If you're like us and got the Vietnamese habit of waking up with the sun and a cup of cà phê sữa đá, you probably have already your favorite Phở or Bánh Mì joint that will help you start the day in ease. For most travelers though, finding these morning street food gems can be quite tricky, and most will stick with the typical hotel breakfast. Sure, having eggs and bacon is good (can't disagree with that!) but you're also missing out on some dishes that can be very difficult to find at other times. Indeed, it's hard to find a tasty Bò Kho open in late afternoon. We decided to take one of our mornings to find what we think are our favorite Vietnamese breakfasts here and where to get them. We can't say it was easy, and there was some serious discussion on whether the Vietnamese beefsteak Bò Bít Tết should be first instead of Bò Kho. If you want help explore the streets of Saigon for food then check out our ho chi minh food tours here : https://backofthebiketours.com/saigon-street-food-tours-vietnam/ So here is our top 5 breakfast you should try in Ho Chi Minh City, according to us as always (watch the video for mouthwatering effect and scroll down below for all the addresses): #5 Phở at Phở Lệ, 413 Nguyễn Trãi Street, District 5. #4 Bánh Mì Op La at Bánh Mì Op La Hoà Mã, 53 Cao Thắng, District 3 #3 Bún Mọc at Bún Mọc Thanh Mai, 14 Trương Định, District 1 #2 Bò Bít Tết at Bò Bít Tết Nam Sơn, 200 bis Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai Street, District 1 #1 Bò Kho at Bánh Mì Bò Kho & Xíu Mại, 166A Trần Nhân Tôn, District 10. What's your favorite breakfast in Saigon ? Original Post Here: The best breakfasts in Ho Chi Minh City https://backofthebiketours.com/best-breakfasts-ho-chi-minh-city/
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Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam at its most dizzying and chaotic. This big city is known for its traffic, which can be overwhelming for newcomers to the city. You may want to escape from the chaos for a while. Coffee shops can be found in all the little cracks and crevices throughout the city. I’ll help you locate a perfect coffee oasis, with my help you will be able to find the perfect spot for working, relaxing, or for just trying out some good coffee. My List of Top 19 Coffee Shops in District 1Phuc Long
At the top of the game is one of the most successful brands in Vietnam - Phuc Long express tea and coffee shop. This place serves various types of coffee and dried-canned tea leaves from Lam Dong Province. You can also bring home some of them as a souvenir. You should choose Oolong milk tea adding an egg plan cake and Lychee tea because they are signature drinks in this place. It’s gonna make your day. The space is wide and clean with a wooden decoration theme. Having big thick wooden tables are suitable for working and new friends meet up. A tip for you boys, Vietnamese girls love going out on dates here. The food and beverages at Phuc Long costs around 30.000đ - 50.000 VND. Đen Đá
In a modest and discreet space along a big Boulevard, Đen Đá draws the attention of many young adults. The reason for all the attention is that Đen Đá is open 24 hours a day. You will engage Vietnamese culture with a traditional coffee while sitting on our small stools along the sidewalk. Space is suitable for a group of friends or even your hot date. Each of the food and beverages cost around 15.000đ - 28.000 VND. Maison marou
Award-winning chocolate production line - Maison Marou is gonna change your view about coffee shops in Vietnam. This coffee shop is self serve, so come up to the counter to pick from their delicious menu items. The menu ranges from hot tasty latte cups to other dishes made with Vietnamese World Famous Chocolate. The see-through kitchen allows the guest to have the sensation while seeing the chocolate processing chain. The seats surrounding the kitchen bar also can give you the best view. This cozy quiet place is perfect for working alone or a meetup for two. Visa payment is accepted here. The food and beverages cost around 100.000đ - 200.000 VND each. Nest by AIA
Knowledge, celebrity, and fame are keywords to talk about this coffee shop. Nest by AIA is a half-decorated alike bookstore design with many staircase seats under bookcases and cozy light bulbs. The other half serves snacks and drinks on weekdays and lands special events like themed workshops or music sessions at the weekend.Vietnamese influencers and showbiz people always muster around here for shooting or even just for your entertainment (just kidding). David Beckham used to praise this place in his Instagram once when he had a business-traveled in Vietnam. This hotspot is a calm place, so no loud talks allow. The menu is usual with soft drinks and desserts. Those should cost you around 45.000đ - 100.000 VND each. Thinker & Dreamer
Nestling snuggly at Nguyen Hue vintage apartment, this coffee shop is gonna bring you a bizarre feeling from walls full of moss to old-fashioned lift (which costs 5 VND per one round). Walking into the coffee shop area, it will grip your attention right away with the minimalisms design with white mainstream and wooden furniture. This trait completely conflicts with the French colonial building outside creating a sense of euphoria in the back of your mind. Food and desserts are served so you cannot bring any food from outside. There is a playful plot twist at this place occurred at the closing time. The coffee shop opening hours only is from 9 am to 4 pm. What happens? You ask. From 7 pm till late every day, this place becomes a bar named “The Loser” with red dim lights and sparkling cocktails. Grab the balcony seats to steal the walking street’s best point of view. Young cool kids' club and dynamic people are gonna love coming here regardless of day and night. Each of the food and beverages cost around 50.000đ - 100.000 VND. Nấp Saigon
A whopping Liana tree intertwining the front door trellises will lure you in Nấp Saigon out of the sudden every time you have a chance to pass by. The see-through decor inside out with a motto:” Less is more” is the coffee shop theme. Many hot influencers inspired by a Hongkong trend would love to have pictures in this very modest place. You definitely can find a lot of lovable angles of this coffee shop from hashtag #napsaigon on Instagram. Egg coffee and Vietnamese French toast gonna be on your top list of Vietnamese favorite things. Each of the food and beverages cost around 40.000 - 65.000 VND. The single-story design makes this place kinda suit with dating but not loudly chat or large group's conversation. Starbuck
