HCMC CAFE APARTMENT MUST GO
🍽️ Eat at Madam Quyen, known for their egg coffee & flat rice noodle. I highly recommend it, it’s $4 a plate for a fulfilling bowl of rice noodle & yummy grilled pork. It was so good i went back a second time to have it again before my flight back to Singapore. Note that it’s a cash only place!
🛍️ After your meal, explore the other floors of cafe apartment as there are different shops around. But you have to make a trip to HAC Natural Beauty Care on either the 3rd floor & 5th floor. Sooo many interesting, unique things to buy. They had different handmade items like candles, cute fish pouches, earrings, water bottle bag, perfume, soap and more. This is a place you will regret visiting.
Fun fact: Taking the lift there cost money haha. There is a man standing infront of the lift and whoever presses the button, he approaches them and points to a sign that says “300,000 VND to take elevator” 😂
If you’re planning to visit the Cafe Apartment in Ho Chi Minh City, here are some tips from my experience that could help you make the most of your trip. Firstly, be prepared with cash when you visit Madam Quyen — the place is cash only, so it helps to have Vietnamese dong handy. The egg coffee there is a delightful treat, creamy and rich, while the flat rice noodles with grilled pork are very satisfying and affordable, perfect for a quick meal before heading out to explore more of the building. Aside from food, the Cafe Apartment houses many intriguing small shops spread over multiple floors. Don’t miss HAC Natural Beauty Care located on the 3rd and 5th floors, where they offer unique handmade items like candles, cute fish-shaped pouches, earrings, and artisan soaps. It’s an ideal place to find souvenirs or little gifts with a personal touch. An amusing thing to note is the elevator ride costs 300,000 VND, so it might be worth taking the stairs if you prefer to save some money and enjoy the views of the shops on each floor. The vibe of the Cafe Apartment changes beautifully at night with charming lights and a lively atmosphere—you might want to revisit at night for a different feel. Overall, this hidden gem in Saigon combines culinary delight and creative shopping in a fascinating old apartment building setting, making it a unique experience traveling in HCMC.
