In Vietnam, the land of coffee, Nagocha Matcha is a Japanese-style café that serves premium Japanese matcha whisked cup by cup. It imports tea leaves directly from across Japan—Uji, Kagoshima, and more—offering deep-green matcha lattes, hojicha lattes, and matcha sweets. As a presence that brought a Japanese option into a Vietnamese café scene once dominated by coffee, it has won support from tourists and resident Japanese alike.
| Genre | Matcha |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2023 (from its predecessor shop “Chakokoro” in Nha Trang) |
| Coverage area | Ho Chi Minh City・Hanoi |
| Number of locations | 9 outlets |
| Signature menu | Matcha lattes from Uji and Kagoshima and Japanese sweets are the signature menu |
| Official site | https://nagocha.com/ |
What is Nagocha Matcha? A Japanese-style café devoted to Japanese matcha
The founding story
Nagocha Matcha is a specialty chain serving authentic Japanese-style matcha in Vietnam. It started with its predecessor shop “Chakokoro,” opened in the coastal city of Nha Trang—Vietnam's first matcha specialty tea house, launched in 2023. Carrying on from there, it grew into the “Nagocha” brand and expanded from Nha Trang to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
The name “Nagocha” is said to be coined from “Nago,” a place name in Okinawa, and “cha” (tea), embodying a stance of linking Japanese and Vietnamese culture. In Ho Chi Minh City it opened inside Landmark 81, and in December 2024 it set up a shop at the gateway to Ben Thanh Market—expanding by choosing locations easy for tourists to drop into.
Whisking “real Japanese matcha” in Vietnam
At the core of Nagocha is a stance fully committed to matcha quality. It sources tea leaves from famous Japanese regions—Uji and Kagoshima, as well as Fukuoka and Shizuoka—and serves ceremonial-grade matcha whisked cup by cup. While shops using locally produced matcha are increasing in Vietnam, Nagocha differentiates itself by foregrounding “Japanese-made, Japanese-style.”
The interior is a calm Japanese-style space using bamboo, wood, and shoji-like partitions. In Vietnam, where coffee dominates, a Japanese-style café with matcha as the star is rare, and it functions as a place where Japan-loving Vietnamese, resident Japanese, and tourists can quietly enjoy a cup.
Nagocha Matcha's signature menu and flavors
The menu spans widely, centered on matcha and extending to hojicha and matcha sweets. The deep green color and aroma from Japanese tea leaves are distinctive, with a lineup befitting a Japanese-style café.
Matcha Latte
Nagocha's signature. A cup of Japanese matcha whisked and combined with milk, letting you enjoy the balance of deep green color and matcha-like astringency and sweetness. Some outlets let you choose matcha strength, accommodating both those wanting a strong matcha taste and those wanting it mellow. Its appeal is that you can savor it much like at a Japanese matcha café.
Hojicha Latte
Rivaling matcha in popularity is a latte made with fragrant hojicha. The aroma of roasted tea leaves combines with the richness of milk, making it easy to drink even for those not keen on matcha's bitterness. It's a calm, Japanese-tearoom-style cup, and comparing it with the matcha latte is part of the fun.
Other popular drinks
| Drink | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Matcha (freshly whisked) | A cup to savor matcha itself, without added milk. For those who want to feel the character of the tea leaves |
| Iced Matcha Latte | The signature matcha latte served cold. Enjoy the matcha flavor even on a hot day |
Food and sweets
Beyond drinks, there's a range of East-meets-West sweets using matcha, such as cake and tiramisu. Paired with a matcha or hojicha latte, you can enjoy anything from a quick break to a longer café stay.
Cups that win over reviewers
We have rounded up the well-reviewed items that come up again and again in travel and food-site reviews (focusing on dishes praised across multiple reviews).
| Menu | Why reviewers rate it |
|---|---|
| Usucha / Koicha | As a matcha specialty shop, the fact that it offers authentic usucha and koicha, not just café drinks, is praised in reviews by matcha lovers. Many voices praise the rich, clean taste of matcha sourced from Japanese regions like Kyoto, Kagoshima, and Fukuoka |
| Matcha Latte | A staple repeatedly mentioned in reviews on TripAdvisor, Lemon8, and elsewhere as a cup with a good balance of aroma and bitterness. Praised for the matcha flavor not thinning out even when combined with milk |
| Hojicha Latte | A cup that lets you enjoy the toastiness of hojicha—reviews recommend it alongside the matcha drinks. It's often cited as an option for those not keen on matcha's bitterness |
Nagocha Matcha's locations and tips for stopping by
Scale and coverage area
It operates around 9 outlets centered on Ho Chi Minh City and has also expanded into Hanoi. In Ho Chi Minh City it chooses easy-to-reach spots on sightseeing and shopping routes, such as the outlet inside Landmark 81 and the one at the gateway to Ben Thanh Market.
