5 Best Cafes in Ho Chi Minh For Digital Nomads

If you’re a freelancer or digital nomad and looking for the best cafes in Ho Chi Minh (also known as Saigon), look no further! I’ve got you covered. Ho Chi Minh has no shortage of incredible cafes, and is the top city I’ve ever lived in for cafe options, coffee (Vietnamese coffee is the best), and affordable brunches and lunches. 

In this article, I’m taking you through five of my favorite places to work from in Saigon. So, whether you’re looking for a happening cafe to meet like-minded professionals, or searching for a quiet corner to cozy up with your favorite book, you won’t be disappointed. Below are the five best cafes in Saigon for digital nomads and freelancers!

Let’s get started!

The Workshop Coffee – The Freelancer’s Coffee Shop

Credit to the The Workshop Coffee’s Facebook Page.

While I love the below-mentioned coffee shops equally, I just happen to love The Workshop Coffee just a little bit more than the rest of them. This is my go-to cafe for getting work done, and is the spot where you see literally everyone – from models looking to get noticed, to companies holding important meetings (in the side room), to blockchain developers looking for fast wifi and good coffee – this is the place to go. 

The Workshop Coffee is digital nomad heaven. 

Because of its popularity, it can definitely pack up during peak lunch hours, so I generally recommend getting there early in the morning to grab your seat or spot at a communal table. 

When walking into The Workshop Coffee, customers and freelancers will have the option of sitting at a personal table, or one of the three giant communal tables in their main room (two communal tables in the side-room). There’s literally outlets everywhere, and multi-plug chargers for all communal tables. 

Credit to the The Workshop Coffee’s Facebook Page.

Hands down Workshop Coffee serves the best cold brew this side of the Mekong. There’s also a bunch of exotic sounding coffees which I have never tried due to loving the cold brew so much. They take their coffee seriously at Workshop, and at least once a week (roughly) you can see all staff members lined up to test and taste new offerings. 

They also have extremely affordable Western brunches and lunch options, such as Eggs Benedict, English Breakfast, assorted burgers and sandwiches, soups, pastas, and pastries. 

WiFi Rating: 5/5 – There’s several WiFi networks freelancers and digital nomads can connect to at Workshop Coffee, all of which have never let me down. That’s a big statement, considering I work from there three to four days per week. 

Website, Address, & Details: https://www.facebook.com/the.workshop.coffee/ 

• 27 Ngô Đức Kế, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh. [Insert Google Map plug-in]. 

Additional Notes: What makes Saigon so special is its hidden beauty, and Workshop Coffee very much embodies that mantra. To find it, you’ll need to enter off the street and climb up several sets of stairs (past Siqar Cigar Lounge) until you get to the top. 

L’Usine (All Locations) – The Bruncher’s Cafe

Courtesy of L’Usine’s Facebook Page (a shot of their Lê Thánh Tôn location’s 2nd floor). 

The great thing about L’Usine is that there are four to choose from, all of which sport their own unique flare and serve up some of the best brunch in Ho Chi Minh. My personal favorite L’Usine is the location on 19 Lê Thánh Tôn (District 1). 

With some recent downsizing at their Đồng Khởi location, it seems like a no brainer to head over to their 4 story Lê Thánh Tôn spot located in the heart of Saigon’s Japantown – which I recommend checking out for ramen and ice cold Sapporo draughts after a long day of work. 

Not only is L’Usine a great spot to work out of, it has some of the best sandwiches I’ve had at a cafe in Saigon. I highly recommend trying their tomato, feta, and mozzarella sandwich, which if by some strange occurrence, I became a vegetarian, I would have to eat every single day. 

Their cakes and desserts are also worth sampling while there, which you’ll be greeted with upon entering each location (carrot cake recommended). L’Usine also offers all-day breakfast, should your internal clock be thrown off by the odd hours of freelancing. 

