Before travelling to Vietnam, I read about the amazing coffee culture there. Never in a take-away cup, coffee is meant to be enjoyed while relaxing by yourself or in a social situation. The coffee cafes there are experiences, some heavily themed, some small and intimate. What sets the Vietnamese coffee culture apart from our North American coffee shops is the belief that coffee is never to be rushed, and always enjoyed with all your senses. Are you a coffee drinker?

Vietnam is the second largest coffee producer in the world, second only to Brazil. Vietnamese coffee is renowned for its bold, intense flavor, primarily derived from high-caffeine Robusta beans, and is commonly brewed using a metal filter called a "phin". Traditionally, this strong dark roast is served with sweetened condensed milk to balance its nuttiness, either hot or as a popular iced beverage. Not only is the coffee good, the way they prepare it is unique and deserves to be tried at least once while you are there. I tried them all, and still have dreams of the heavenly Egg Coffee, which is unlike anything I have ever tasted. Have you ever tried any of these special Vietnamese coffees?

The cafes there, as I said, are everywhere. I don't think I've ever seen so many cafes, some tiny with only a few seats, and some huge. There are so many themed cafes there too, such as rain forest themed, koi pond themed, candy themed, bird themed, you name it, they have it. Located in the heart of Nguyen Hue Walking Street, The Cafe Apartments is a charming relic of old Saigon that has been transformed into a bustling hub of coffee shops, gifts shops and art spaces. It's nine floors with dozens of coffee shops, and is a major tourist draw. We saw it from the outside, but preferred our coffee shops to be more intimate. Would this be something you would like to visit?