The city of Saigon is renowned for its rich and vibrant coffee, as it’s the best place to easily find a cozy spot where you can sit back and take a break from the scorching heat. However, there are a few things about coffee shops in Saigon that you probably need to know.

Firstly, a cafe is a place where people go to relax. Unlike Western people, the Vietnamese rarely buy takeaway coffee. Although it’s becoming more popular among youngsters, the majority of local people still love spending their leisure time sipping on their drinks. They usually spend hours in a coffee shop, as lounging inside a cafe is one of locals’ most popular entertainment activities.

Secondly, cafes are a place where people can spend time working, and they can also accommodate every kind of social meeting. Whether they’re simply catching-up, or having a class or family reunion, a meeting geared towards business, students practising a new language, a birthday party, a holiday celebration, or even a romantic date, a well-decorated coffee shop is always the best choice.

Cafes are more about the environment rather than the coffee. That‘s the reason why Saigon has thousands of iconic coffee shops spreading throughout the city.

If you are a first time traveler to Saigon and you’d like to check out the best cafes in saigon to work from in District 1 and 3 with amazing interior design, great view, awesome drink and food and free Wi-Fi, check these out.

Address: 95B Nguyen Van Thu Street, Da Kao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Open: 8:00AM- 10:00 PM

Price Range: 35,000 VND- 120,000 VND

Hidden along the narrow and quiet Nguyen Van Thu Street, this cozy coffee shop is a perfect spot for cafe goers to meet up with friends or with freelancers, to get some work done. The cafe’s design concept comprises of a blend of French and Indochina elements, a combination which is very characteristic of the city itself. Every detail of the shop, from the classical blue-and-white patterned floor tiles to the hand-picked weavings from the far north, fills customers with a nostalgic feeling. Upstairs is an airy space, full of sunlight, which filters through a large glass window, brightening up the space. Almost every piece of interior decoration is either vintage or recycled and often adorned with fresh flowers. A major plus to the Vintage Emporium is that the awesome Vietnamese and Western food and drinks it offers are prepared by its five-star chefs! Not to mention, the wide variety of exotic fruits and fresh vegetables that are carefully sourced from local suppliers. It’s the perfect place for dining and working on your projects. PLUS we had our first Wild Tussah photoshoot and are obsessed with how they turned out!

Address: 1st Floor, 26 Ly Tu Trong Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Open: 8:00 AM – 10:30 PM

Price Range: 35,000 VND- 165,000 VND

Loft cafe is situated inside an old apartment building, and upon entering, customers are greeted by an Art Gallery area. Once you pass the hallway that is full of colorful and artistic paintings, visitors can walk up a colonial style staircase, to the first floor, where they come across a small corridor on their right; that is the entrance to Loft Cafe. You will be welcomed by a warm and tranquil atmosphere with soft music playing in the background, and a staff of young and friendly people. The cafe has an elegant colonial style design, with wooden vintage-looking furniture surrounded by beautiful black and white photography pieces, featuring gorgeous shots of Saigon. The iconic giant clock, which allows more light to come through, offering a great view to a busy street, completes the cozy, romantic atmosphere. It’s the perfect place to get some work done whilst watching the traffic during the rainy season through the window. Loft Cafe serves a variety of great coffee blends, tropical drinks and western dishes, including sandwiches, salads and pasta. Those looking for a spot to spend a morning reading a book, or simply to enjoy an awesome brunch, this is the place!

Address: 34D Thu Khoa Huan Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Open: 7:00 AM- 11:30 PM

Price Range: 35,000 VND- 65,000 VND

ID Cafe is a modern-retro themed coffee shop, located just a few blocks away from the north gate of the Ben Thanh Market. The 70s style comfortable chairs, along with various funky stencils, some warm lighting and soft music ambience help create a cool and relaxing atmosphere, which offers a respite from those hectic surrounding streets. The cafe serves coffee, tea and delicious food, which range from dishes with a distinct Vietnamese touch to Western favorites, at a reasonable price. There are also a few seats on the sidewalk in front of the shop, where customers can enjoy their drink in an airy atmosphere, or they can opt for going upstairs, which is a great place to have a meal.

Address: 21 Phan Ke Binh Street, Da Kao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Open: 7:00 AM- 10:00 PM

Price Range: 32,000 VND- 50,000 VND

Kamakura is a typical Japanese coffee and dessert shop, which lies in a corner between Phan Ke Binh and Nguyen Van Thu street. After entering through a heavy-weight plastic curtain, which separates the cafe from the crowd outside, customers will be struck by a sudden cool and relaxed vibe, with a creative and inspiring atmosphere. Wooden tables, origami Koi fish ornaments and a black pine wall harmoniously complement each other, to create an authentic Japanese style. The cafe is fairly small, but quite cozy. The front of the cafe features a glass wall, which allows natural sunlight to pass through, illuminating the whole place. Drinks and desserts are served at affordable prices, and are amazingly good. Customers can choose to take their seats on normal couches, or at a long table if they need additional seats, or even at the bar tables, which are ideal for watching people passing by. It’s a great place for studying or working on the computer.

Address: 23B Ngo Thoi Nhiem Street, Ward 16, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Open: 7:00 AM- 10:30 PM

Price Range: 25,000 VND- 50,000 VND

If you are interested in working while being close to nature, this cafe is the one for you. This spacious coffee shop has a vintage urban fusion theme, and it’s intentionally designed to have a fresh and open atmosphere, which will calm your nerves and inspire your creativity, while helping you concentrate on your projects. You’ll always have a touch of green plants in sight, whether you are seated at a table inside or in the small garden outside. The young and helpful staff will assist you with your drinks and food. In front of the cafe, there is a vintage “xe lam”, which has been turned into a colorful ice-cream stand (“Xe lam” is a three-wheel Lambro bus that was commonly used as public transportation by locals in the 60s). You can come here for lunch and try a wide variety of tasty Vietnamese food at a very low price.

If you are interested in learning more about Vietnam’s drinks and dessert, check out our other post on “Chè” – 7 Must Try Vietnamese Sweet Desserts! Otherwise, come to Saigon and experience it yourself!