Following up on my guide to cafes in Ho Chi Minh City I now present my guide to cafes in Hanoi.

In my previous cafe reports I have usually had at least a month to try out the cafes of each city. My trip to Hanoi was for one week, so this meant I had to pace my cafe visits in addition to making time to revisit my favourites. It was something of an occupational hazard to visit so many cafes in a week, but it was worth it.

Like in Saigon there are a countless amount of cafes all over Hanoi, ranging from vendors with little plastic chairs on the side of the street, cafes in the front room of family homes, and smoky karaoke dens. For street cafes you won’t need my help: you only have to walk outside your hotel and you will soon find a cafe. For the purpose of this blog I have listed cafes that have wifi and are suitable for digital nomads to work in.

At the end of this post I’ve also included some cafes that you should visit for a different coffee experience.

Hoan Kiem District

Puku Cafe & Bar

I arrived in Hanoi with my friend Dan, who is also living in Saigon. He came to Hanoi to soak up the writerly vibes that this city emanates while finishing his book. I was happy to have a fellow cafe fiend on the trail and he recommended we come here first. This was a great first choice and we ended up revisiting a few times over the course of the week. They serve good espresso coffee and it is open 24 hours, in case you want to work or hang out into the wee hours.

Location: 18 Tong Duy Tan, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Website: foursquare.com/v/puku-caf%C3%A9–bar/4c264ed4f1272d7f285686c5

Comga Cafe & Bar

[Edit: Looks like it has closed.]
A sister cafe of Puku (or I’m assuming they are seeing they both have the same distinct typeface), this cafe also serves Lavazza coffee and has indoor and outdoor seating upstairs.

Location: 1 Cua Dong (corner Hang Ga and Cua Dong), Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Website: 4sq.com/awA505

The Hanoi Social Club

As soon as I walked into the Hanoi Social Club I had this sensation of feeling at home. As it turns out one of the co-owners is from Melbourne, which explains that homely feeling for me. If I was living in Hanoi I would be a regular here for sure.

Location: 6 Hoi Vu, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Website: www.facebook.com/TheHanoiSocialClub
Other Reviews: Rusty Compass

Cong Caphe

Cong Caphe have six branches in Hanoi. I like the arty vibe of this cafe group and I ended up visiting three of the six. I would have liked to have completed the Cong set of six, but there is only so much coffee you can drink in a week.

The cafes are decorated with communist posters and American-Vietnam War era trinkets, and serve different styles of Vietnamese coffee. My favourite branch is on Nguyen Huu Huan in the Old Quarter, which has a corner balcony upstairs overlooking the crazy streets of Hanoi.

Location: 35A Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi (and other locations)
Website: congcaphe.com

Highlands Coffee

Highlands Coffee are a chain that can be found across Vietnam, so you won’t need to try hard to find a branch. I just wanted to add this one for the location. If you go to the roundabout at the northern end of the Hoan Kiem Lake there is a giant building that occupies a whole block. There are several cafes inside that overlook the lake, and I thought the Highlands was the best pick of those cafes.

Location: 5 Dinh Tien Hoang St, Hoan Kiem Disrict, Hanoi
Website: foursquare.com/v/highlands-coffee/4b4d4e69f964a52073d026e3

Moca Cafe

Moca Cafe is near St Josephs Cathedral and is set in a lovely colonial era building.

Location: 16 Nha Tho, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Website: 4sq.com/myy3sq

Joma Bakery Cafe

For those who have been to Laos, you might remember Joma from Vientiane and Luang Prabang. There are two branches in Hanoi and there is a bakery attached to the cafe (and a good one at that). I went to the one near the Cathedral.

Location: 22 Ly Quoc Su, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Website: www.joma.biz

Ba Dinh District

Home Coffee Store

Nicely decorated cafe, complete with Singer sewing machine tables.

Location: 192B Quan Thanh, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
Website: www.facebook.com/HomeCoffeeStore

Cat Cafe

I spent most of my time in the old quarter (Hoan Kiem district) so I didn’t explore Ba Dinh district as much as I should of. Cat Cafe is worth checking out if you are in the area.

