4 Cool Cafes and Coffee Treats in Hanoi, Vietnam

Before coming to Vietnam, we knew that coffee production was big for the country. What we didn’t expect was the extensive coffee culture we discovered in Hanoi.

There seem to be even more coffee shops in Hanoi than the pervasive number of Starbucks locations in the States (and yes, there are a few Starbucks in Vietnam as well). Just about every block has some sort of café, ranging from the simple sort with plastic stools, to multi-level Western-style establishments.

Updated: 2024. Originally published: 2016.

Types of Coffee Drinks in Hanoi

The Vietnamese have also put their own twist on coffee drinks, which brings another dimension to the Vietnamese coffee culture. We thoroughly enjoyed these treats on both of our trips to Hanoi, despite not being big coffee drinkers.

Here are some of the coffee drinks in Hanoi we love:

Classic Iced Coffee with Sweetened Condensed Milk

When the French introduced coffee in Vietnam, fresh milk was not widely available, thus they use condensed milk instead. Up to this day, condensed milk is one of the ingredients that defines Vietnamese coffee. The mixture of black coffee and sweetened condensed milk is called ca phe nau (brown coffee) in North Vietnam, while it’s called ca phe sua (milk coffee) in the south. This coffee is mostly served with ice.

Coconut Ice Cream with Coffee Poured Over

Delicious and creamy coconut ice cream topped with Vietnamese coffee. The creaminess of coconut milk brilliantly mixed with the bitterness of coffee makes this drink a success. 

Blended Mochas

This beverage combines the rich flavors of chocolate and coffee with a creamy texture, making it a popular choice among coffee enthusiasts.

Egg Coffee 

Egg coffee (ca phe trung) is another unique Vietnamese coffee recipe developed back when the supply of fresh milk is scarce in Vietnam. For this drink, an airy froth of whipped egg yolk and condensed milk is combined with dark coffee. With the creamy texture of eggnog and the flavor of sweet coffee, it is absolutely delicious!

Yogurt Coffee 

Yogurt coffee (sua chua ca phe)  is a unique and refreshing drink that combines two beloved elements of Vietnamese cuisine: strong Vietnamese coffee and creamy yogurt.

Individually Brewed Coffee with Sweetened Condensed Milk

Ca phe nau or Ca phe sua (coffee with sweetened condensed milk) is the most typical concoction of coffee in Vietnam. Although usually served cold with ice, you can also have it hot.

Other Types of Coffee in Hanoi

Aside from the ones mentioned above, here are other popular types of coffee in Hanoi, Vietnam:

Vietnamese Black Coffee

Ca Phe Den Da (Vietnamese Black Coffee) is similar to ca phe sua but without the condensed milk, ca phe den da is brewed using the same method but served over ice without any additional sweeteners. It offers a strong, bold coffee flavor with a hint of sweetness from the natural sugars in the coffee beans.

Coffee with Milk and Ice

Ca Phe Bac Xiu (Coffee with Milk and Ice) is a lighter variation of Vietnamese iced coffee, made by combining strong coffee with both condensed milk and regular milk before pouring it over ice. It offers a mellower flavor compared to ca phe sua da, making it a popular choice for those who prefer a less intense coffee experience.

Fruity Coffee

Fruity coffee or coffee smoothie (sinh to ca phe) is a creamy blend of fresh fruit with a touch of Vietnamese coffee.

Favorite Coffee Shops in Hanoi

There are all kinds of coffee shops in this city. With two trips to Hanoi covering about three weeks total, we barely scratched the surface of what’s out there.

But we did get great recommendations from our friends who live here and did some of our own research on cafés that are good for digital nomads. Below are some favorites we recommend checking out.

Home Coffee Store

One of our favorite discoveries was the Home Coffee Store in the Ba Đình district. It is clearly decorated by an artist with a taste for whimsy and has even been re-decorated since our last visit!

Every room on each of the three floors (and rooftop terrace) is uniquely appointed with antiques and creative flair. We loved it! They also had good wifi, and their blended drinks were pretty good, too.

Prices were mid-range compared to the other places we saw (about $1.85).

Cộng cà phê

The coconut ice-cream with coffee poured over the top (about $2) is a specialty our friends introduced us to at Cộng cà phê, a mini-chain of coffee shops decked out in funky communist paraphernalia.

There are at least a dozen of these shops in and around Hanoi and we have now been to three. Although we’ve always gone to just hang out, they would be a decent place to work online as well (unless there’s someone smoking next to you).

Café Giảng

This café in the Hoan Kiem district serves up one of the most unique coffee concoctions we’ve seen: egg coffee (about $1.20). With the creamy texture of eggnog and the flavor of sweet coffee, it was absolutely delicious!

Just to be sure our memories didn’t fail us, we returned a year later on our second trip and we’re still fans.

We probably would have missed the entrance if we hadn’t seen a picture first. There is a long hallway that leads back to the café. We ate at one of the tiny tables on the second floor.

Cafe Cuối Ngõ

The name of this café literally translates to “end of the alley,” a hidden treasure where you’d never expect. Finding it is part of the adventure, especially since the location on Google Maps is not quite accurate (see our corrected map below) and you get to duck through an ancient-looking archway. 

The place is not large and neither is the menu, but it’s full of mystique and fascinating art. We ordered two hot teas, coffee with sweetened condensed milk, and an orange juice for about $5.20 total.

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Where to Stay in Hanoi

We stayed with our friends who were far removed from the tourist center. Most visitors stay near the French Quarter/Old Town and the Ho Hoan Kiem lake area for easy access to the main Hanoi attractions.

Find a cool apartment or homestay room to rent on Booking.com.

TIP: 🛏️ When it comes to accommodations, finding the right balance between cost, location, and comfort is worth getting right. But it doesn’t have to take hours of online searching!

I’ll teach you how to pinpoint your own perfect accommodations efficiently and avoid disappointing stays in my Smart Stay Finder course.

Now that we’ve tried some of these interesting variations on the generic cup of joe, we’re curious: what are some favorite coffee concoctions in places you’ve visited?

For further reading about Hanoi:

– Phở-nomenal: The Many Types of Phở in Hanoi, Vietnam
– Things to Do in Hanoi, Vietnam on a Budget
– How to Cross the Street in Hanoi Traffic2022
– 5 Unexpected Things We Learned in Hanoi2015
– Staying Fit in Hanoi, Vietnam

For other Vietnam destinations:

– Suggest Vietnam Itinerary for 10 days or more
– A budget guide to Ninh Binh (with self-guided bicycle itinerary)
– A budget guide to Mai Chau, Vietnam
– A budget guide to Hue, Vietnam
– A complete budget guide to Hoi An, Vietnam 

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