Cafes with Peaceful Outdoor Areas

These green oases aren't mirages

Think of enjoying a cool drink in a hot tropical country and you might envision lying in a hammock, wind in the trees, birds calling, a quiet and peaceful getaway from the bustle of modern life… all of which is NOT Ho Chi Minh City’s whole vibe.

Fortunately, we’ve got all these little alleys stitching up the city, and they have cafes like these! Because they’re situated away from busy roads, they afford you peace you can’t get at many others. Lush greenery and a quiet atmosphere where you can hear yourself think are invaluable to mental health, and today’s recommendations provide perfect environments to recharge, chat, or work.

There are three very different styles here - Patio is a mix of classic and modern, Little Cam is pulled straight from 1970’s Saigon, and Ka is a front porch in your favorite little garden.

PATIO CAFÉ

Hours: 7:30am-10:30pm

Address: 400/2 Đ. Lê Văn Sỹ, Phường 14, Quận 3

https://maps.app.goo.gl/XjAiqD6VfksbMaxS9

Let’s start off with easily the most high-end of our options today, Patio Cafe. Entering through a curtain of hanging plants you find yourself in a bi-level cafe fit for entertaining friends or co-workers, or for taking a date you’d particularly like to impress without breaking the bank. This is the kind of cafe where you could rock up in nice business casual and you’ll be just as classy as the joint itself.

The inside is pretty classic and a great place to get some work done, and while the drinks are more expensive, they suit the vibes perfectly and you feel fancier just being in the space. Go get your rich persona cosplay on, is what I’m saying.

Plus, check out that cool spiral staircase to the first floor. Neat!

Little Cam Saigon (Lê Thị Riêng)

Hours: 7am-10pm

Address: 60/1 Đ. Lê Thị Riêng, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZrvUStLuuh4gqTLw6

I don’t usually recommend chains, and Little Cam isn’t *exactly* a chain, but it’s not NOT a chain either, as they have several outposts. I think this one is particularly neat, though, and I’m can’t name another cafe with a similar layout.

There’s a pretty nondescript and barren entryway that doubles as some motorbike parking, and from there you pass into a small courtyard which is the entirety of the cafe - this is a good time to note that this is NOT a place you want to get caught in a rainstorm, because it’s wholly open to the elements above.

All in all, a very unique entry in Saigon’s cafe scene, and the service and drinks are top notch. That matcha coconut latte below saved my life on this particular day.

Ka Coffee

Hours: 7:30am-10pm

Address: 230g Pasteur, Phường 6, Quận 3

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Qxcyva2pCt4dDLnm8

As I often do, I’m saving my favorite for last. Ka Coffee is in a nifty little alley off of the absurdly busy Pasteur Street (and incidentally there are several other cool cafes in here, too). Located at the bend of the alley, there are no traffic sounds and the outdoor seating is cool and shady. The inside is nothing to sneeze at, either, with a warm and welcoming design.

The seating on the patio is arranged as you’d find on any typical sidewalk cafe, in a couple rows facing the alley, but the shade and the greenery set it apart. Parking is a little further down the alley so you’re not dealing with the ubiquitous visual noise of motorbikes out front, making you feel even farther apart from the heart of the city (where, to be clear, you actually are).

An oasis, indeed.

Well there you have it, three cafes where no one’s gonna bother you while you’re soaking up the peace and greenery, and where the constant roar of traffic is a distant memory. Thank god for small favors.

Go, center yourself, and enjoy the peace and quiet!

As always, if you know someone who would enjoy my content, whether they are living in Vietnam, visiting, or just like pretty pictures, please pass this along! And if you haven’t subscribed yet, what are you waiting for?

-Ben