Every high octane metropolis city always has Starbucks, and Ho Chi Minh City is definitely on the list. Taken place on the first floor of Mplaza so it is easy to find. Decoration and furniture make no difference with a standard Starbucks coffee shop. The drink menu is similar to your hometown plus the Banhmi for breakfast because you are in Vietnam. Order your favorite coffee cups, and it definitely can satisfy your taste as usual. The window view’s seats are ideal since Starbuck covers an area at the corner of streets. There are nearby, few famous Middle East restaurants so highly recommended for inviting your Korean and Mexcian friends here FYI. Visa payment or Paypal validates too. Each of the foods and beverages cost around 40.000đ - 65.000 VND. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Score one more excellent US coffee brand in Vietnam with The Coffee bean & tea leaf. Because of its good global reputation so I would rather take a brief introduction of this place. A wide range of food and beverage tastes as good as your hometown branch with the same price. This franchise coffee makes no difference with spacious space scattered around by big armchairs. Two-story design somehow makes the second seem a little less crowded than the first floor. Same with Starbucks, the one in Vietnam is located in a central area and so easy to be found. The food and beverages cost around 70.000đ - 110.000 VND each. The Workshop
See more industrial coffee shop in Vietnam with the Workshop. Well-known by menu including good foods and beverages is the first thing to make this place hard to resist. The top favorite drink of all time goes to Latte. Make it double and you are good for a day. Wide wooden tables are scattered all around and ready for working hours. Special double height ceiling design helps to rank this place up at first place on every coffee recommendation article. People mostly look for a relaxing space to work and quick meetup at noon here so keep your eyes if bringing children along. Friendly staff, clean toilets, and soft instrumental background music are also nice things about this coffee shop. Each dish and beverage cost around 20.000 - 80.000 VND. Cà phê Cô Ba Đồng Khởi
This is a brand newcomer of Saigon coffee shop located nearby Saigon river at the rooftop of one of biggest flat at Le Loi Boulevard. Every Saturday night weekly holds special acoustic music performances by Vietnam indie artists attracting aplenty music lovers at D1. Should reserve your seat before coming for having a good view of the stage and city surrounding. Highlighted by tropical design with short coconuts and wooden swings surround the bar shall give you a joyful mid-summer vibe. This place serves dinner dishes and tropical drinks because of the theme background. Ideal for dating and meeting friends at night time. Each of the foods and beverages cost around 45.000đ - 60.000 VND. Trung Nguyen Legend
Next stop, we will take a look into the Vietnamese go-global famous coffee brand named Trung Nguyen Legend. This early-stage coffee brand always reigns a special place in every Saigon coffee lover' hearts. Lucky for you that its original coffee shop takes place at Ly Tu Trong street nearby Ben Thanh Market at D1. You can easily make a quick street tour by walking from the famous market to the red-light district. Legend coffee (either black or white) can blow your taste whenever having a chance to stop by. Smokers allow taking cigarettes on the first floor in the air-conditioned room. An open space for all served purposes so that you can work, meetup or dating. It also has raw coffee beans on selling if any chance you want to bring home as a gift. Each drink and coffee beans package cost around 20.000 - 55.000 VND. Highland Coffee
Another sweet Vietnamese coffee shop for you to visit at the corner of De Tham and Pham Ngu Lao nearby Bui Vien entrance. It would catch your eyes at first sight. It can surprise even budget travelers for high-quality penny-pinching coffees (about 9 VND), especially the no-sugar black coffee. Highly recommended Banh mi and desserts will please your tummy, too. All-day welcoming with 24/7 service and no extra charge are special just for you. Wide space and plenty of benches suits with meeting friends and resting in break time hours. Each of the food and beverages cost around 9.000 - 65.000 VND. You don’t want to miss out knowing this place I promise. The Vintage Emporium Cafe
Beautiful French-colonial space reverberates via flowered enameled tiles and the medieval royal furniture makes a great impression when you come across this place. Classified as a vintage cafe, but it reveals way more than that. Brunch and coffee under service from 07:45 am till 06:00 pm that very rare in Vietnam usual coffee shop; but this place totally nails it. Breakfast serves aside luxurious pool is gonna sink you into Zen. Salads and Moroccan poached eggs taste delicious as a signature. The drink menu is fine with juices and coffee shots. Foreigners friendly neighbor has your visa card payment accepted. There is a lot of Vietnamese showbiz people taking photoshoot or may for your entertainment (just kidding). Each of the food and beverages cost around 50.000đ - 150.000 VND. Vietcetera Cafe
Continue to come with Vietcetera cafe - an emerging Vietnamese coffee brand. Differ from others, this place serves bold Italian dishes and fine cups of latte. Attract curious comers by nostalgic style with surreal paintings and traditional benches. Two-story designer divides it into two sections as a downstairs coffee shop and upstairs souvenir store. Customers can grasp some good stuff while tasting some good cappuccino or latte cups in this chilling space. A book and city window view seats perfect for a good afternoon in this intense city. Each of the food and beverages cost around 15.000đ - 30.000 VND. Heritage ChinaTown
Ready to get obsessed right away with red lighting system glitter 80s China spirit in Heritage China Town. This cool spot serves famous Hongkong vendor dishes and alcoholic drinks for your chilling time with friends but strictly not for kids. Dimsum and chicken legs boiled with soy sauce always score as the most favorite dish of all time. Beers and mojitos all kind nails it. Small place 2 split spaces: outside with short stool seats and inside with vintage saloon color by cultural identity. Just so you know that many young models and actors outtake photoshoot here in the morning and noon. People allow to vape and smoke here during 24 hours store’s opening. Each of the food and beverages cost around 20.000 - 50.000 VND. Cộng Cafe