Location: 2 Chau Long, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
Website: foursquare.com/v/cat-cafe/4ea7510cb8f7ff211a6d4646

Foxilly Coffee Bar

I had just been to a cafe, and I was walking to an appointment at another cafe when I walked past Foxilly. By now it was apparent that one week in Hanoi was a ridiculously short amount of time to compile this list. Added to the list for reference.

Location: 66 Chau Long, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
Website: www.facebook.com/Foxilly.Coffeebar

5th May Coffee Shop

A little cafe that feels like someones lounge room, serving Vietnamese style coffee.

Location: 85 Nguyen Truong To, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
Website: foursquare.com/v/5th-may-coffee-shop/50f29ec8e4b0f9cd3cbb0a6b

Other Hanoi Cafe Experiences

While I have compiled this list of cafes for places you can work at, there are a some coffee experiences that you should also try if you are in Hanoi.

Egg Coffee at Giang Cafe

I had never heard of egg coffee until my fellow travel friend told me about it. Since then I knew that I would be having an egg coffee as soon as I got here.

While this coffee concoction isn’t as weird as kopi joss (the charcoal coffee from Yogyakarta), I was still slightly skeptical before trying it.

So the verdict? Delicious! The best way I could describe it would be a coffee flavoured eggnog. We went back for seconds on our last day, and I left feeling relieved that this is not available in Saigon (that I know of), otherwise I’d be having this all the time.

Location: 39 Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem Disrict, Hanoi
Website: www.facebook.com/Giang.cafe

Yogurt Coffee at Cafe Pho Co

Another coffee that is popular in Hanoi is yogurt coffee, which – as the name suggests – is coffee with yogurt in it. I have tried this before in Danang, in central Vietnam, but this coffee combination doesn’t seem to have made its way further south to Ho Chi Minh City.

Try this ultimate 2-in-1 breakfast drink at Cafe Pho Co, which has a stunning view of the Hoan Kiem lake.

Location: 11 Hang Gai, Hoan Kiem Disrict, Hanoi
Website: foursquare.com/v/11-hang-gai/4f49e9fde4b007d39037c61f

Frozen Yogurt Coffee at Cafe Duy Tri

I’m so glad I had the regular yogurt coffee before having this cup-o-goodness-from-the-Coffee-Gods, because any other yogurt coffee would have been a letdown after this. Set in a run down old building with an unassuming entrance (aren’t all the best places like that?), I was whisked to this place on the back of a motorbike by a new friend who had just taken me to one of his favourite eating places.

If I lived in Hanoi I would probably find myself going out of my way to come here on a regular basis. I left this cafe wondering why isn’t this a thing everywhere else?

Location: 43 Yen Phu, Tay Ho District, Hanoi
Website: 4sq.com/nQgUrZ
Other Reviews: Review: Cafe Duy, Hanoi Travelfish

Coffee with cats at Ailu Cat Cafe

When I went to the Cat Cafe I wondered if there was a cat cafe in Hanoi, like a cafe with actual cats in it? Turns out there is, but I only discovered this after I left so I didn’t get to go (there is also an Ailu Coffee in Ho Chi Minh City). My friends who have been tell me they are definitely NOT work cafes, but if you want to pet some kittehs while having a coffee then this is your place.

Location: 4 Thuy Khue, Tay Ho District, Hanoi
Website: www.facebook.com/pages/AILU-COFFEE/122561554438513

Hanoi Cafe Map

Further Reading

Find other cities in my cafe series.

Hanoi’s trendiest cafés CNN Travel

Closed

The Kafe
Location: 18 Dien Bien Phu St, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi

Vietnam is one of the world’s biggest coffee exporters, and socialising in cafes is a way of life here. The cafe scene in Saigon is one of the best in Asia, and cafe hopping is an activity in itself. There are hundreds of cafes across the city, from street vendors with little plastic seats on the side of the road, to specialty coffee houses that roast their own beans onsite.