While L’Usine’s WiFi isn’t as strong as Workshop Coffee, their menu variety sure makes up for that. Plus, they serve traditional Vietnamese coffee for those looking to get their extreme caffeine fix. At their Lê Thánh Tôn location, I generally prefer to work on the 3rd floor, where there’s a long communal table. You’ll generally run into other freelancers up there, or companies holding casual meetings.  

Prices are a bit more expensive at L’Usine compared to other cafes in Ho Chi Minh, however, if you’re planning on making L’Usine your go-to cafe ask about their “VIP” card, which gets you up to 10% off your bill.  

Do note that this is not a cafe that you’ll be able to burn that midnight oil at, as they close at 10pm. 

WiFi Rating: 3/5 – L’Usine’s WiFi ranges from great to middle of the pack, but is overall reliable. 

Website, Address, & Details: http://lusinespace.com/ 

• 19 Lê Thánh Tôn, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh (Japantown Location). 
• 151 Đồng Khởi, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh (Original Location). 
• 70B Lê Lợi, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh (District 1).
• 24 Đường Thảo Điền, Thảo Điền, Quận 2, Hồ Chí Minh (District 2). 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: If you find yourself at the L’Usine Le Thanh Ton location, make sure to head on over to Torisho Izakaya for some Japanese BBQ and ice cold beers! Or, considering checking out Heart of Darkness Brewery for some of my favorite craft beer in all of Saigon.

Villa Royale Downtown Antiques & Tea Room – The Old School Tea Room

Courtesy of Villa Royale’s Website. 

Villa Royale Antiques & Tea Room offers two locations to choose from; their downtown location in District 1, and original out in District 2. Villa Royale is the first cafe (errr…tea room) I went to in Ho Chi Minh, so it has a special place in my heart (that sounds cheesy). At both locations, when entering, you’ll be greeted by an assortment of incredible looking cakes, desserts, and dinners – all of which are worth a try. 

Villa Royale is a mix of both Asian and European antiques and treasures, making customers feel as if they’ve traveled back in time to an “old school tea room.” Its laid back vibe is a great contrast to Saigon’s fast-paced and somewhat overwhelming daily grind. There’s an assortment of couches (some purple) and comfortable chairs to work out of while you dig into a cheesecake and latte, making it perfect for a lazy Sunday when you have just a tiny bit of work to get done before the work week. 

Food-wise, I recommend trying the swedish meatballs in gravy, Aussie beef sausage roll, or Greek salad. For the quality and quantity of food at Villa Royale, it’s one of the best bangs for your buck – with mains ranging from VND $180,000 ($8) to $260,000 ($11). 

Freelancing aside, Villa Royale of course hosts high tea (by reservation only and minimum two guests), where customers can indulge in one of their forty Artisan TWG Teas.   

WiFi Rating: 3/5 – Villa Royale’s WiFi is pretty standard, however a buddy of mine generally preferred to tether to his phone while working there. 

Website, Address, & Details: http://villaroyaledowntown.com/ 

• Level 1, 25 Hồ Tùng Mậu, Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh (Downtown, District 1). 
• 3 Trần Ngọc Diện, Thảo Điền, Quận 2, Hồ Chí Minh (District 2). 

Additional Notes: Similar to The Workshop Coffee, Villa Royale Downtown Antiques & Tea Room is situated atop the stairs in an alley right next to Don Chicken. The original, in District 2, must also be accessed through a metal gate on the street.   

M2C Cafe – The Modern Meets Culture Cafe

Credit to M2C Cafe’s Facebook page.

Sporting two locations, both within a stone’s throw from ‘Walking Street’ and Bitexco Financial Tower, M2C Cafe is a great mix of East meets West. I’m a big fan of working at M2C (District 1 location) during the day and then heading over to the The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Hàn Thuyên (within walking distance) should I have a late night. 

