Vietnam’s Liquid Heritage Part 2 | Saigon: A City That Brews Cold with Purpose

Vietnam’s love affair with coffee runs deep. With a robust café culture and some of the world’s most distinctive beans, it’s no surprise that cold brew has found fertile ground here. But this isn’t your standard café fare—here, cold brew is a canvas for creativity.

Using time in place of heat, cold brewing extracts smoother, fruitier notes from the beans, eliminating the sharpness of hot-water methods. Some Saigon brews steep for 8 hours, others for 24. The results? Bold, refreshing, and endlessly innovative. Let’s explore the cafés leading this chilled coffee renaissance.

In Saigon, cold brew isn’t just a refreshment—it’s a ritual. From meticulous single-origin steeps to bottled expressions of heritage, Saigon’s cold brew scene is evolving into something beautifully bold. Whether you’re a local enthusiast or a curious visitor, this journey through iced excellence is worth every sip.

[A] COFFEE HOUSE

One of the pioneers of cold brew in HCMC, [a] Coffee House crafts a signature 24-hour steeped blend of Arabica and Typica beans. Served in a wine glass, it’s fruity, aromatic, and deeply satisfying. A sanctuary for the curious and the calm.

What to Order: Signature 24-hour cold brew.

15 Huynh Khuong Ninh, Da Kao, D1

THE WORKSHOP

Saigon’s cathedral of craft coffee, The Workshop offers cold brews brewed up to 20 hours with 100% Vietnamese beans. Choose between a classic cold brew, sparkling twist, or creamy cold brew latte.

What to Order: Cold brew latte.

27 Ngo Duc Ke, Ben Nghe, D1

SHIN COFFEE

Founded by a Japan-trained barista, Shin bridges global coffee culture with Vietnamese warmth. Their cold brew blends Ethiopian and Nicaraguan beans for an elegant, subtly sweet result.

What to Order: 8-hour international cold brew.

13 Nguyen Thiep & 18 Ho Huan Nghiep, Ben Nghe, D1

VIETNAM COFFEE REPUBLIC (VCR)

These cold brew pioneers offer bottled brews with shelf lives up to six months. From citrus-tinged house cold brews to the traditional-style bottled “Cong Hoa Sữa Đá,” VCR is revolutionising how Vietnamese coffee is enjoyed.

What to Order: Orange zest cold brew or Cong Hoa Sữa Đá bottle.

8A/7B2 & 8A/6D2 Thai Van Lung, Ben Nghe, D1

NOMAD COLD BREW COFFEE

A minimalist space specialising in cold brew and kombucha, NOMAD offers a calm oasis just steps from the War Remnants Museum. Their stylishly bottled cold brews are fruity, bold, and beautifully presented.

What to Order: House cold brew in bottle or glass.

93B Vo Van Tan, D3

96B CAFE & ROASTERY

A roastery that puts cold brew on a pedestal, 96B is where connoisseurs come to talk bean origins and brew temperatures. Their house cold brew is a well-balanced, expertly extracted cup.

What to Order: House cold brew.

96B Phan Ngu, Da Kao, D1