Cong Café is a coffee shop that brings the national spirit the most in Vietnam. Imprint Vietnamese communist tendency on every piece of this coffee shop from the decoration to drink menu. Coconut coffee is a special drink of all kinds. Banh mi pate also is a must-try dish whenever you ever visit here. Each of the food and beverages cost around 30.000 - 100.000 VND. Vietnamese benches sparkle with vintage red flower fabric scattered all around with vintage red flower fabric can really dazzle any eyes. The two-story designer coffee shop can fit people in, so be comfortable bringing along your friends and kids. Standing out from others, this place to be an interesting experience when in Vietnam and you don’t want to miss out diving into this. EON51
Let's have a plan bender go with a luxury chilling spot on Floor 52th of Bitexco Financial Tower at EON51. This famous coffee bar lures in a lot of tourists to see the whole Saigon city sightseeing. Enjoy beholding one-of-a-kind helicopter landing yard in the shape of a round dome in Vietnam. Everyone should probably come around sunset contemplate vanilla twilight to grip the best relaxing time. Excellent coffees and other beverages by its spacious bar counter. Grasp this place in your itinerary for alone time or a romantic date. Just so you know good things come with a price so it should cost you around 200.000 - 880.000 VND for each. Snob Coffee
Differ from the name as a noun - Snob Coffee, this place is super friendly with 24 hours opening time. The first floor equips four iMac PCs serving everyone for playing games and searching for information. That is the reason this place becomes a hot gathering spot with gamers and geeks. Smoking area at the balcony parts from air-conditioned rooms for vaping or smoking talks. Nighttime shelter people and daytime full of working-class makes a common daily scene here. Fine drinks and desserts under your service served by a young and well-trained staff team. Each of the food and beverages cost around 50.000 - 100.000 VND. If you are wandering at night near the Bus Station and not knowing where to wait till morning, this is gonna be the place you don’t wanna miss out. The Chai Coffee
Afro style with a horn of stag and tan carpets breathe the European forest into this extraordinary coffee shop. Smokers can enjoy a cup of coffee or fine mojito here on the little chilling balcony. This place opens every day and night in 24 hours. Sometimes the owner brings a guitar and sings some songs with their band. It surely can make you wanna sing along. Many lovebirds are here for a date so it should not be talking too loud or bringing children alongside. Sidewalks with short stools on the outside placing along the peaceful Nguyen Dinh Chieu street surely are the best seats here. Each of the food and beverages cost around 25.000 - 60.000 VND. Besides food and travel recommendation, I hope this list of 19 cafes in District 1 Saigon can help you avoid having to breathe in traffic fumes can be helpful for your journey. People probably shouldn’t hesitate to come to these places. If you want to learn more about Ho Chi Minh City Things to Do you can learn alot here. See Full Article Here: 19 Best Coffee Shops in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City https://backofthebiketours.com/best-coffee-shops-in-ho-chi-minh-city/As a local who has lived in Ho Chi Minh City for more than 20 years, I have to admit that that Saigon can be a bit dirty sometimes. Like most developing cities in the world household litter and air pollution are problematic. In fact, a majority of the problems and complaints by residents in Vietnam could be solved by not littering. Is Ho Chi Minh City Dirty? No, Saigon is kept pretty clean despite its population and the amount of littering that happens daily. Tourist attractions and the center of the city are kept extremely clean compared to more local areas of the city. The city government has been trying their best to improve the hygiene and sanitation of the whole city in recent years. The efforts include placing public trash bins at the intersections and hiring sweepers to clean the streets have been paying off. Although littering, air pollution, and flood are the main factors making the city dirty, it is not as bad as you would think. District 1 where people are better educated is generally cleaner than District 12 for example, but market areas near the bus station at September 23 Park, which is also in District 1, is dirty. Pollution is a global problem that all major cities around the world have to deal with on a daily basis. Don't expect Ho Chi Minh City to be as clean as Singapore, but it is comparable to Bangkok. This city isn't dirty enough to avoid visiting like some places in the world that have a reputation for this. District 1, 3, and the center of the city are kept clean and niceLittering is banned at popular places and tourist attractions in the city. If you are visiting Museums, pagodas, and cathedrals around the city you can expect nice clean areas. There is some littering that is annoying around areas like the Opera House and Nguyen Hue walking street because of young vietnamese who aren’t cleaning up after their small get togethers. The city does a great job of getting these places cleaned up during the night though. Bui Vien Street and Pham Ngu Lao Street are generally clean. The streets are crowded by heavy traffic during rush hour, which is around 5pm - 6.30pm. Also when there is a music event going on in the Park, the street will be so loud at night. It is great for partying but you should beware of the inevitable trash, littering, dust, smoke, and graffiti that comes hand in hand with partying and backpacker areas around the world. Sanitation in the city is nice. Public toilets such as the ones on September 23rd Park near the backpacker area are kept clean. When using them, it is best to bring toilet paper yourself in case they are out and there isn’t a bum gun. You should also prepare some small money like 5000 VND for the donation box in front of most public toilets. This donation rule works for other public toilets in Ho Chi Minh City too. LitteringHo Chi Minh City has a beautiful skyline sitting right along the Saigon river that is very charming. The patchwork of different color houses sitting like a quilt spread out for kilometers in every direction is also breathtaking. When you get a closer look on the streets though, trash and dirt can be found in small alleys, sidewalks, canals, and parks. This sort of litter can come with the territory in certain areas of the city. The city averages a whopping 8,700 tons of household garbage everyday which can create some sanitation problems in smaller unnoticed or maintained areas. Littering