When talking about Vietnam's café culture, there's one chain that deserves the most attention right now. Its name isThe Coffee House. Starting from an alley in Ho Chi Minh City, this café grew in just 10 years to about 93 locations across 15 cities nationwide. Aiming to be not "just a place to drink coffee" but "a place where people gather and connect," the space is perfect for a break while traveling, for a bit of work, and for feeling the local atmosphere firsthand. This article thoroughly introduces the appeal of The Coffee House from a Japanese traveler's perspective.
1. A Café as a "Place to Belong" Created by a Pepsi Elite
The Coffee House story begins with one young man's decision. The founder, Nguyen Hai Ninh, after graduating from the chemistry department of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, was on a career path with a promised future as a management candidate at the global beverage maker PepsiCo. Yet he deliberately let go of that stable road.
In 2011, Ninh first launched a café chain called Urban Station. Building on the know-how and experience cultivated then, in 2014 he created a new brand, "The Coffee House," in Ho Chi Minh City. The concept he raised was "community coffee": not merely serving coffee, but creating places where people work, talk with friends, and build new connections. That was the vision Ninh envisioned.
This philosophy is strongly reflected in the store design too: spacious table layouts, a relaxed atmosphere where staying long doesn't feel awkward, and the well-equipped Wi-Fi described later. It's similar to how Japan's Starbucks raised the banner of the "third place," but The Coffee House goes a step further, realizing "everyone's living room" that blends into the daily lives of Vietnamese people.
In 2024 it was acquired by the major Vietnamese restaurant group Golden Gate, and its management structure changed greatly. The store count, once over 150, was narrowed to about 93, but this can also be called a shift to "quality over quantity." Service quality at each store has been raised, and an environment is taking shape where tourists can expect consistent quality whichever store they enter.
2. Don't Miss These! Recommended Menu
The Coffee House menu offers a wide lineup, from traditional Vietnamese coffee to original creative drinks. For Japanese tourists visiting for the first time, here are three especially recommended categories.
① New Sensation: The CloudFee Series
When you visit The Coffee House, the first thing to try is the CloudFee series. As the name suggests, its defining feature is a "fluffy as a cloud" mouthfeel, and it's the chain's signature original drink.
The most popular is theCloudFee Crème Brûlée. Atop rich Vietnamese coffee sits plenty of crème brûlée-flavored foam, just like a dessert. The exquisite balance of sweet and bitter makes you realize, the moment you take a sip, "this isn't just coffee."
Another recommendation is theCloudFee Creamy Roasted Almond. The toasty aroma of roasted almonds harmonizes with the coffee's richness, a cup you can enjoy like a dessert. At 39,000 VND (about 240 yen), it's surprisingly reasonable compared with Japanese café chains. Do try it as a cup to soothe the fatigue of travel.
② For Tea Lovers: The CloudTea Series
For those who "prefer tea to coffee," the CloudTea series is just right. Of note among them isCheese Tea. This Taiwanese-born trend drink is given a Vietnamese twist, and the combination of salty cheese foam and refreshing cold tea is superb.
Fruit tea is also one of The Coffee House's specialties. The price range is 45,000–60,000 VND (about 280–370 yen). Vivid drinks packed with tropical fruit, drunk in Vietnam's heat, are pure bliss. Enjoy southern flavors rarely tasted in Japan, like passion fruit and lychee.
③ The Classic: Vietnamese-Style Phin Coffee
Now that you're in Vietnam, you'll want to taste Vietnamese coffee after all. At The Coffee House, the recommendation isPhin Sữa Đábrewed with a traditional phin dripper. The sweetness of condensed milk and the powerful richness distinctive to Robusta blend together, and an experience completely different from Japanese coffee awaits.
The price is 29,000–39,000 VND (about 180–240 yen). It's a bit higher than street-stall coffee, but considering you can enjoy it in a comfortable air-conditioned interior with a clean glass, it's plenty worth it. For those trying Vietnamese coffee for the first time, The Coffee House is a place that offers the best "introductory cup."
