"Oasis Cafe" in Ho Chi Minh City keeps steadily going viral on social media among foreign tourists. A koi pond spreads inside the café, and when you sit on a stone pod sunk into the pond, colorful koi swim right up to your table — such an extraordinary experience has spread by word of mouth, and foreign visitors are said to have increased 50% over the past 3–4 months.
What kind of place is Oasis Cafe
Located on Le Van Sy Street in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Oasis Cafe has over 8 years of history. As one of the shops that pioneered the concept of "a koi pond inside a café," from the entrance you proceed along a passage decorated with greenery and ornaments, coming out to an area where a pond is at your feet.
What's unique is the "sunken pod seats." You sit inside a pod with water up to waist height, leaning against the stone rim while enjoying a drink. The sight of koi swimming leisurely right before your eyes is photogenic, and posts to Instagram and TikTok never let up. You can also buy feed for a few thousand VND (a few dozen yen) and feed the koi, an experience design that everyone from children to adults can enjoy.
Why are foreign visitors surging now
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism includes Oasis Cafe on its list of "100 interesting things to do in the city," gaining official recognition as a travel guide. This was picked up by overseas media and travel blogs, spreading awareness among travelers from the English-speaking world, Korea, China, and Japan.
Behind this is also the fact that attention to Vietnam's overall coffee culture has risen since entering 2026. In Ho Chi Minh City, over 2,000 independent cafés operate, and demand for "experiential" shops that go beyond mere cafés is strengthening. It's an era where cafés you can experience the very place itself, not just drink specialty coffee, are valued.
Vietnamese reaction: from "for tourists" to "a culture to be proud of"
At first, some locals rated it as "a novelty spot for tourists," but in recent years it has changed into a popular spot visited by Vietnamese couples and families too. A pride that "a café culture making use of our own nature and space is recognized by the world" changed its local evaluation.
On Vietnamese social media, it's regularly introduced as "a place I want to take my foreign friends," and in Ho Chi Minh City's foreign-resident community it's positioned as "a shop I always show friends visiting from Hanoi."
A guide for Japanese travelers
Access to Oasis Cafe is on Le Van Sy Street in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, about 15–20 minutes from central Ho Chi Minh City by Grab (ride-hailing app). The fare is around 50,000–80,000 VND (300–500 yen). Business hours are roughly 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and if you want to avoid crowds, weekday mornings are recommended.
As a note, the pod seats are limited in number, and since drawing attention on social media, lines can form on weekend afternoons. Drinks are at Vietnamese prices of about 100–300 yen, with coffee, fruit juice, and iced tea available. There's no Japanese menu, but English works.
If you're looking for a distinctive café experience in Ho Chi Minh City,Every Half Coffee(a specialty roastery) andCheese Coffee(a photogenic type) are also worth considering as candidates.
"Experiential cafés" are becoming a new axis of Ho Chi Minh City tourism
Oasis Cafe's popularity shows that Vietnam's cafés have evolved from "places that serve drinks" to "the place itself is the experience." In addition to standard tourist sites like Ben Thanh Market and the Cu Chi Tunnels, café experiences are becoming an important pillar of Ho Chi Minh City's tourism content.
In an era where travelers choose "where to drink" rather than "what to drink," experience design like Oasis Cafe's produces high repeat rates and social-media spread. From 2026 onward, an increase in new cafés with similar concepts within Ho Chi Minh City is also expected.
Summary
Ho Chi Minh City's koi café "Oasis Cafe" is an experiential café that achieved a 50% increase in foreign visitors through social-media spread and the tourism department's endorsement. The one-of-a-kind spatial experience of pod seats surrounded by a koi pond has value as a highlight of Ho Chi Minh City sightseeing. Visiting in the morning before the crowds is especially recommended. For detailed café information, also seePassio CoffeeandMilano Coffeethe article.
Source:VPress Asia – Ho Chi Minh City koi café enchants foreigners、Quick Vietnam、Cheri The Glutton