This list was first published in 2012 and it has been through several updates since then. Here are some of the beast cafes in Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Chi Minh City Cafe Map

[Link to Ho Chi Minh City Cafe Map]

District 1

L’usine

L’usine is one of the old-guard of the cool cafes in Saigon. This cafe is on the first floor of a building with an entrance via an arcade. Once you arrive upstairs you are greeted with a cafe that is truly world class. There are now three branches in District 1, so take your pick, or visit all three.

Location: 151 Dong Khoi (1st floor), District 1
Location: 70B Le Loi St, (1st floor), District 1
Location: 9 Le Thanh Ton, District 1
Website: lusinespace.com

The Workshop

The evolution of cafes in Ho Chi Minh City continues with the addition of The Workshop. Located in an old building with a beautiful staircase, this cafe has quality espresso coffee as well as serving pour-over and aeropress coffee.

Location: 27 Ngo Duc Ke, (top floor, just off Dong Khoi), District 1
Website: www.facebook.com/the.workshop.coffee

Saigon Coffee Roastery

In the same block as L’Usine Dong Khoi is this specialty cafe serving some of the best coffee in Saigon.

Location: 151/5 Dong Khoi St (1st floor), District 1
Website: www.facebook.com/saigoncoffeeroastery

The Old Compass Cafe

The Old Compass Cafe is hidden away in a classic old apartment block on Pasteur Street. I liken The Old Compass Cafe as a travellers cafe for grownups, so if you’ve tired of the Pham Ngu Lau backpacker scene then come here.

The proprietor also runs the Rusty Compass travel site, and if you subscribe to the Facebook page you will see there are interesting talks and music nights held here.

Location: Floor 3, 63/11 Pasteur St, District 1
Website: www.facebook.com/oldcompasscafe

Shin Coffee

Shin Coffee opened up in 2015 and they now have two branches in D1 and another in D2. They have a variety of specialty coffee, they roast onsite and have a coffee training facility as well.

Location: 13 Nguyen Thiep, District 1
Location: 18 Ho Huan Nghiep, District 1
Website: www.facebook.com/Shincaphe

AMA Coffee

AMA Coffee (also goes by Amazing Coffee) is a specialty coffee house that has espresso and cold brew coffee. This minimalist bright cafe is a good option near Ben Thanh Market.

Location: 29 Luu Van Lang, District 1
Website: www.facebook.com/theamacoffee

Vietnam Coffee Republic

Hidden away in the labyrinthian back alleys of the area known as Japantown is Vietnam Coffee Republic. These guys are serious coffee connoisseurs, and you may have seen their bottled cold brew ca phe sua da around town.

Location: 8a/7b2 Thai Van Lung, District 1
Website: republic.coffee

Maison Marou Saigon

Technically Maison Marou is a chocolate shop, but they also serve good coffee here so I’m adding it to the list. Even without this technicality I would say that this is one of the must visit cafes of Saigon. Marou source their cacao beans from Southern Vietnam and the Central Highlands, and you can see the chocolate making process at the cafe. I recommend the Chilli Cinnamon hot chocolate.

Location: 169 Calmette St, District 1
Website: marouchocolate.com

Running Bean

Running Bean is in a remarkably large property in the heart of Downtown Saigon. This bright and spacious cafe has its own roasting facilities and they make a great latte.

Location: 115 Ho Tung Mao, District 1
Website: www.facebook.com/The-Running-Bean-848509518654567

Bang Khuang Cafe

This cafe is hidden away in an old apartment block that has seen better days. Once you go upstairs though you are greeted with an a cafe with artistic flair and natural light.

Location: 2 – 9 Thai Van Lung, District 1
Website: www.facebook.com/BangkhuangCafe

Shelter

Located in the heart of Japantown on Le Thanh Ton, Shelter is a skinny building on a corner with lots of natural light.

Location: 13 Le Thanh Ton, District 1
Website: www.facebook.com/sheltercoffeeandtea

She cafe

She cafe is tucked away in an alley and then upstairs in an apartment block.

