NGUYENVANMAI Half-Day Course in Ho Chi Minh City

The coffee's fine. The retro bar waits. This street just holds you.

Why NGUYENVANMAI, why now

Nguyen Van Mai sits a block off Le Van Sy as a genuine day and night anchor, a residential hem with independent specialty cafes and indie bars that work without a park, market, or river nearby.

1. Highlands Coffee Nguyen Van Troi HCM

The course opens at Highlands Coffee Nguyen Van Troi, a chain spot on the wider avenue before you drop into the residential strip. It's a place to sit in air conditioning, let the morning settle, and think through the rest of the walk. The rating sits around 3.9, so this is about location and timing, not discovery.

Crew's note

The menu waits. Order when the heat leaves.

What visitors say

I visited this location last week, and I have no intention of returning anytime soon due to the attitude and demeanor of a staff member name…

There's a 1 star review recently abt Thanh Mai - a staff here by user Hai N. I'm her sister, I wasn't there when the customer came but I jus…

Highlands Coffee Nguyen Van Troi menu board
The menu's not going anywhere — order once the heat's actually left your shoulders.
Highlands Coffee Nguyen Van Troi seating
Grab whichever chair's by the window — nobody's keeping track of assigned seats here.
Highlands Coffee Nguyen Van Troi iced coffee
Watch the cream sink slow through the ice before you even take the first sip.
Highlands Coffee Nguyen Van Troi ceiling lights
The place empties out around us, those little neon halos glowing overhead, and the city outside just forgets we're in here.

2. Jatujak Retro Bar

Jatujak Retro Bar closes the route after dark with Thai food and live music. The rating is 4.8 across two hundred reviews, and the category tells you the night has structure here. You eat, the stage fills, and the alley outside stays quiet enough that you notice when you leave.

Crew's note

The tables are empty before 7. That's when the heat breaks.

What visitors say

Amazing Thai food, very much same as what we had in Bangkok. The sontam so far is the best I found in Vietnam , the pork bbq is so soft and…

Just finished my late lunch today. Food really tasty and authentic, all ingredients come from Thailand does not mixed any non-Thai recipe. N…

Jatujak Retro Bar empty tables
Tables sit empty before seven — that's exactly when the heat outside finally lets go.
Jatujak Retro Bar hotpot on the table
The pot just simmers along — toss stuff in whenever the thought crosses your mind, no order required.
Jatujak Retro Bar fried garlic rice
That crunch of fried garlic settles you down faster than waiting for the rice to cool ever would.
Jatujak Retro Bar som tam papaya salad
The som tam's cooling on your fork and the night just keeps rolling on without waiting for you to catch up.

The walk between

You leave the coffee shop on Nguyen Van Troi and turn into the cluster of independent cafes and bars that line the short residential block. The street narrows, the light changes, and the storefronts are smaller.

  • Start the coffee stop mid-morning when the heat hasn't peaked yet, then let the hours pass before you walk to dinner.
  • The bar serves Thai food all day, but the live music anchors the night, so plan to arrive after seven if you want both.
Course map — stop pins and walking route

FAQ

Does the bar take reservations, or is it walk-in?
The reviews mention that staff welcomed diners even before official opening hours, which suggests flexible, walk-in service. No mention of reservations, so showing up works.
How does the price feel across both stops?
Highlands is a local chain, so expect standard mid-range cafe pricing. Jatujak's reviews focus on authenticity and generous portions, which usually signals good value for the category.
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