in Ho Chi Minh City, all over Vietnam for that matter, is an unfortunate problem that is very common. The government is doing a great job of educating the youth of Vietnam to be more aware of our environment but the older generation can still be seen littering with no remorse. There have been recent movement in the past few years to educate the older generation to take care about the environment which seems to be gaining some traction. There will be a difference between someone throwing their plastic single use cup in a plastic bag into the river, when compared to the trash you see sitting under the trees when you walk along the sidewalks. The trash under the trees is actually the neighborhood spot for placing household garbage. Everynight Ho Chi Minh City sanitation workers, clean up every street collecting this trash. So placing it under the tree, electric pole, or lamp post is just a collection point for the city sanitation crew. This shouldn’t be confused with careless littering. Recycling isn't implement in Vietnam like other countries around the world. Even though people tried to separate waste into different trash bins, staff from environmental companies still mix them together before sending them to the city's dump sites. Trash in markets and vendorsMost people go shopping at markets rather than supermarkets in Ho Chi Minh City because they can find fresh ingredients with cheaper prices. However, the hygiene is not guaranteed as the waste and garbage can be found all over local markets. Most vendors do not throw rubbish into bins. They just simply throw their rubbish into the gutters or directly to the ground under their stalls. The trash includes plastic bags, food scraps, rotten veggie, cigarette butts, and tissues. Only when the sellers need to close their stall they sweep the floor, collect trash, put them in big plastic bags and throw them at a collection point at the rear of the market. These vendors aren’t as dirty as it sounds, personally I feel most vendors are doing their best to keep things sanitary, but at the end of the day it is what it is. These markets are unique tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City because people can enjoy local food from people peddling their wares. Despite the fact that selling on sidewalks are banned by the government, local people still do these small businesses illegally to make a living. Sometimes you will witness vendor owners running away from police, or when you are enjoying your meal the vendor will make a quick dash down the street and you are left alone and confused. Flooding in the cityThis may be a blessing to any traveller who wants a great and unique local experience in the city, but it’s always painful for us locals. Flooding in the city during the rainy season is a nightmare to every citizen. It is annoying not just because of trash floating on the street, but it’s also an inconvenience afterwards. When the water level is above your knees, travelling around the city becomes harder than ever. The car and motorbike engines stopping in the middle of the street leads to prolonged traffic jams. Some people have to push their motorbikes by hands, while others trip and fall after riding on flooded potholes they can’t see. Even if you are not living in the flooded area, you may deal with difficulties as well. Traffic jams usually occur in the whole city when there is flooding anywhere in the downtown area. The main reason for flooding is uncontrollable littering by us locals. The drains are choked up with garbage, river runoff is slowed down because of household trash, giving rainwater no way to escape from the city. Therefore, if you visit the city during the rainy season which is from May to November, you should really bring a raincoat, waterproof accessories and flip flops to prevent you from getting wet Optimism of people even in such situations may surprise you and make you want to visit the city anyway. Some visitors and citizens found this entertaining. When it rains, fish in canals swim to the streets and people try to catch them. Some travelers really enjoy this that they even go kayaking in the middle of the city. Air pollutionMost cities in the world presumably face this problem. It is no doubt that the overpopulated city like Ho Chi Minh is in the same situation. Heavy traffic, smoke, dust, and air pollution is a part of citizen’s daily life. In sunny season from December to April the air pollution is even worse in the sunlight. Trucks carrying cattle or fish sauce is another cause of air pollution, but you can only see them in the suburb areas of Ho Chi Minh City like District 12. The mentioned factors are the reason why you should wear face masks and sunglasses when walking down the street in Ho Chi Minh City. They don’t just keep you from sneezing but also protect you from respiratory diseases and other kinds of sickness. We hope this article answers your question about the cleanliness and safety of Ho Chi Minh City. This is my home, and it is surprisingly clean even though there are many sanitation issues that our city faces with such a large population. I feel that most travellers visiting Ho Chi Minh City will feel the same. Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City Article Source Here: Is Ho Chi Minh City Dirty? https://backofthebiketours.com/is-ho-chi-minh-city-dirty/Where is Nguyen Hue Coffee Apartment? – The one-of-a-kind building in downtown Saigon.If you are searching for the best photogenic spots in Ho Chi Minh City, never skip the 60-year-old building on No.42 Nguyen Hue Walking Street. The newly redesigned street in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, is right in the center of District 1. The coffee apartment at 42 Nguyen Hue is right in the middle of the street inbetween the Saigon River and the City Hall that sits on either end of Nguyen Hue. What turns such an antiquated building into the trendiest place in all of Saigon? It’s the perfect combination of a youthful Saigon vibe with the timeless, nostalgic beauty that makes Building No. 42 stands out among other places. Come here to capture the best scenes of Saigon onto your Instagram, to shop until you drop and to fill your taste buds with endless food and coffee. Let this article guide you on your exploration into this spot, and take away plentiful recommendations for fun activities to do while you are here. Nguyen Hue Cafe Apartment HistoryFrom a 60-year-old building to the coolest address on Nguyen Hue Walking Street Building No. 42 charms visitors at the first look with its glorious history. Back in the Vietnam War when Saigon was the capital of Southern Vietnam, the