Location: 158D Pasteur, (1st floor), District 1
Website: www.facebook.com/shecafe

Kamakura

Kamakura is a Japanese-style cafe that is listed as a dessert shop, but does coffee and Japanese lunch deals.

Location: 21 Phan Ke Binh, District 1
Website: www.facebook.com/kamakuravn

Loft Cafe

Loft Cafe also has echoes of the old French-style cafes of old Saigon and it is in one of the landmark building of Saigon (on the corner of Ly Tu Trong and Dong Khoi). Unfortunately the building is scheduled to be demolished so go and experience this building before it’s replaced by a glass box.

Location: Upstairs, 26 Ly Tu Trọng, District 1
Website: www.facebook.com/theloftsaigon

Nest by AIA

There are plenty of co-working spaces in Saigon but I prefer the flexibility of working in a cafe. One of the best cafes to work at is Nest by AIA, which I liken it to a cafe that thinks it’s a co-working space. The cafe is in the iconic Bitexco Tower, and its bright and spacious layout is a pleasure to work at. If you are familiar with Chiang Mai it’s similar in vibe to C.A.M.P. AIS.

Location: 2nd floor, Bitexco Tower, District 1
Website: www.facebook.com/nestbyaia

L’amant Cafe

Located on the “walking street” of Nguyen Hue, L’amant Cafe serve quality espresso and Vietnamese-style coffee.

Location: 12 Nguyen Hue, District 1
Website: lamantcafe.vn

Me Linh Cafe

Located in the foyer of the Sport Hotel, this is a good option near the Me Linh Square.

Location: 3 Phan Van Dat, District 1
Website: www.facebook.com/Melinhcafe

42 Nguyen Hue – The Cafe Apaertment

Not a specific cafe recommendation, 42 Nguyen Hue is more of an experience. The apartment block on the walking street of Nguyen Hue has been converted as a cafe space, and each cafe advertises itself on the balconies facing the street. Discerning coffee drinkers won’t be found here, but it’s more of a place to hang out and watch the world go by below. I have no particular recommendation, so just look at the balconies and take a pick.

Location: 42 Nguyen Hue, District 1

District 3

Id Cafe – District 3

The original ID Cafe has closed in District 1, but the D3 branch lives on.

Location: 61B Tu Xuong, District 3
Website: idcafe.net

42 Cafe

A good old-school cafe option on Turtle Lake.

Location: (Turtle Lake) 4 Cong Trưong Quoc Te, District 3
Website: www.facebook.com/pages/Cafe-42/509487592412508

Cafe Nha Minh

Nha Minh 80s Sai Gon is an 80s-themed cafe in a quiet alley near Le Van Tam Park. The cafe features collectables and fashion posters from the 80s, giving a glimpse of bygone era.

Location: 9/8 Truong Quyen, District 3

Saigon 1975

Cafe Saigon 1975 is worth a visit for the old Saigon and war memorabilia that is on display throughout the cafe. Here is my full review.

Location: 12/14 Truong Dinh, District 3
Website: www.facebook.com/saigon1975lequocnam

Binh Thạnh District

Bosgaurus Coffee

Unless you lived at the Sai Gon Pearl apartment complex you would never accidentally find this place. Fortunately for the crew at Bosgaurus, word-of-mouth spread the news that this is one of the best cafes in Saigon. It’s in a villa facing the river, which is another good reason to visit.

Location: 92 Nguyen Huu Canh, Villa 1D5, Sai Gon Pearl, Binh Thanh District.
Website: www.facebook.com/bosgauruscoffee

UCC Cafe

Also in the Saigon Pearl complex is Ueshima Coffee Company – better known as UCC. This is a Japanese chain which on the one hand has the hallmark looks of a chain store, but on the other hand its coffee is far superior to your average chainstore brew.