The brand originally started from its predecessor shop in Nha Trang and spread from a coastal resort town to major cities. Because it holds easy-access locations in each area, it's easy to work into an itinerary.
Main cities where you can enjoy this store:Ho Chi Minh City・Hanoi. You can check each city's tourist information from its city page.
The atmosphere at Nagocha Matcha and how to spend your time
Features of the interior and design
The interior is a minimal Japanese-style space incorporating bamboo, wood, and shoji-like partitions. With calm lighting and natural materials, it has a quiet unlike a coffee chain. The setting is built so you can spend time slowly while watching matcha being whisked.
Thanks in part to the photogenic colors of the matcha drinks, many young people visit for photos. The interior, where Japanese design and the feel of a Vietnamese urban café coexist, also photographs well.
Wi-Fi, power outlets, and how easy it is to linger
Many outlets have Wi-Fi and power, and some use the quiet setting for work or meetings. When you're not in the mood for the bustle of a coffee chain, it's an easy pick for a calm place. Outlets in tourist areas can get crowded at certain hours, so if you want to work at leisure, aim for a quieter time.
Nagocha Matcha's price guide and payment
| Menu | Price guide |
|---|---|
| Matcha Latte | 75,000–95,000 dong (about 520–650 yen) |
| Hojicha Latte | 65,000–85,000 dong (about 450–580 yen) |
| Matcha sweets | 65,000–95,000 dong (about 450–650 yen) |
Because it directly imports Japanese tea leaves and whisks them, prices run a bit higher than an ordinary Vietnamese café. Even so, it feels on par with—or slightly cheaper than—a Japanese matcha café. Payment supports cash, card, and QR depending on the outlet.
Prices can change by store and season. Check the latest at the counter or on the official menu.
Nagocha Matcha takeout and souvenirs
At the storefront it sells matcha powder, hojicha, matcha teabags, and more—well suited for those who want to enjoy matcha at home, or as a souvenir for Japan-loving Vietnamese. The uniqueness is that products using Japanese tea leaves are available in Vietnam.
Nagocha Matcha: map, access, and ordering tips
The Tay Ho outlet along Hanoi's West Lake (Ho Tay) is known for its calm lakeside location and photogenic interior overlooking the lake.
Vietnamese phrases for ordering
Here are the basic phrases that come in handy locally. Pointing works, but adding a word makes ordering smoother.
| Vietnamese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Cho tôi một … | One [drink], please |
| nóng / đá | Hot / iced |
| ít đường | Less sweet |
| không đường | No sugar |
| ít đá | Less ice |
| mang đi | Takeout |
| ở đây | For here |
| tính tiền | The check, please |
| nóng / đá | You can choose hot or iced |
You can check the latest menu, prices, hours, and store listOfficial sitehere.
What to know before visiting Nagocha Matcha
How to enjoy it smartly
As a place to savor authentic Japanese matcha, it suits residents who start craving matcha during their stay as well as young Vietnamese wanting a Japanese-style café experience. Ordering first the signature matcha latte and then the hojicha latte makes the difference easy to grasp.
The outlets near Landmark 81 and Ben Thanh Market are easy to drop into between sightseeing. If you want to avoid crowds, a relatively quiet time like a weekday around midday is recommended.
Points to note
Some outlets let you choose matcha strength, so if you don't like bitterness go lighter, and if you want to taste it fully go stronger—tell them your preference when ordering. Cold drinks dominate, so choosing a hot item to match how you feel is also an option.
Hours and available menu items differ slightly by outlet. To be sure of the cup you're after, check the official site or each shop's social media in advance.
📖 For the history, background, and ways to enjoy Nagocha Matcha, see our feature column “More about Nagocha Matcha.”
🗺️ 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.
Frequently asked questions
- What makes Nagocha Matcha distinctive?
-
A Japanese-style matcha specialty shop—rare in Vietnam—that serves premium Japanese matcha whisked cup by cup. It directly imports tea leaves from across Japan, including Uji and Kagoshima.
- Where is the matcha from?
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It uses tea leaves sourced from regions across Japan—Uji and Kagoshima, as well as Fukuoka and Shizuoka—and serves ceremonial-grade matcha.
- What is the signature menu item?
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Matcha lattes made with whisked Japanese matcha, and fragrant hojicha lattes. Sweets using matcha, such as cheesecake and tiramisu, are popular too.
- Which cities is it in?
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Centered on Ho Chi Minh City, with expansion into Hanoi. In Ho Chi Minh City it has shops in easy-to-reach locations such as inside Landmark 81 and at the gateway to Ben Thanh Market.
- Is it expensive?
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About 75,000–95,000 dong (about 520–650 yen) for a matcha latte. It runs a bit higher because it uses Japanese tea leaves, but it feels on par with or slightly cheaper than a Japanese matcha café.
