Saigon Coffee: A Unique Cultural Experience

Saigon is not only famous for its bustling landmarks and busy streets, but it also captivates you with its unique coffee paradise. Visiting Saigon without tasting the characteristic bittersweet coffee culture here would be a significant omission. Sipping a cup of coffee is like drinking the entire unique culture of this land. Join Deluxe Group Tours in exploring unique Saigon coffee flavors to immerse yourself in the bitter yet sweet flavors of the coffee here.

1. Saigon Coffee Culture

1.1. The Appearance of Saigon Coffee

In Vietnamese coffee history, the first coffee beans appeared in Vietnam when Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, and French missionaries brought them sporadically in the 17th and 18th centuries. However, it was not until the French conquered parts of Vietnam and established a protectorate over the entire country in 1884 that coffee cultivation became official and large-scale.

Coffee was officially introduced to Vietnam by the French in 1857. Initially, Arabica coffee was tested in the north and then in the central regions (Quang Tri, Bo Trach, etc.). After harvesting, it was processed under the brand name “Arabica du Tonkin” (Ca phe Arabica Bac Ky).

In 1925, following extensive surveys, the French officially introduced Arabica and Robusta coffee varieties for experimental cultivation in the central highlands, particularly in the Lang Biang Plateau (Lam Đong) and Dak Lak (Ban Me Thuot). Arabica, known for its light acidity and subtle sweetness blended with mild bitterness; and Robusta, known for its strong and unforgettable bitter flavor. The plantations were owned by the French, with labor primarily provided by the local ethnic groups. Lang Biang was found to be more suitable for Arabic, while Dak Lak proved ideal for Robusta.

With the introduction of coffee plants, many Saigon cafés began to emerge rapidly in social hubs in Saigon, such as Café de la Musique, Grand Café de la Terrasse, and Café des Fleurs. These establishments served both the colonial settlers and the local people, who were quickly adopting Western lifestyles.

By the early 20th century, coffee had transitioned from being a novelty among urban dwellers to a popular drink in rural areas around Saigon. The communal and friendly nature of coffee, which helps people stay alert and supports both physical and mental work, led to its gradual assimilation into Vietnamese culture. Over time, coffee drinking became a distinctive feature of Saigon’s cultural identity.

1.2. The Coffee Culture of Saigonese

Saigon, the coffee paradise of Vietnam, entices every street and corner with its aroma of coffee. The rich scent of coffee blends seamlessly with the city’s bustling pace, permeating through narrow alleys and busy streets alike.

Saigonese people are so passionate about coffee that they can enjoy it at any time, whether it’s early morning, a sweltering summer noon, a romantic evening, or a quiet late night. As you stroll around the city, you’ll encounter the familiar, rich aroma of coffee everywhere, from sidewalk stalls to elegant, modern cafés.

In Saigon’s coffee culture, it’s rare to find people drinking strong, bitter black coffee. Instead, they have a strong preference for milk-based drinks that are slightly sweet. A distinctive habit of Saigonese people is enjoying coffee with added milk, known as “bạc xỉu” or iced coffee with condensed milk.

Moreover, coffee is present in almost every social gathering in Saigon, from casual meet-ups to intimate moments and bonding sessions during romantic dates. Coffee silently witnesses romantic love stories, deep friendships, and successful collaborations.

The coffee culture of Saigon is truly unique and fascinating, making it hard to forget. Enjoying coffee in the right manner and style is a refined pleasure. When exploring Saigon, don’t forget to savor a captivating and enticing cup of coffee.

2. The Enchanting Aroma and Flavor of Saigon Coffee

Drinking coffee is an essential cultural characteristic of Saigon. While coffee initially followed in the footsteps of the French and gradually developed in Vietnam, the Vietnamese way of processing and creating coffee has crafted a flavor that is unique and incomparable anywhere else. In Saigon’s coffee appreciation culture, there are numerous unique styles of coffee preparation for you to experience.

2.1. “Vợt” Coffee or Stocking Coffee

One of the distinctive features of Saigon’s coffee culture that only a few people still maintain today is “vợt” coffee (stocking coffee). This is a very different coffee preparation method that carries its own unique characteristics, and it’s something you can only find in this land of Saigon.

This drink, which is over 50 years old, does not use a filter for brewing. Instead, the seller uses a “vợt” (a cloth filter with a handle, serving a function similar to the filter paper in modern brewing equipment) about 20 cm in length to brew coffee.

The finely ground coffee beans are placed into a large cloth filter and then submerged in a boiling pot of water on the stove. A spoon is used to continuously stir the coffee to prevent it from settling at the bottom of the filter. Once the coffee is done, it is transferred to another clay pot placed further away from the heat source to keep it simmering without boiling over, ensuring the right temperature until it is served.