Location: 92 Nguyen Huu Canh, Sai Gon Pearl, Binh Thanh District.
Website: www.facebook.com/ucc.coffee.roastery

Pedal Bistro Cafe

Pedal Bistro Cafe is a clycle-themed cafe located at the second Dreamplex co-working space on the busy Dien Bien Phu road.

Location: Level 1, Dreamplex 2, 195 Dien Bien Phu, Binh Thanh District.
Website: www.facebook.com/pedalbistrocafe

District 2

The Deck

Location: 38 Nguyen U Di, Thao Dien, Dist. 2
Website: thedecksaigon.com

For a city that sits on such a mighty river, there are surprisingly few cafes by the Saigon River. If you are looking for a river view then The Deck is the place to be.

Mekong Merchant

Mekong Merchant is a cafe/restaurant that is popular for its western breakfasts, and it has become a brunching institution in Thao Dien.

Location: 23 Thao Dien, District 2.
Website: mekongmerchant.com

Cafe Embankment

If you go to Saigon and didn’t have a coffee outside on a little plastic red or blue seat, did you go to Saigon? If you are looking for the ultimate little plastic seat experience then may I recommend this collection of seats by the Saigon River in Thu Thiem. This area of District 2 is undergoing a massive redevelopment, with the new city being likened to Pudong in Shanghai. For now though the area is still has these little makeshift cafes. You won’t find a better river view than at this cafe. It’s near the Mieu Co temple, in front of the Empire City show room. It’s listed on Google Maps as Cafe Bo Ke (Cafe Embankment).

Location: Thu Thiem New Urban Area, District 2.

District 4

The Coffee Plus

Situated on the canal that separates D1 from D4, The Coffee Plus is a good option for those looking for a cafe in District 4. If you are coming from District 1 it’s opposite the Rainbow Bridge.

Location: 33B Ben Van Don, District 4.
Website: foody.vn/ho-chi-minh/the-coffee-plus

District 7

Awesome Coffee Roasters

It’s a bold move to say your cafe is “awesome’, but this is a pretty good cafe so no arguments from me. The cafe is in the Little Seoul area of Phu My Hung, and the cafe has signage in English and Korean.

Location: 994 Nguyen Van Linh, District 7
Website: facebook.com/Awesome-Coffee-Phu-My-Hung-516881585021983

District 10

Sorrento Cafe

Break out of District 1 and head out to the outer districts where the western-style and chain cafes make way for the independent garden cafes. Lots of leafy trees and water features to give you a reprieve from the city.

Location: 91/6 Hoa Hung, District 10
Website: 4sq.com/h9P7Jv

Chain Cafes – Various Districts

Being a coffee-mad land, Ho Chi Minh City has its fair share of chain cafes. Starbucks opened its first branch in Vietnam here in February 2013, and there are a few famous Korean brands here as well. There are also many local chains which you will not see anywhere else, so those are woth a visit to see how they compare to your local Starbucks.

Highlands Cafe

If there is a “Starbucks of Vietnam”, it’s probably Highlands Cafe. They serve Vietnamese-style coffee and espresso coffee, and they have branches everywhere. I like the garden cafe on Mac Dinh Chi.

Location: 39 Mac Dinh Chi, District 1.
Website: highlandscoffee.com.vn

The Coffee House

The Coffee House is another Vietnamese cafe chain with prominent locations around the city. I recommend seeking out The Coffee House Signature, which is a specialty coffee branch that is s good that it’s hard to believe it is by a chain cafe.

Location: 19B Pham Ngoc Thach, District 3.
Website: thecoffeehouse.com

The Coffee Factory

The Coffee Factory (TCF) is a fresh-roasted coffee chain from Vietnam with several branches around the city.

Website: facebook.com/tcf.thecoffeefactory/

Trung Nguyen Legend

Trung Nguyen Legend started out as Trung Nguyen Coffee and it was more in style to what Highlands is now. It’s since rebranded to represent a more luxury image. There is a good branch behind Diamond Plaza Mall which is set in a bamboo garden. It also has a beach room which is filled with sand. You can take off your shoes and forget you are in the big city for half an hour.