nine-storey building at no. 42 Nguyen Hue Street housed many top-ranking government officers, including Truong Buu Khanh – the first secretary of the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington, as well as countless American military advisors, thanks to the central location. When the Fall of Saigon in 1975 came, the building’s honored days slowly faded away. As Vietnam thrives in the world’s economy, skyscrapers rise higher and higher to take over the sky of Ho Chi Minh City, which turns the old apartment building into a dwarf among giants. After decades, time stained every corner of Building No. 42, from the dimly lit entrance with interlacing electrical wires to yellow brick walls with peeling paint and the twisting French-style staircase. Every breath inside the building gives you such a strong nostalgic feeling from a chaotic era. The building revived its fame in an unexpected event in 2015. Due to the high rental fee in the city centre, small coffee shops and fashion boutiques turned their eyes to the old building No. 42. A wave of renovation hit the building quickly, and when Nguyen Hue Walking Street was open to the public, Building No. 42 also went viral on social media for its brand new appearance: a hip complex filled with nearly 30 coffee stores, fashion boutiques and other independent stores, each with a unique concept and Instagram-worthy atmosphere. The building engages hundreds of local people and tourists every day from morning ‘till dawn, and is now considered as the coolest address on Nguyen Hue walking street. Once you start your journey here, prepare to be confused since the 1st floor is occupied entirely by Fahasa – a renowned chain of bookstores in Vietnam. The diminutive entrance is on the left of the book store. Now squeeze yourself to make your way through vehicles and the flow of people in and out of the building. Visitors can either wander floor by floor on the stone staircase or pay 3.000 VND to use the elevator, which will be reimbursed by some shops. The exciting area starts on the 2nd floor. Among 3 sections of the building, section A is where most stores locate, thanks to the good view looking down to Nguyen Hue walking street and the Saigon river. Section B is a little more hidden than section A, but it still attracts a good amount of businesses due to spacious apartments. Residents remain in section C as apartments are not favorable for renovation. While most stores open every day from 8 A.M to 10 P.M, the building is busiest in the evening. It’s the best time to see the building glows in the beautiful light from balconies and decorative billboards. If you want to explore every corner of the building, it may take most of the day. To save your time, here’s a list of what visitors usually do when visiting the building, from the most frequent activity to the unexpected ones. The Best Instagram Cafes at 42 Nguyen Hue ApartmentWhether you’re a fan of photography, or you just want to share some beautiful holiday moments on social media, Building No. 42 is a must-go place for you. It’s not exaggerating to say that the building is filled with Instagram-worthy backgrounds. The most photo-taken spot is not anywhere inside, but the outer view of the whole building when looking up from Nguyen Hue walking street, especially at night when the building sparkles in the light of lanterns, hanging naked light bulbs, neon lights, billboards and decorating signs. The building’s cubic-like frame with evenly square balconies makes it look like a chocolate box full of tastes and styles. Inside the building, artistic layouts can be spotted anywhere, from the fuzzy tiled corridors, tarnished window frames to rusty apartment doors. Before settling inside any shop, do take some photos in the hallway. The most recommended background is the corridor of the 4th floor where a little tropical garden flourishes in the middle of the building. Or opt to the 6th floor to be surrounded in a Hoi An atmosphere with bright yellow walls and hanging lanterns all along the aisle. Even the elevator lobbies can become a hip background with different signs, billboards and maps of floors. Now you have to make a hard decision of which store to step inside because all stores in Building No. 42 deserve the praise for their aesthetic interior. Most well-known cafés to Instagrammers include Partea, The Maker Concept, and The Letter Cafe. Partea is a classic English teahouse that actualizes every girl’s dream of living in a castle with royal-like decoration, while The Maker Concept’s industrial décor focuses on the chic, modern and somewhat minimalist style. Otherwise, come to The Letter Café to stay on a tranquil oasis in the middle of the chaotic Saigon, thanks to the elegant Hoi An influenced decoration. After visiting beautiful stores recommended above, let’s step out to the balconies and take a look. From there you’ll get an overview of the busy walking street, Saigon River in a far sight and some iconic skyscrapers of Ho Chi Minh city. Buihaus Coffee & Workshop on the 7th floor or Boo Café on the 9th floor are most frequently visited for their spacious and wide-angled balconies, which is suitable to set up a good photo. If you are an active Instagrammer, check out our recommendations for more Instagram-worthy places around Ho Chi Minh city. Best Coffee Shops in Cafe ApartmentBuilding No. 42 is called “the Coffee Apartment” for a reason. What makes people so excited about No. 42 is that the complex offers customers various drinks with different tastes in one place. Here you’ll find people filling all seats in these cafés every day, mostly youngsters who not only want to have a good drink but also look for a cool place to hang out, socialize and date. Here in Building No. 42, all of their needs are fulfilled. For coffee addicts, you’ll have a hard time choosing a café in the building, because each store has their signature drinks that you don’t want to miss. To have a taste of Saigon style coffee, try Sai Gon Oi on the 5th floor. This shop has some different versions of the iconic ca phe sua da (Saigon iced milk coffee). A small detail that many customers like in this store is cute little name tags stuck onto your cup. The store also serves light desserts but we believe the true reason to visit is the drinks. On the same floor, you can find Nau Saigon Café, a cool place to try some unique Vietnamese coffee such as egg coffee, foam milk coffee, or coconut coffee. Egg Coffee is quite famous in Vietnam and worth trying for any newcomers to unique Vietnam’s coffee universe. Don’t hesitate of the bizarre combination of whisked egg yolk layered on top of black