3. A Heaven for Nomad Workers: The Appeal of Wi-Fi and Space
When choosing a café while traveling, the Wi-Fi environment is a point you can't overlook. The Coffee House stands head and shoulders above in this respect.
First,Wi-Fi is free at all stores。パスワードはレシートに記載されているか、店員に尋ねればすぐに教えてもらえます。通信速度も安定しており、日本の一般的なカフェWi-Fiと比較しても遜色ないレベルです。動画通話やクラウドへのファイルアップロードもストレスなくこなせるため、旅行中にちょっとした仕事を片付けたいビジネスパーソンにとっても心強い味方です。
Furthermore,power outlets are provided at each seatat most stores. You can relax to your heart's content without worrying about your smartphone or laptop battery. Charging a phone drained from walking around sightseeing while looking up your next destination—it's perfect for that kind of use too.
The interior spatial design is also excellent. Many stores have high ceilings and an open feel, and the design lets natural light pour in through large windows, so even a long stay never feels confining. Step in from Vietnam's hustle and bustle and you're in a quiet space with gentle background music. "A quick break" mid-trip turning into 2 or 3 hours before you know it is a classic The Coffee House experience.
4. A Practical Guide for Japanese Tourists
From here, we compile information useful when actually using The Coffee House.
[Easy-to-Access Stores]
In Ho Chi Minh City, there are several stores in the central tourist areas.31 Le Duanis right near the Reunification Palace (the former Presidential Palace). It's a prime location to stop by between sightseeing. On Pham Ngu Lao street, famous as the backpacker district, there's also159 Pham Ngu Laoa store, perfect for escaping the bustle of Bui Vien street for a breather.
In Hanoi, there are stores at166 Lo Ducand elsewhere. Visit during Old Quarter sightseeing or after strolling around Hoan Kiem Lake.
[Using the Dedicated App]
The Coffee House has a dedicated mobile app. With the app you can order in advance, greatly cutting your wait time at the store. You also earn points with each order, and accumulated points can be used as coupons on future orders. If you plan to use it several times during your stay, downloading it won't hurt.
The delivery service is well-developed too, arriving in about 30 minutes from ordering. Having genuine Vietnamese coffee delivered right to your room—on a morning you want to relax at the hotel, or a night tired from sightseeing—is a welcome service.
[Ordering Tips]
The menu is in both Vietnamese and English, so you can rest easy even without knowing Vietnamese. When ordering at the register, pointing at the menu photo and saying "This one, please" gets the point across to start. If you want to adjust the amount of ice or sweetness, say "Less ice" or "Less sugar."
Besides cash, a growing number of stores accept credit cards (Visa/Mastercard). That said, as with local cafés in general, keeping a small amount of cash on hand just in case gives you peace of mind.
[Price Guide]
The Coffee House price range can be summed up as follows (converted at about 1 yen = 160 VND).
- Vietnamese coffee (Phin Sữa Đá): 29,000–39,000 VND (about 180–240 yen)
- CloudFee series: from 39,000 VND (from about 240 yen)
- Fruit tea: 45,000–60,000 VND (about 280–370 yen)
Considering that drinks at Japan's major café chains run about 400–600 yen, you can enjoy genuine drinks for roughly half or less. Another cup with the money you save—that kind of small luxury, easily afforded, is one of the joys of a Vietnam trip.
5. Summary
The Coffee House is more than just a café chain. The "community coffee" philosophy raised by a founder who abandoned Pepsi's elite track has, over 10 years, taken root in 15 cities across Vietnam. Savor a new coffee experience with the fluffy CloudFee series, immerse yourself in Vietnamese flavor with traditional phin coffee, or hold a trip-planning session in a space with free high-speed Wi-Fi and outlets—any of these is great.
If you're unsure which café to choose on your Vietnam trip, first look for The Coffee House's green sign. Step into the comfortable air-conditioned interior and you should be able to experience the "now" of Vietnam's café culture, together with a cup of coffee.
🗺️ For The Coffee House's basic information, signature menu, map, and reviews,Shop guide (card)where we've put it all together.
🗺️ If you also want to compare it with other cafés,Vietnam's 30 Popular Cafés: A Thorough Comparison Guidelets you browse from a single list.