The cups of vợt coffee carry a distinctively gentle flavor profile, accompanied by a slight bitterness from the deeply roasted pure coffee beans. It’s not as strong as a drip coffee or light an espresso machine, maintaining a milder taste.

Sitting down to enjoy a cup of vợt coffee, you easily sense the enticing simmering sound of the coffee pot and the aroma wafting through the corner of the street. Beside the warm cup of Saigon signature coffee, it feels like you’re rediscovering an old Saigon space where people have lived for more than half a lifetime. Savoring filter coffee while contemplating is truly an unforgettable experience.

2.2. Vietnamese Drip Coffee

While not as long-standing as filter coffee, Saigon drip coffee is still a unique and enticing beverage known for its robust flavor, traditional brewing method, and distinctive cultural significance.

Drip coffee doesn’t just captivate with its rich flavor but also with the distinctive street coffee culture of Saigon. Achieving a strong, flavorful cup of drip coffee that saturates every tastebud involves highlighting its unique brewing process.

From selecting and roasting the coffee beans, the careful pouring of hot water to each drop of hot coffee flowing through the filter is like a gentle dance, awakening the deep, intense flavors hidden within the coffee beans. Together, these elements create a journey full of flavor and satisfaction for the distinctive drip coffee.

The moment the hot phin coffee hits the table, its thick consistency and rich, seductive aroma immediately tantalize your senses. It offers a robust and intense flavor profile, characterized by a slight bitterness and a lingering sweet aftertaste.

The special thing about a drip coffee is that you can leisurely enjoy it, quietly observing each drop slowly dripping from the small filter in a relaxed morning chill or a tranquil afternoon. Breathing in the alluring aroma of coffee and savoring each sip while gazing at the streets of Saigon truly makes for a wonderful experience.

In addition, alongside the increasing demand, coffee in Vietnam has seen the development of various creative types such as salt coffee, egg coffee, coconut coffee, and more. Each type offers a unique flavor experience that stimulates your taste buds, emphasizing the richness and diversity of Vietnamese coffee culture.

3. Where to Experience Authentic Saigon Coffee

3.1. Phan Dinh Phung Vợt Coffee

When you visit this venerable 60-year-old coffee shop, a beloved destination among Saigonese, you’ll have the chance to savor a cup of coffee brewed uniquely using a cloth filter instead of the usual filter.

Nestled discreetly in a small alley with no big signboards and adorned simply with makeshift stools as chairs and tables, Mrs. Pham Ngoc Tuyet and Mr. Dang Tran Con’s vợt coffee shop offers you a uniquely aromatic and delicious cup of coffee that other brewing styles cannot replicate.

The small glass cups of coffee barely reaching the size of a span, served at each table accompanied by a teapot, reflect the traditional way of drinking coffee in old Saigon. This experience transports you back to the Saigon of yesteryear with delicious and distinctly flavorful iced coffee with condensed milk, characteristic of Saigon.

Although this coffee shop is just a small house with white tiled walls adorned with framed newspaper articles about the shop and a few pictures of Mr. Con, the coffee here consistently draws people to the proudly assertiveness of those meticulously brewed cups of coffee.

Additionally, with charmingly rustic wooden tables snugly placed against the walls, the “bar” itself is nothing more than a weathered cart holding the tools of the trade: old cups and saucers, vintage aluminum tea kettles, a pot of boiling water over charcoal, and the essential vợt—the soul of these top-notch Saigonese coffees makes people nostalgic memories, which is one of the reasons why this coffee shop can sustain itself amid the storm of espresso coffee and imported coffee.

• Address: 330/ 2 Phan Dinh Phung, Phu Nhuan District.
• Opening hours: 06:00 a.m. to 09:00 p.m.
• Price range: 7,000 VND – 16,000 VND.

3.2. Ba Lu Vợt Coffee

Another name that carries the flavor of old coffee you can’t miss is Ba Lu Coffee. Ba Lu Coffee has become a familiar destination for coffee enthusiasts in Saigon’s Chinatown because it is famous for its traditional clothes filter coffee brewing method and incredibly delicious coffee.

The secret to this family-run coffee shop’s longevity over nearly 70 years lies in its roasting formula. The coffee must be hand-roasted using charcoal and combined with various spices, such as salt, butter, and alcohol, to create its distinctive flavor. When the coffee is being roasted, you can smell the fragrant aroma of coffee even as you approach the alley market. If you visit at the right time, when the coffee is being roasted, you can smell the fragrant aroma of coffee even as you approach the alley market. This distinctive scent evokes fond memories for those who have passed by the market or spent time on this bustling little street.

This family-run coffee shop is housed in a building designed in the old architectural style characteristic of the historic Chinatown neighborhood. The tables, chairs, and brewing equipment are all rustic and simple, giving the space a familiar and incredibly cozy atmosphere.

