers a functional design. Basic tables and chairs allow for quick service. An open kitchen and food counter face the street. This layout creates an engaging atmosphere.

The restaurant maintains a loyal local following. It attracts steady customers. Both dine-in and takeaway options are popular. The street-side setting offers a true Ho Chi Minh City experience. Its District 5 spot places it in a vibrant area. This district is famous for its street food. Cơm Tấm 44 ranks among the city’s established cơm tấm names.

Open in Google Maps ↗

185 Trần Bình Trọng, Phường 2, Quận 5, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

2 insider tips

Irie Time · curator · Cơm Tấm 44

This local restaurant serves cơm tấm. It provides generous portions with many toppings. This spot is known for its delicious traditional dish.

Mr.Pin · curator · Cơm Tấm 44

If your craving for cơm tấm strikes in the evening or late at night, Cơm Tấm 44 on Trần Bình Trọng Street provides a welcoming, open-fronted space. This District 5 restaurant is recognized for its wide selection of toppings for broken rice. It is a good choice for those seeking variety and a convenient, traditional meal during later hours.

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