Address: 42 Nguyen Hue, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

Saigon always knows how to surprise people with its charming contrasts. On one side are skyscrapers reflecting on the sparkling river, on the other side are old apartment buildings, where time seems to have missed a beat several decades ago. It is in those seemingly forgotten spaces that apartment coffee culture has sprouted and flourished, becoming an indispensable spiritual “specialty”. Among them, the name “Saigon Oi” rings out like a loving call, inviting diners to enter a completely different world, separate from the hustle and bustle of the city outside.

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Saigon Oi Coffee with a sunny balcony awaits those who seek peace in the heart of the bustling city. Illustration photo: TripAdvisor

Saigon Oi did not choose a flashy facade on big streets. Instead, the restaurant chooses to “hide” in heritage apartment buildings, where every step you take touches the historical memories of the city. This is a model of enjoying coffee typical of Saigon, for those who are patient enough to find true peace. Finding a restaurant is sometimes a fun little challenge. This is a journey where you have to walk through small hallways, inhale the cooking smells of local residents, and then burst into tears when the shop door opens, welcoming you with the passionate aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans and gentle music.

The beauty of Saigon Oi lies in its nostalgia and sophistication instead of the display of bright signs. There are no flashing neon lights or overly complicated architecture, the restaurant space is made up of neutral colors, time-stained wooden tables and chairs and green potted plants cleverly placed on the doorstep. Everything here is arranged deliberately but still retains its naturalness, bringing a cozy feeling as if you were visiting an old friend’s house. It is that simplicity that has created an irresistible attraction, turning Saigon Oi into an ideal refuge for souls in need of a little silence to regenerate energy.

The location of Saigon Oi is often associated with the “golden” coordinates of apartment cafes such as apartment building 42 Nguyen Hue. This is a building with a strong impression of old architecture, where each corner of the stairs, each peeling wall tells a story about Saigon of the past.

The fun of coming here doesn’t just lie in drinking coffee, but starts right from the moment you park your car and start your walk through the shiny, time-colored stairs. Deep hallways, clotheslines typical of working people or the sound of radio speakers echoing from a certain apartment create an extremely vivid visual and auditory experience before you actually enter the restaurant space.

At Saigon Oi, visitors will notice a subtle interference between rustic Retro style and the liberality and modernity of Southern people. The restaurant’s interior is a combination of traditional materials such as rattan, bamboo, and wood but is decorated according to the minimalist aesthetic thinking of the new generation. This creates a space that is both close to the elderly and “tasteful” enough to attract young people. Every small corner here is a miniature studio for those who love photography, where natural light from large windows is always willing to be the background for artistic photos.

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Saigon Oi possesses a rustic retro style design, simple but full of art. Illustration photo: Halotravel

The most valuable point of the restaurant is probably the view from the balcony. Sitting here, you can look down at the busy streets below, watch the people rushing back and forth or the green canopy of ancient trees covering the central roads. When night falls, Saigon Oi becomes a great observatory to watch the transformation of the city’s lights. The contrast between the quietness of the shop and the bustle of the streets creates an indescribable feeling – a strange silence that helps people more easily dialogue with themselves than ever.

In the language of Saigon people, the phrase “Let’s go for coffee?” has long since become more than just an invitation for a drink. It is an offer to connect, an excuse to meet, to share and to maintain relationships. Saigon Oi has captured this spirit very well when building an open, friendly and distance-free space. Here, you can easily see groups of young people discussing a new project, a couple quietly reading a book together, or even a middle-aged guest pensive with a cup of thick black iced milk coffee.

The shop acts as a miniature social communication space, where all classes and ages can find a common voice. The warmth of the staff and the way they call out customers’ names on small blackboards instead of lifeless numbers have created a strong emotional bond. In Saigon Oi, you are not an “order number”, you are a real friend visiting your home. It is that sincerity that has turned this place into a familiar stopping place, where people temporarily put aside the chaos and worries of life and return to the most original spiritual values.