coffee, because it’s likely that you’ll crave for the creamy, tasty flavour of the drink. A tip for Instagram enthusiasts: Check out Thinker & Dreamer on the 4th floor. The drinks in this shop are famous for being Instagram-worthy. If you see a small camera icon on the menu, it means the drinks are “good for taking photos”. Their drinks range from classic coffee like espresso or cappuccino to other popular drinks such as juices and tea. The combination of their tastes and looks is worth the price. For tea lovers, there are two addresses that you shouldn’t miss in this building: Partea on the 4th floor and Orientea on the 7th floor. Partea is considered as a fairy house in the middle of this tropical city. Customers are deeply in love with the royal-like ambience of the store, besides the extensive choice for tea flavours. You can even choose your own teacup from the store’s huge display of vintage utensils. Orientea, as suggested in the name, is a place to taste oriental tea, mostly from Japan and China. The store receives positive reviews on the tranquil atmosphere and unique, delicate tea flavours. This is an ideal place to find a peaceful moment or to enjoy a Japanese tea ceremony. To cool down the heat of Saigon, don’t forget to check out Mango Tree on the 3rd floor and taste the store’s most recommended beverage: Mango Snowflake – a Korean famous drink/ dessert called bingsu, made from shaved ice topped with fruits, syrup and condensed milk. The dessert is famous for melting down in your mouth at the first bite. Eating a full bowl of bingsu guarantees to give you a shiver even on a blistering hot day. Other places of Saigon may also have bingsu, but is notable for special flavours from coffee, bubble milk tea to durian. Cafe Apartment Food RecommendationsThere are fewer restaurants in Building No. 42 than cafés, but almost all of them receive positive feedbacks for their quality and service. One thing for sure is whether you are into Eastern or Western cuisine, Building No. 42 has it all to offer. Start from the 2nd floor at Poke Saigon where you’ll find tasty Hawaiian seafood. This is the first restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City that serves Poke – a popular appetizer in Hawaiian cuisine, composed of raw fish, salad, toppings and sauces, which tastes fresh and healthy. This restaurant is suitable for any meal in a day thanks to its diverse menu. Those who have a vegetarian or gluten-free diet can easily choose a dish from many options. A great thing in Poke Saigon that many customers love is that you can create your own poke flavour from unlimited toppings and sauces. On the 3rd floor is the right place for people who look for a European taste, with Dosh and Downtown Steakhouse. Dosh is a perfect bakery for your sweet tooth. Doughnuts are must-try when you are here because of their unbelievable soft and tender taste. Besides doughnuts, freak shakes are highly recommended, both for the taste and the Instagrammable look. Since its opening, Dosh has been one of the top-ranking bakeries in Saigon and received much attention. Downtown Steakhouse is lesser-known, but all reviews about this restaurant are compliments for their tasty food. As suggested in the name, the restaurant’s main dish is American steaks and grills that satisfies your taste and vision. With delicious food, great outdoor setting, helpful service and affordable price, Downtown Steakhouse is worth visiting, especially suitable for dating and couples’ night-outs. For fans of Italian cuisine, head to 8IELTS Café on the 4th floor. The good view and arty décor with beautiful wall drawings is the most significant feature of 8IELTS. The menu composes of general Italian food such as pizza and pasta. The price and customer service in this café receive mixed reviews but are still acceptable on the average. A good thing to note down is 8IELTS offers a generous weekly discount program every Wednesday and the cafe frequently throws live music nights. If you have had enough of Western food, look for Michi Sushi on the 7th floor. Their menu covers a broad range in Japanese cuisine, including sushi, sashimi (a delicacy made from raw sliced meat or fish and served with soy sauce), teriyaki (broiled or grilled meat with a glaze of mirin, soy sauce and sugar), udon (Japanese noodles) and some Western – Japanese combined dishes. The food in Michi Sushi is praised for its freshness and delicate preparation. The price is reasonable with frequent discount programs, making Michi Sushi one of the busiest stores in Building No. 42. Lastly, for those who want to try Vietnamese food, Saigon Vieux on the 2nd floor and Sai Gon Oi on the 5th floor are the places to go. Both cafes offer some traditional Vietnamese and Saigon dishes. While Saigon Vieux has a more diverse menu which is suitable for any meal in the day, Sai Gon Oi is better to grab a quick brunch. Best Shopping Spots in 42 Nguyen HueWhen it comes to shopping, Building No. 42 confidently beats down other luxurious shopping malls for its dynamic atmosphere. Fashionaholics dash down here to search for trendiest, one-of-a-kind items. Young local designers find No. 42 a heavenly place to start up and promote their styles. Both result in No. 42 becomes a fashion treasure where new boutiques pop up frequently and customers can dive into various choices on a budget. What’s more, shopaholics crave for the aesthetic atmosphere not any less than clothes. Since social media is the main marketing platform of all start-ups here, shop owners strive to make every corner in their stores picturesque. All in combination makes a shopping spree in Building No. 42 definitely worth your time. A small thing to keep in mind: clothing stores in Building No. 42 are mainly for female customers with standard Asian sizes, so don’t be surprised if you struggle to find a fit item. In that case, look for accessories, such as cool bags or jewels because you won’t be disappointed. Below are some recommendations for stores you should swing by. For those who favour a minimalist style, Hayho Concept on the 2nd floor definitely wins your heart. Hayho Concept claims to serve customers “classic basics clothing with a twist”. The store sells men and women’s fashion clothes with uniquely designed embroidery and high-quality material. Customers usually look for cool T-shirts and polo shirts when they come here. For couples: don’t forget to dig into their T-shirt section and find some cool matching outfits as the store provides plentiful unisex items at all sizes. To complete your minimalism - inspired look, head to a Scandinavian style store named The E.Y.E Saigon on the 4th floor. The