The coffee here is not too strong, so if you visit Ba Lu Coffee, you should drink it hot rather than with ice to fully enjoy its flavor. Currently, Ba Lu Coffee offers five main items: black coffee, milk coffee, egg coffee, egg milk tea, and milk tea. When you visit, you can experience the cozy feeling of sitting in a corner, sipping on a bitter coffee, while observing the bustling life unfolding before your eyes.

• Address: 193 Phung Hung, District 5
• Opening hours: 02:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.
• Price range: 10,000 VND – 25,000 VND

3.3. Ba Hat Coffee

Amidst the bustling street, a small, humble coffee cart stands, as unpretentious as the people of Saigon themselves. With no flashy signs or elaborate decorations, the coffee cart run by an elderly couple continues to attract a stream of people every morning. This cart has been a part of Saigon for the past 25 years.

The coffee cart has always maintained the traditional method of brewing drip coffee, boiling water over glowing coals, and then waiting for the coffee to drip through the filter. Over time, due to health reasons, the elderly couple can no longer brew and sell simultaneously. However, the bottles of pre-brewed drip coffee made at home still retain their excellent quality. Each cup poured from these bottles continues to deliver a rich and full-bodied flavor.

A quality glass of milk coffee with finely crushed ice, “very Saigon,” evokes a nostalgic feeling, transporting you back to the youthful days of your grandparents, to a serene, bygone childhood day.

With just a small coffee cart offering take-away coffee and no tables or chairs, the coffee here still leaves an unforgettable taste. The rustic and familiar cups of coffee create lasting memories for anyone who has had the pleasure of enjoying them.

From a distance, you can already smell the aromatic coffee from the small coffee cart tucked away in the alley. As you approach to buy a cup, the rich coffee scent that fills the air will make you immediately impressed. Holding the cup in your hand, you can head to your favorite spot, savoring the coffee and enjoying moments of peace amidst Saigon’s bustling life. The characteristic light bitterness of the coffee blends with the gentle sweetness of the milk, and the refreshing chill of the crushed ice makes for a delightful start to your day.

• Address: Alley 447 Ba Hat, District 10
• Opening hours: 05:00 a.m. to 16:00 p.m.
• Price range: 12,000 VND – 17,000 VND

3.4. Cheo Leo Coffee

Cheo Leo Cafe is one of the oldest “Vợt” Saigon coffee shops in Saigon, nestled in an alley with nearly 85 years of history. This Saigon cafe carries the nostalgic flavor of Saigon, maintaining a quietly enduring presence amid the city’s bustling pace of life.

Cheo Leo Cafe embodies the essence of old Saigon with its weathered lime-washed walls, darkened ceilings, and the rich aroma of coffee emanating from the kitchen corner. Here, you can enjoy coffee in a setting reminiscent of old Saigon and the warmth and hospitality characteristic of Saigonese.

For decades, this coffee shop has maintained its traditional method of brewing coffee. Pour finely ground coffee into a cloth filter and pour hot water over it, letting it steep in the clay pot on a blazing charcoal stove.

The coffee here doesn’t taste bitter like drip coffee or bland like machine-brewed coffee; instead, it has a gentle flavor with an aroma that evokes nostalgia. In addition to the two signature drinks of black coffee and milk coffee, you have the flexibility to change the flavor with bạc xỉu (coffee with condensed milk and ice), Hershey’s cocoa, or fresh lemon coffee for a uniquely refreshing coffee experience.

Sitting idly, gazing at the space tinted with the hues of time, and inhaling the faint aroma of coffee in the air while awaiting those delightful cups of coffee, you will feel an oddly soothing sense settling over your heart in Saigon. As the coffee arrives at your table, take a sip, and echoes of old songs from the 80s gently resound in your ears, as if allowing you to live a bit slower amidst the bustling city of Saigon and contemplate life.

• Address: 109-36 Nguyen Thien Thuat, District 3
• Opening hours: 06:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m.
• Price range: 17,000 VND – 29,000 VND

Additionally, you can visit Notre-Dame Cathedral and enjoy coffee in a unique style known as “cà phê bệt.” This way of enjoying coffee is a great way to experience the distinctive coffee culture of Saigon’s locals. You can choose a favorite spot in the cathedral’s courtyard, sip on a delicious cup of coffee, and admire the cathedral’s unique architecture. This will be an incredibly enjoyable and memorable experience during your trip to Saigon.

Saigon coffee is more than a beverage; it is also a unique cultural beauty and an icon of the city. It is a place to preserve the beautiful memories of generations of Saigonese people, a place for people to meet, chat, and share everyday stories. When you come to Saigon, you should try Saigon coffee at least once to fully experience this unforgettable taste. Based on my experiences here, I can confidently say that this will surely be an extraordinary experience for you. Especially at the locations I have suggested, don’t hesitate to explore. Let the rich and intense flavor of Saigon coffee permeate your senses, awaken every emotion, and bring you moments of peace amidst the bustling life of Saigon.