If talking about the soul of Saigon Oi, we certainly cannot ignore the traditional cups of iced milk coffee – an immutable symbol of culinary culture here. Using rich Robusta beans from the red soil highlands, the coffee at the shop has a passionate, slightly bitter flavor but a sweet aftertaste. When combined with rich condensed milk and lots of ice cubes, this drink becomes a perfect cooling treat for hot sunny days in the South.

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The rich, fragrant cups of coffee at Saigon Oi always know how to please the most demanding diners. Illustration photo: Halotravel

The name “Bac Suu” or “Iced Milk Coffee” at the shop is also rich in regional cultural identity. Unlike Hanoi’s “brown coffee” which focuses on strength and little milk, Saigon iced milk coffee is harmonious, open and accessible. Bac Suu in Saigon Oi is an exquisite choice for those who like the sweetness of milk but still want to feel the faint breath of coffee. Each sip of coffee seems to contain the sun, the wind and the warm love of the indigenous people, making the drinker feel refreshed and full of energy to start a new day.

Besides traditional values, Saigon Oi does not stand out from the flow of the third wave of coffee – Specialty Coffee. This is an inevitable change to meet the increasing needs of young people and sophisticated coffee lovers. The restaurant has cleverly included in the menu high-quality nuts carefully selected from famous growing areas. The brewing process here is also done extremely meticulously through methods such as Pour Over, Espresso or Cold Brew, to fully preserve the most quintessential notes of the coffee beans.

Enjoying a cup of Specialty coffee at Saigon Oi is not simply a drink to stay awake, but a journey to discover the origin and story behind each seed. Visitors can feel the sour taste of tropical fruits, the aroma of flowers or the aftertaste of chocolate in each cup of handcrafted coffee. This interaction shows that Saigon Oi is not only a place to preserve the past, but also a place to welcome modern trends, creating a diverse playground for all tastes of coffee from traditional to modern.

Saigon people have an interesting characteristic: they can drink coffee at any time of the day, from the first rays of sunlight until the streets have fallen into the silence of the night. However, to fully enjoy the space of Saigon Oi, early morning is the best choice. At this time, the sunlight through the glass windows creates shimmering streaks of light on the table, bringing an absolutely quiet space before the flow of people begins to flow out onto the street. This is the best time to read a book or plan a new day.

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Try visiting Saigon Oi in the late afternoon, you will admire the brilliant and impressive sunset scene. Illustration photo: TripAdvisor

If you are a lover of romance, visit the restaurant in the late afternoon when dusk begins to fall. From the balcony of the restaurant, you will admire the moment the sky changes color from orange to dark purple, blending with the brilliant car lights below. This is also the time when the restaurant space becomes the coziest with soft yellow lights, very suitable for confidant dates. Even late at night, Saigon Oi still has its own charm with its strange peace, helping you completely relax after a stressful day of work.

One of the characteristics of apartment cafes is the problem of transportation and parking. For a smooth experience, you should park your car at parking spots around the apartment area such as garages of neighboring buildings or licensed sidewalk parking lots. Parking your car in the right place not only helps protect personal property but also contributes to preserving urban order and avoiding causing traffic trouble around the often crowded central area.

Besides, finding the way to the shop is also an experience that requires attention. Because it is located in an old apartment building, the entrances are usually small stairs or old-fashioned elevators. You should pay attention to the cute little signboards that the shop often hangs at the corner of the wall or at the entrance.

If you feel confused, don’t hesitate to ask the locals living here. Their friendliness and enthusiastic guidance will help you find the entrance to Saigon Oi in the easiest way, while giving you the feeling of being at home right from the first step.

Saigon Oi Coffee is a symbol of a slow lifestyle in the heart of the city. If Saigon’s rhythm of life is like a vibrant rock song, full of fire and desire, then apartment cafes like Saigon Oi are the fluttering notes. Those low notes, although not noisy, are extremely necessary, helping the music become more balanced, deeper and more emotional. Just once pull your travel suitcase out to Saigon and stop by here, let the call “Saigon” ring out in your heart, let your soul be comforted by the most simple things.