One of my favourite things about Vietnam & Hanoi in particular is the coffee. Vietnam is the 2nd biggest coffee producing nation in the world after Brazil. And it’s bloody amazing. There are so many cool and quirky coffee shops. The perfect place for a pick me up the morning after a night of Bia Hoi. Great to wile away a few hours, and escape the craziness of the city. Or the perfect place to get a few hours work done on my laptop, while enjoying watching the world go by on the crazy streets below.
In the month I spent in Hanoi in December last year, one of my favourite things to do was look on the Hanoi Hideaway website, and then go out and discover and experience the many coffee shops the city has to offer. It was also one of the reasons for choosing Hanoi as the place to go back to when I decided not to go back to my full time job, and to start freelancing on the road.
During my 2nd month in Hanoi when I was sitting working from the Balcony’s of the many coffee shops in the square around St Joseph’s Cathedral. I knew it was a good decision.
I have a lot more still to check out & I am looking forward to doing so when I get back to Hanoi in a couple of months time. I’m actually sat back at home in England writing this while drinking an instant coffee, wishing I was there now.
Just a few of my favourite coffee shops…
Cafe Nola
89 Ma May, Hoàn Kiếm
Manzi Art Gallery
14 Phan Huy Ích, Nguyễn Trung Trực, Ba Đình
Tổ Chim Xanh – Bluebirds’ Nest
13, 19 Đặng Dung, Quán Thánh, Ba Đình
My first month in Hanoi I was staying at Flipside Hostel on Bat Dan. My favourite Hostel in my 5 months traveling Thailand & Vietnam. [Why not take a look at my post about Flipside hostel.] So my first experience of Vietnamese coffee was just across the road at Coffee (ca phe) 24 – 24 Bat Dan. Where I had Egg Coffee – a specialty of Hanoi that I had read about before I arrived, (and recommend you try if you are ever in Hanoi.) Along with Banh Mi on my first morning in Hanoi. I was hooked.
I have no clue how many mornings I sat outside on those chairs pictured above drinking coffee & people watching. Soon I discovered the egg coffee was better at Cafe Hieu just next door, and split my time between the two. Though the Banh Mi was definitely better at Coffee 24.
My love affair with Coffee in Hanoi tbc……..