artistic decor and display charm your eyes at first sight. Even though all products are plain black and white tote bags, they can add flavour to your outfit with creative designs, printings and unique slogans. The brand’s mission is to proudly promote sustainable buying habit and showcase Vietnamese culture through modern fashion. The store also offers good quality, stylish white tees and chic wall prints that are worth considering. For girls who look for a feminine outfit, try Cosette or Chanchan. Cosette is a Vietnamese designer brand that emphasizes the classy beauty of vintage clothing. Their target customers are young office ladies who love to be trendy, yet maintain their formal and professional look. If you adore the ao dai of Vietnam, do put this store onto your bucket list when you come to No. 42 as they offer a good selection of traditional, elegant ao dai styles. Come to Chanchan to find some funky pieces with gorgeous designs and nice materials. The store aims to customers who are into a somewhat casual and colourful style. Their most sold items are lovely dresses with nice cut-outs and tropical designs that brighten up your look. If you happen to come here around the Vietnamese New Year, you should also look for their very cool section of modern and chic ao dai designs. Now let’s spice your outfit up with some cool accessories from Buom Boutique or The Maker Showroom. At Buom Boutique, take a look of their wide selection of various Japanese clothes and handmade accessories, from kimono, silk tank tops to wooden sandals and seagrass handbags. At The Maker Showroom, try out plentiful hip products from backpacks to jewellery and even designed phone cases. It’s pretty hard to step out of the building without one or two items from these cool fashion stores. Co-working Spaces in SaigonNow, just when you think that you have known everything about this building, it still has more to offer. Besides eating and drinking, many cafes define themselves as co-working space and provide a great environment for freelancers or anyone who simply needs to make something done. Famous cafés that are dedicated to working or study space include The Maker Concept, Buihaus Coffee & Workshop and Thinker & Dreamer. Other cafés are also fine for working, except for busy hours in the evening. For beauties, don’t forget to wander around some beauty stores in the building, such as Naunau DIY Studio on the 5th floor. This cosmetics brand allows you to make your own beauty products, from handmade beauty soaps to your personally designed perfume, all with natural, eco-friendly ingredients. One thing for sure is that the business in Building No. 42 is competitive and frequently changing with more and more creative, unique stores pop up to the display, so the next time you visit it, prepare to discover some new and cool places. The undefined future of Building No. 42Despite many compliments, the building has some drawbacks. Since apartment owners renovated it individually, the building lacks systematic management and organization, which makes common services, such as parking and using the elevator, quite low quality. The common areas are not taken care of, which leads to complaints as “dirty and messy”. The run-down construction of this 60-year-old building brought a huge concern to both residents and customers about its safety. Moreover, turning apartments into business is actually illegal and a notice of eviction has been made to shut down the business here, though the government hasn’t taken any strong action yet. While the future of Building No. 42 Nguyen Hue Walking Street is unclear, business still prospers with new stores opening every month or so. Rumour has it that the building will soon be demolished, but until that day, No. 42 stays as the coolest address on Nguyen Hue Street and one of the best places to visit in Ho Chi Minh City. Check it out as soon as you can, before this unique place becomes the past.
Original Post Here: 42 Nguyen Hue Coffee Apartment https://backofthebiketours.com/42-nguyen-hue-coffee-apartment/
It's not always easy to explore Saigon Street Food under this unbeatable heat, and sometimes a quick ice cream stop can be the best way to refresh yourself and have enough energy for your adventures here. Fortunately, with a summer all year round, Ho Chi Minh City is packed with desserts places, Ice cream stands or local traditional Vietnamese sweets. In our latest video we decided to have a look at our favorite desserts to try in Saigon, and where to get them. Keep scrolling for the addresses! #5 Kem Nhãn Chú Tám, 2 Trương Hàn Siêu Street, District 1 #4 Chè Cô Giang, 85 Cô Giang Street, District 1 #3 Trái Cây Tô, 177 Lý Tự Trọng Street, District 1 #2 Thế Giới Tàu Hủ, 164 Trần Hưng Đạo Street, District 1 #1 Kem Dừa Thái Cà-Rem, 241 Cách Mạng Tháng 8 Street, District 3. What's your favorite desserts in Ho Chi Minh City? We definitely have something for that "Chè"! Article Source Here: The Best Desserts in Ho Chi Minh City https://backofthebiketours.com/best-desserts-ho-chi-minh-city/We decided to have a look at a cheaper selection of accommodation in Ho Chi Minh city. As always this is only based on our opinion nor this is a sponsored article/video by any of these hotels. Check out the video for our top 5 best value hotels in Saigon , and scroll down below for the list of addresses:
#5 GK Central Hotel, 92 Ly Tu Trong Street, #4 Ruby River, 59 Nguyen Thai Binh Street, #3 Liberty Green View, 187 Pham Ngu Lao Street, #2 Duc Vuong Hotel, 195 Bui Vien Street, #1 Alagon Saigon Hotel & Spa, 289 Ly Tu Trong Street.
Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more videos about Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnamese street food coming soon! Ho Chi Minh City Where to Stay Tips Learn More Here: The Best Value Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City https://backofthebiketours.com/best-value-hotels/We serve vegetarians on our and our Tours every day. We know how important it is for Vegetarian and vegan travellers to find some delicious local food that caters to their lifestyle. Our goal as always is to provide travelers with the best spots for various Vietnamese street food or activities here in Saigon. One that was probably requested the most was a Top 5 vegetarians restaurants in this city. Finding 5 places for great vegetarian food in Ho Chi Minh City was not too much a challenge for us, and more an excellent opportunity for delicious food. Below is our video with the Top 5 Vegetarian restaurants in Saigon, scroll down below for the list of addresses to the top Vegan Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City!
