Almost as iconic a Hanoi landmark as Hoan Kiem Lake, though not as picturesque, Ho Guom Plaza, also known as Shark Jaws, looms over the southern edge of Old Quarter and provides no fewer than six different eating and drinking options. The best place to view its majesty, and get an idea of what’s inside, … read the full post

When I wrote about coffee in Hanoi I mentioned cafe sua chua and promised more… I was introduced to cafe sua chua at Cafe Duy Tri, an historic coffee shop located on Pho Yen Phu. Pho Yen Phu is a lively street running north off Duong Thanh Nien (the street that runs between Truc Bach … read the full post

Coffee often seems to be the lifeblood of Vietnam — well, along with beer, tea, rice and pho. You really can’t walk far without the tempting aroma of coffee greeting your nostrils, and a hit of the particularly strong brew is enough to keep you going for hours. Yes, Vietnamese coffee is certainly known for … read the full post

Hàng Giầy is right in the centre of Old Quarter: running from Luong Ngoc Quyen to Hang Chieu. Giầy means shoes — if it were giay it would be paper, which is why I’ve added the tones — but nowadays there are very few shoes on sale along its stretch. There may not be shoes, … read the full post

There are probably thousands of cafés in Saigon. Seriously. Yesterday, while walking around the Crescent, I counted five cafes on just one corner. It’s crazy! I’ve already written about my selections for Saigon’s best cafes. While I would say that these are still some of the cream of the crop, I wanted to let you … read the full post

One thing’s for sure, Saigon loves its coffee. You can find a café on any given block in the city — more than likely, there will be more than one.  Like most major cities, Ho Chi Minh City has its fair share of chain coffee houses, such as Highlands Coffee and Coffee Bean, but you … read the full post

I was cycling along Au Trieu today, next to St Joseph’s Cathedral, and was compelled to walk into a shop that I’ve seen before but have never really registered. The shop is called Indigenous and I was drawn in by the shiny packets of coffee. I’m not a coffee drinker but I think Vietnamese coffee makes a … read the full post