Ho Chi Minh City (Also known as Saigon) is a bustling city with a cafe at almost every corner, making it ideal for remote workers and digital nomads. While the city is usually mentioned as a cost-effective backpacking destination, it is not typically considered a digital nomad destination, at least when compared to its regional counterparts like Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.
Having had Ho Chi Minh City as my base for years, I shed light on my top 7 cafes to work from in the city.
The Cafe Vibes and the Coffee Culture in Vietnam
The general cafe vibe in Vietnam is usually laid-back and welcoming. While traditional coffee spots are all over the city, modern and themed cafes have emerged in recent years and keep popping up. Many of those are either suitable for remote work or mainly aim to attract remote workers.
The abundance of coffee shops across the city comes as no surprise, given that coffee has a traditional role in Vietnamese culture. It’s common to see cafe goers of all age groups spending long hours chatting over coffee.
The Top Cafes to Work from
Not all cafes are created equal, and remote workers don’t have the same preferences for their ideal productive work environments. With that in mind, it is worth mentioning the criteria on which this list was based:
- WiFi quality
- Power outlets distribution
- The vibe and uniqueness of the venues
- Operating hours (the longer, the better)
And now, let’s start with the list:
Bosgaurus Coffee Roasters
It is a glasshouse-inspired specialty coffee roaster surrounded by nature. Bosgaurus Coffee Roasters’ first branch is located in Binh Thanh district, nestled within the Saigon Pearl area. Inside are large tables with power outlets and smaller tables by the window where you can enjoy the view. If you decide to sit outside, you can request a power outlet extension from the staff. Almost all the outdoor tables offer river views with surrounding green spaces.
Bosgaurus Coffee is known for being one of the pioneers in the Saigonese specialty coffee scene, also selling coffee beans and have an educational blog with plenty of information about coffee. Their second branch is located in District 1, right in the middle of the trendy cafe street of Nguyễn Siêu.
The Workshop Coffee
This could be the most well-known work cafe among both locals and expats. The Workshop is located on the 3rd floor, inside an old District 1 building. The brand name says it all; the space is designed for remote work and casual business meetings.
The Workshop Coffee has a couple of long coworking tables with built-in charging ports, as well as many tables right by the floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a nice street view. There is no outdoor seating area, but there is a table with a couple of chairs right by the entrance intended as a smoking area.
The menu won’t disappoint with a variety of coffee and tea options, in addition to a food menu featuring local and international dishes.
OKKIO Cafe
It is also considered one of the pioneers of specialty coffee in the city. It gained popularity fast and became known among local Saigonese coffee lovers for its coffee quality. The menu offers a variety of coffee beans sourced from different parts of the world, while focusing on locally sourced beans. So, it is a plus for coffee lovers to explore local coffee flavors.
OKKIO’s branches are either located in old heritage buildings or designed with a vintage aesthetic. Every branch offers a different feel. Their most commonly known branch, in District 3, is located in an old villa offering a charming feel of Saigon’s old times. On the other hand, the District 2 branch is located in the expat area of Thao Dien, styled to look like a vintage diner.
KAI Coffee
A chain that made a name for itself in the last few years. It expanded into other districts beyond its first branch, located on Nguyen Thai Binh Street, at the heart of the city center. All of Kai’s branches are designed with work-from-cafe in mind, mainly catering to students and freelancers. With convenient self-service stations available, you can pick up power extension cords, water, and tissues.
Most of Kai’s branches have open rooftops, so you can avoid the air-conditioned space and enjoy fresh air. The menu offers a wide choice of international and local coffee drinks, in addition to a variety of milk tea options and fresh juices.
Cong Cafe
A chain that takes you back in time with wartime decor, vintage furniture, and staff dressed in Việt Cộng uniforms. The menu includes a variety of traditional Vietnamese coffee and drinks.
You might want to avoid the branches located in the city center. Those branches are small in size and mostly packed with tourists. It is recommended to try the Thao Dien branch, or the Truong Sa branch, which is located by the canal. These are less crowded branches with more spacious areas.
Thuc Coffee
Thuc Coffee started small on the infamous Pasteur Street. Their first branch was the first overnight cafe I discovered in the city, but it unfortunately closed its doors as the chain expanded into other locations.
It could be the most well-known 24/7 cafe chain in HCMC. All the locations include spacious outdoor areas, and the indoor areas include big coworking tables, in addition to smaller tables enough for 2-4 people.
Our favorite branches are the Lý Tự Trọng Street branch in District 1, and The Phu Nhuan District branch. Of course, both are open 24/7.
Every Half
A relatively new specialty coffee chain that expanded rapidly over the past couple of years. It is another speciality coffee place serving a range of international choices sourced from different countries.
The exterior decor will catch your attention if you pass by any of their locations. The interior will also look slightly different than the other cafes featured in this article, possibly because this chain is aimed at the younger audience and has an appealing feel for Gen Z cafe goers.
Almost all of Every Half’s branches are located around the city center. Our two picks are the one in Ngo Van Nam Street, with its convenient location between the Japanese area and Nguyen Sieu Cafe Street, and the Tu Xuong branch, which is located in a villa with a lovely indoor area and a garden with some benches where you can enjoy a coffee break.
Conclusion
The vast array of cafes and the strong coffee culture make Ho Chi Minh City a perfect destination for cafe-hopping remote workers and digital nomads. In this article, I’ve shared my top spots to get work done after years of living in this vibrant city.
Despite our research and experience, we could have missed some interesting spots in the city. In case you worked from a cafe in Ho Chi Minh City that should make it to this list and would like to share your experience, we encourage you to reach out to us.
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