Cafe Hopping in Hanoi - But I don't drink Coffee
Cafe Hopping in Hanoi - But I don't drink Coffee
Now, one thing about me – I don’t drink coffee. I know it’s a weird topic to talk about ‘Cafe Hopping’ when I don’t even drink coffee. But I feel like it’s an obligatory entry when we’re talking about Vietnam. They have such a strong coffee culture that even a person like me has to talk about it.
I just want to share my experience of going around Hanoi and exploring the different types of cafes we stumbled upon. I think some of them are really Instagram-worthy. I swear.
If you want a better breakdown of each location, then you can check out this post: 5 Must Visit Cafes in Hanoi’s Old Quarter.
In this post, I will share the main highlight or the best cafe I think it’s worth a visit, and adding on to that other places that holds their own experiences as well.
Main Highlight
Hanoi 1990s
I think the main highlight of this Cafe Hopping is… The Hanoi 1990s by the Train Street. It’s a very close competition between Bancong and Hidden Gem Cafe & Pub for different reasons.
This place is such a unique experience. Having the train go past you just inches away! It’s a very risky tourist spot because there could be fatal accidents here. But yeah, this train street is very popular. Its getting more crowded the nearer it gets to the allocated timings that the train will come by.
You could be sitting on the ground floor and be at the same level as the huge train, or you could be on the 2nd floor and enjoy the view from the top.
And another special souvenir you can do is to rent the Vietnamese Traditional Outfit and have your photos taken by the train tracks.
This is why I feel that this experience is the main highlight of this trip. Who would have thought of taking photos in the middle of an active train track?!
Foodwise, it was meh. To be fair, we didn’t really order that much because we were still full. But what was unique about the experience was we were able to chit-chat with our local guides. They were young, maybe in their 20s and 30s. Very ambitious individuals who really have a deeper understanding of their country’s history.
I think that really adds up to the experience. I love getting to know people and their personal stories and experiences.
My Thoughts...
Here are my thoughts on the experience at the other cafes that we’ve visited all over Hanoi. This is in the light of a non-coffee drinker, and evidently, I don’t do much cafe hoppings in my life.
Bancong Cafe
We came here a couple of times. I love their interior and exterior designs. Most especially, their yellow building field with colorful flowers. It’s well made to give you a vibe back in the 1980 or 1990s era, or maybe even older.
We had our Vietnamese drinks and some snacks while we chit-chatted. I’m not much of a coffee drinker, so I had a mango shake. I did tried one of my friend’s Salty Coffee. Wow. I was amazed. I never imagined salt could fit so well with the bitter taste of the coffee. I’ve also tried before their egg coffee when we were traveling in Ho Chi Minh a few years ago and I was amazed too. Vietnamese coffee can be such a unique experience.
Oh yes, I will never forget the best Vietnamese Fried Spring Rolls I’ve ever tasted in Vietnam. I love the crispiness and then when you dip into their special sauce. I was blown away. I am not a food junkie and I hardly have this kind of reaction with food. So I made it my mission to try every single fried spring roll in every restaurant we went to. I’ve finally concluded that the best one I’ve tasted so far was from Bancong. *Chef’s kiss*
Hidden Gem Cafe & Pub
Now, cafe is literally hidden from plain sight. It’s at a back alley where you’ll see signages and stares heading up to this most unique cafe I’ve been to in my life. Their decorations are filled with life. Life around vietnam and what makes them so unique is that their decorations are recyled materials. You really need to see it for yourself.
We got there very early, practically the first people that went to that cafe the minute they opened. So its the perfect time to take bunch of pictures because there’s hardly any customers yet. And the weather was just nice because it’s an open air cafe.
You know, this style reminds of a European vibe. Like Italy or France. Courtyard feels with a lot of greenery hanging along the railings. So much color and vibrancy.
Food-wise, as you can tell. We’ve ordered another fried spring rolls. Lol. I insisted on giving it a try, and it was good, but… It’s not the same quality as what I had in Bancong. But its still pretty good. Along with that I had my chocolate drink to keep my energy up for the entire day.
You really need to visit this place if you’re in the area. It’s best to come here early and grab all the photos you need before chilling with their drinks and food.
Always Cafe (Harry Potter Theme)
It’s a small cafe, a few tables, but the effort of decorations, menu names and knick-knacks is high up there.
La Capo Cafe
This is yet another quaint cafe by the street of Hanoi. This is actually one of the nearest cafes we had from our hotel. We had a quick bite before our day tour in Halong Bay. I kinda like this cafe because it has those tiny chairs and table. Like theyre meant for kids to eat on.
What more, they have chairs outside their cafe and you can dine by the roadside. Well… On tiny chairs and table. Which was quite popular if you explore around the streets of Hanoi. I think its such a vibe experiencing this. I want to, one day. Eat a bowl of pho by the road side and have that authentic local dining.
They have a few things on the menu. Like your typical Vietnamese coffee, they also have smoothie bowls, which were quite A LOT and remember this comes with 4 pieces of bread. Not knowing this was a huge dish, I even bought another plain bread with condensed milk dip. WOW. I can’t finish this mount in less than 30 minutes before our tour bus arrives.
In the end...
Well, this is another one for the books. I know for sure there are other cafes that would give me a really good experience as a non-coffee drinker. I would love to return to Hanoi or other parts of Vietnam and experience their coffee culture, cafe culture and their amazing food. Not forgetting their delicious Fried Spring Rolls! I will hunt those down with no end. I know the Philippine’s Lumpia has their special place in my heart but so does Vietnam’s Fried Sprint Rolls. Something I will never forget. Lol.
This isn’t a cafe review or food review. It’s just what I description of what I saw, ate, experienced, and some reflections on having these wonderful experiences. So basically, it’s just a travel journal. Something that I wanna try to keep up with because I love re-reading these posts after many years have passed.
So Blue, you better go back to Vietnam and find the coolest looking cafe and order more Vietnamese Fried Spring Rolls!
