Which café to go to in Vietnam? A thorough comparison guide to popular shops [coffee, tea, matcha]

Cafés in Vietnam span a wide range: traditional strong coffee, national chains, specialty coffee, tea, matcha and bakeries. Rather than working through a list of "popular spots" in order, you are more likely to be satisfied if you choose based on what you want to drink, whether you need to work, your budget and where you are headed.

Store counts, opening hours and menus change, so the 30 venues in this article are not a fixed ranking. Use it as a comparison guide to understand the different categories and find a currently open venue near you.

Decide first: taste, purpose and location

• A sweet, strong Vietnamese-style cup, or a light-roast specialty coffee?
• A quick break, or a work session with Wi-Fi and power outlets?
• Drinks only, or do you also need breakfast, baked goods or dessert?
• A destination in its own right, or somewhere to stop in along your sightseeing route?

Quick-reference comparison of Vietnam's 30 popular cafés

Listed by genre, price range, main area, and type. For a shop that catches your eye, go to the individual guide from the name. Price ranges are a guide based on the signature drink (low = up to 250 yen / mid = 250–480 yen / high = 480 yen and up).

*Thailand-born Cafe Amazon withdrew from the Vietnamese market in 2025, so it's excluded from the list (the story is covered inCafe Directory).

Recommended cafés by purpose

To taste Vietnamese-coffee character

Cộng Cà Phê、Highlands Coffee、The Coffee House、Aha Cafe、Trung Nguyên Legend。

For a carefully made specialty

Every Half Coffee Roasters、Là Việt Coffee、Sox & Craft Coffee Roastery、%Arabica。

For tea, boba, and milk tea

Phê La、Gong Cha、KOI Thé、ChaTraMue。

To enjoy matcha

Atelier Matcha、Nagocha Matcha、MIYAEN、Yakishime。

For sweets (chocolate, bakery)

Maison Marou、Bakes Saigon。

Suited to work and lingering (nomad)

The Coffee House、Highlands Coffee、Starbucks Vietnam、Cheese Coffee。

To drink cheaply every day, no matter what

Milano Coffee、Passio Coffee、PhinDeli、Trung Nguyên E-Coffee。

Vietnam's cafés by genre

National coffee chains

Major chains rooted in Vietnam's daily life.Highlands Coffee、The Coffee House、Cộng Cà Phê、Katinat Saigon Kafe、Trung Nguyên Legend、King Coffeeand others are representatives, with English menus in order, easy even for travelers to enter.

Specialty and house-roasted

For a cup particular about beans and extraction,Every Half Coffee Roasters、Là Việt Coffee、Sox & Craft Coffee Roastery、%Arabica. You can enjoy taste-comparing by origin and hand drip.

Tea and milk tea

As an option other than coffee,Phê La、Gong Cha、KOI Thé、ChaTraMue. A wide range, from Vietnamese oolong to Taiwanese-style boba and Thai tea.

Matcha and Japanese-style cafés

Where you can taste matcha, both Japanese-style and Vietnamese-grownAtelier Matcha、Nagocha Matcha、MIYAEN、Yakishime。

Chocolate and bakery

If you're after sweets,Maison Marou、Bakes Saigon. You can enjoy bean-to-bar made from Vietnamese cacao and authentic French bakeries.

How to choose a café without going wrong

If it's your first time in Vietnam, the easiest start is to try the signature “phin sữa đá (iced coffee with condensed milk)” at a national chain. On a hot day go frozen, and if you're not keen on coffee, head to tea and matcha. Enthusiasts should choose a single cup by origin at a house-roasting specialty shop, and those who want to enjoy photos or the space should choose a retro or highly designed shop. Each shop's price range and area can be confirmed in the comparison table above.

🚶 If you want to tour atmospheric landmark cafés, the area-by-areaVietnamese coffee tour | 10 hand-picked cafésis a useful reference too.

Frequently asked questions

What menu item should you drink first at a Vietnamese café?

We recommend starting with “phin sữa đá (Cà Phê Sữa Đá).” It's the Vietnamese royal road of strong filter-brewed coffee combined with condensed milk, easy to try at major chains like Highlands Coffee.

Can you enjoy it even if you don't like coffee?

There are plenty of options—tea and boba (Phê La, Gong Cha, KOI Thé), matcha specialists (Atelier Matcha, Nagocha), and sweet coconut-based drinks. You can enjoy it fully even with something other than coffee.

Chain or independent shop—which is better?

If you want English menus and stable quality, major chains; if you want a carefully made cup or to enjoy the space, specialty shops. Choose between them using the by-purpose recommendations and comparison table.

How much does it cost?

Local-leaning chains run roughly 150–250 yen a cup, mid-range 250–480 yen, and high-end like Kyoto-born %Arabica around 480–700 yen. It varies by shop and season, so check the latest at each shop.

Is there Wi-Fi and power?

Many chains (The Coffee House, Highlands, Starbucks, etc.) have Wi-Fi and power, easy to use for work or a break. Avoiding crowded hours makes for a comfortable stay.

Summary: choose by the day's purpose, not by venue name

Traditional, chain, specialty, and tea or matcha cafés each have different strengths, even though they all fall under the label "café." Start by deciding what you want to drink, then narrow it down by how long you plan to stay and where you are. If you are going to work, check current official information and recent reviews for peak hours, power outlets, Wi-Fi and seating space.