Location: 7 Nguyen Van Chiem, District 1.
Website: trungnguyenlegend.com

Starbucks

Starbucks finally arrived in Vietnam in February 2013 and they have since spread across the city. In order to compete with the many cafes here, Starbucks have a few “Starbucks Reserve” cafes, which has a specialty coffee bar in addition to the normal bar that everyone is familiar with. Starbucks Reserve Han Thuyen is located by the park near Notre Dame.

Location: 11 – 13 Han Thuyen, Dist. 1.
Website: en.starbucks.vn

Soho Coffee Lounge

Soho Coffee is a small local chain of cafes.

Location: 185 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Dist. 1

Angel-in-us Coffee

A Korean chain with a few branches around HCMC.

Location: 145 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, corner of Ton That Tung, District 1
Website: foursquare.com/v/angelinus-coffee/4f108b08e4b072565bb0da84

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf

American chain cafe has branches around the city.

My Life Coffee

Another local chain with six cafes around the city.

Location: Various
Website: www.facebook.com/Coffee.Mylife

Closed Cafes

With so many cafes there are the inevitable closures. I’m keeping a record here of cafes that were on the list but have since closed.

The Print Room
Location: 158D Pasteur, (1st floor), Dist. 1
Cafe is now She cafe.

Cafe de la Gare
Location: 145 Nguyen Trai, (1st floor), Dist. 1

L’Anmien
Location: 76A Le Lai-Ben Thanh, Dist. 1

Kita Cafe
Location: 39-41 Nguyen Hue Ave, Dist. 1

Saigonista
Location: Upstairs, 38/1 Le Loi, Dist. 1

Ducoin Saigon
Location: 2nd Floor, 76 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St, Dist. 1

Cosmo Cafe
Location: Corner of Le Thanh Ton and Le Pasteur Street, Dist. 1

Coffee Viva
Location: 144 Tran Hung Dao St, Dist. 1

Thoai Vien Cafe
Location: 159 Nguyen Van Thu, Dist. 1

Kujuz 3son
Location: 3A Ton Duc Thang, Dist. 1

La Rotonde
Location: First Floor, 77B Ham Nghi, Dist.1

Lobean the Coffee
Location: 18AB Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Dist. 1

La Fenetre Soleil
Location: Upstairs, 44 Ly Tu Trong, Dist. 1
Closed in March, 2018 and is looking for a new venue.

Id Cafe – District 1
Location: 34D Thu Khoa Huan St, Dist. 1
Id Cafe has closed at its current address and may open in another location. The District 3 cafe is still open.

Touch Coffee
Location: 88 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Dist. 3

M2C
Location: 4B Le Quy Don, Dist. 3
The second branch of M2C opposite the War Remnants Museum was closed after the property was redeveloped.

2no Coffee
Location: 219C Pham Viet Chanh, Dist. 1

Fafbfc the coffee shop & bakery
Location: 393/5A Tran Hung Dao, Dist. 1

Chez Vous Coffee House
Location: Upstairs, 4 Phan Boi Chau, District 1.

The Morning Cafe
Location: 2nd Floor, 36 Le Loi, Dist. 1

Decibel
Location: 79/2/5 Phan Ke Binh, Dist. 1

Banksy Studio
Location: 14 Ton That Dam, Dist. 1

Stop Coffee
Location: 18AB Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Dist. 1

Urban Station 25
Location: 25 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Dist. 1

Regina Coffee
Location: 84 Nguyen Du, Dist. 1

Birds Coffee
Location: 55 Vo Thi Sau, Dist. 3

Unclosed Coffee
Location: 85 Ho Tung Mau, Dist. 1

Vietcetera
Location: 290 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, District 1

Saigon Cafe

Saigon Cafe was a cafe chain that had a spectacular rise and fall in a short period of time. At one point it had opened up around 10 cafes in some of the most prominent locations in the city, then they all closed without a trace.

M2C Cafe
Location: 44B Ly Tu Trong, District 1