M2C boasts a somewhat antique decor, with rustic tables and low lighting. When walking in to their District 1 location, it might seem small at first, however; there’s an upstairs with several couches, comfy chairs, and tables. It stays true to Vietnamese roots, serving very affordable (and delicious) Vietnamese dishes. I highly recommend trying their fried crispy seafood rolls and vermicelli bowl with roast pork. M2C Cafe also offers both Vietnamese and traditional coffees, so customers can have the best of both worlds. 

I’ve always had very positive interactions with the staff here, which is another reason I consider M2C a must-hit cafe in Saigon. Plus, they open at 7:30 and close at 11pm and their WiFi is extremely reliable. 

For freelancers and digital nomads looking to enjoy a great cafe experience while not shelling out large amounts for food and coffee, M2C is an essential. I’m actually surprised more freelancers don’t choose to work out of here, due to the location, food and coffee quality, and affordability.  

WiFi Rating: 4/5 – As I noted above, WiFi, atmosphere, and affordability are all well above average at M2C, so I’m not sure why more freelancers don’t work out of here. 

Website, Address, & Details: http://m2ccafe.com/. 

• 44B Lý Tự Trọng, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh (District 1).
• 230 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Phường 6, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh (District 3). 

Additional Notes: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Hàn Thuyên is right up the street should you need to burn that midnight oil. If you’re looking for a decent pizza with burrata for after a long day of work at M2C (District 1), I recommend checking out Italiani’s Pizza right up the street on 290 Lý Tự Trọng. 

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Hàn Thuyên – The All Nighter Cafe

Credit to The Coffee Bean’s website.

This is the cafe you go to when you’re pressed for a deadline, not looking for anything fancy, and want a hearty latte (or specialty shake). The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Hàn Thuyên is open 24 hours, a somewhat rarity in Ho Chi Minh’s cafe scene, so it’s perfect for those who consistently burn that midnight oil. 

There’s standard tables to work from, along with numerous comfortable chairs, so don’t worry about finding a seat at The Coffee Bean. The Coffee Bean is the least economical of all options for coffee, as each coffee will run you about VND $85,000 – $95,000, for pretty standard coffee. However, it gets the job done. Just approach it for what it is, a good place to work through the night at. 

Sometimes, it can get a bit noisy, as this seems to be a popular late night spot. And, there has been construction next door while there, so make sure to have a secondary cafe in mind just in case. 

The windows look out onto Pasteur street, which makes for a great people watching spot too. Once again, if you’re looking for a 24 hour coffee spot in Ho Chi Minh, this is your place.   

WiFi Rating: 4/5 – Of all the nights I’ve worked at The Coffee Bean Hàn Thuyên, I’ve never encountered any major problems with the WiFi. 

Website, Address, & Details: https://coffeebean.com.vn/en/coffee-bean-tea-leaf 

• 27 Hàn Thuyên, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh

Additional Notes: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Hàn Thuyên is located right next to one of my favorite breakfast spots ‘Au Parc’, which I recommend checking out if you’ve pulled an all nighter and are in the mood for a proper Mediterranean breakfast. 

If you’re looking for another 24 hour cafe, I also recommend checking out Kai Coffee Shop on Nguyễn Thái Bình (District 1). Do note that it is a popular spot for students to hang out late-night, so it can get quite noisy. However, the WiFi is strong, and their top floor is open air, which is nice during Saigon’s cooler winters.  

Final Thoughts

And there you have it! 5 of my favorite cafes for digital nomads to work out of in Saigon. While I couldn’t include every single spot I love in Ho Chi Minh, I think the above five are a great representation of Saigon’s hidden and thriving cafe culture. 

A few reminders when going to cafes in Ho Chi Minh: 

• Always be careful leaving your laptop unattended, 
• Using a little bit of the local language goes a long way with the staff, and
• Leave your business card on one of the public bulletin boards (if available). 

If you have any questions about making the move as a freelancer or digital nomad to Ho Chi Minh, Taipei, Hong Kong, or anywhere else in Asia, I’m more than happy to answer your questions (or point you in the direction of someone better suited to answer). 

Best,

Big Body