Vegetarian Restaurant Ho Chi Minh Top 5 Recommendations#5 Cơm Chay Mani, 291/2 Võ Văn Tần Street, District 3 #4 Rou Vegetarian Restaurant, 37B Cô Bắc Street, District 1 #3 3 Lá Restaurant, 32A Cao Bá Nhạ Street, District 1 #2 Bông Súng, 86 Nguyễn Du Street, District 1 #1 Hum, 32 Võ Văn Tần Street, District 1.
Have you tried any of these restaurants? which one was your favorite ? Let us know in the comments below!
Originally Published Here: The Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City https://backofthebiketours.com/best-vegetarian-restaurants-ho-chi-minh-city/Although you can't find this on our Food Tour, We decided to give it a go and show people what it is all about. Back in December, we decided it was time to try one of the most bizarre Vietnamese street-food ever, the coconut worm (đuông dừa or Live Larvae Coconut Worm). The (Its poetic name was given by the scientist community) is a relatively large beetle living in the forest of South East Asia, a real threat for plantations as it lays its eggs inside palm and coconut trees which can be completely eaten from the inside by the larvae. Yet this worm is considered as a delicacy in South Vietnam for its sweet coconut taste and is usually eaten alive with chili sauce:
So what do you think of the Vietnamese coconut worm? Have you ever tried some of the other bizarre Vietnamese food, such as the balut (hột vịt lộn, the infamous duck embryo) which we serve on our Ho Chi Minh Food Tours? Tell us in the comments below!
Street Food in Ho Chi Minh City Originally Published Here: Eating Live Larvae Coconut Worm Bizarre Vietnamese Street Food https://backofthebiketours.com/eating-live-larvae-coconut-worm-bizarre-vietnamese-street-food/In this cooking video you will learn how to cook a Vietnamese sate sauce (Sa Tế). Check out the video and the list of ingredients right below! :)
List of ingredients needed to cook a Vietnamese Sate sauce4 stalks lemongrass
Have you tried to cook a Vietnamese Sate sauce? Let us know in the comments below! Source Here: How to cook a Vietnamese Sate Sauce https://backofthebiketours.com/how-to-cook-a-vietnamese-sate-sauce/Saigon is absolutely wonderful at night. Between the energy, lights, traffic, and tons of people who are finding their way through the city after the sun goes down. Even though there are plenty of bars for you to wander in and out of making new friends and having drinks, the part of Saigon at night that is truly special can be found at the parks and outside the more accessible famous sightseeing destinations in Ho Chi Minh Ciy. What is so special about these places at night? It is the students of Saigon all sitting around each other with makeshift seating arrangements sharing food and drinks. They don't want to spend money to go to a coffee shop, movie, or hooka lounge. Why do that when you can sit down with your friends for free and share your stories over some wonderful street snacks for the cost of 30,000 VND. If you are looking to experience this energy that I am speaking of you can easily go to the park across the street from the famous sightseeing monument, Notre Dame Cathedral. There you will find what the kids have dubbed "cà phê bệt" which translates roughly to "Sit on your Butt Coffee". You have to love that! Here the students will be sharing different street foods from Corn stir fried with dried shrimp (Bap Xao), Grilled Rice Paper AKA Vietnamese Pizza(Banh Trang Nuong), or Rice Paper Salad with Dried Beef (Banh Trang Nuong). Now as the name might suggest they do serve coffee in this area but the young people of Vietnam might choose to split a soft drink. Sting seems to be a drink that is seen a lot at these no frills get togethers. Some might say that you could experience this same energy in the Backpacker area called Bui Vien. Not for me though. These small on the street with no stool meetings of hopes, dreams, and pure silliness between the Vietnamese are much more insightful into what Vietnam really is over an overcrowded area like Bui Vien. So while you are travelling here, I dare you to take a step out of the norm and go visit one of these sit on your butt and chat affairs to experience the true energy of Saigon's youth. No worries, as a lot of them will speak a decent amount of English. If you haven't participated in a showing of true Vietnamese hospitality yet, you are in for a surprise. They will honestly be interested in who you are, where you're from, and what your observation of their country is. Wanting nothing in return except for your company, to break bread, and share a coffee together as you humbly rest your butt on streets of Ho Chi Minh City at Night. Cafe BetLocated just across the street from the Notre Dame Cathedral at the park. You can find the park at the cross street of Pasteur and Han Thuyen. Just take a seat wherever you think you might be comfortable, a vendor will soon be by to take your order. "Cafe Sua Da" is always a good choice in my opinion. Turtle LakeSituated in the round about where Pham Ngoc Thach and Tran Cao Van meet this offers a scenic view along with lots of Vietnamese Street Food Vendors selling excellent street food. Don't forget to ask about the vendor across the street who sells an excellent coconut ice cream with Dried cherries and banana's. Opera HouseThis is a prime example of "if you build it they will come", make shift seating arrangements are made all along the Opera House around 8 PM at night by students and young people enjoying drinks and the energy of downtown Saigon. Not much street food to enjoy here but still an interesting sight. Thu Thiem TunnelJust across the river in District 2 the government has turned what was once Slums into beautiful parks. This features a great view of the city with numerous street food carts set up selling everything the heart might desire. The Eiffel BridgeLittle known fact that this is the only remaining bridge in Vietnam that was built by the once famous Eiffel company. Across the road canal in District 4 young and older couples gather here to enjoy the view of the canal while holding each other tight. With benches set up along some small park like area's it is easy to find seating that is not on the ground.
Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City See Full Article Here: Top 5 places for a Night Time Local Experience in Ho Chi Minh City https://backofthebiketours.com/night-saigon-city-tour-things-to-do-in-saigon/ |