If Week 1 was about finding my bearings, Week 2 was about finding my seat—usually a red or blue plastic stool no more than six inches off the ground. In Ho Chi Minh City, the best views aren’t from the skyscrapers; they’re from the curb.
The Liquid Gold: Egg Coffee at Eggyolk
I started the week treating myself to a masterpiece. Cà Phê Trứng (Egg Coffee) is less of a drink and more of a dessert. Watching the layers of creamy, whisked yolk sit atop that intense Vietnamese coffee is a ritual in itself. It’s the perfect “slow” start in a city that rarely hits the brakes.
There is a specific kind of peace found at 6:00 AM across from Bến Thành Market. While waiting for the currency exchange to open, I sat with a Cà Phê Sữa Đá and watched the city wake up. At that hour, the air is still relatively cool, the motorbikes are a steady hum rather than a roar, and the coffee hits just a little bit harder.
One of my favorite captures this week was outside the Central Post Office. I caught two local guys posing for photos while I sat with my own iced milk coffee. It’s a classic Saigon scene: the juxtaposition of grand colonial architecture and the effortless, cool street style of the younger generation.
The uncle at the “Cold Drinks” stands in his plaid shirt smiling and he is as warm as the coffee is cold. Pham Ngu Lao.
The latter half of the week took me to The Simple Cafe.
There is something incredibly grounding about buying a coffee from a stainless steel cart on the sidewalk.
In Saigon, you don’t just drink coffee; you inhabit it. You sit, you watch the traffic, you study your Vietnamese notes, and you realize that the “simple life” is actually quite vibrant.
Quick Tips from the Sidewalk:
• Cà Phê Sữa Đá: Your best friend for 90°F (32°C) humidity.
• The Stool Rule: If there’s a plastic stool, it’s a legitimate cafe. Don’t be shy!
• Timing: Hit the markets early. The energy at sunrise is unmatched.
April 2026