In December every year Notre-Dame Cathedral wraps itself in lighting for the holiday season. This marks the third time year the church is decorated for the holiday season, since its restoration project began in 2017, drawing crowds for photos.
Nguyen Nhat Anh, a tour guide specializing in night tours of Ho Chi Minh City, suggests five coffee shops that meet three key criteria: a central location, photo spots and convenient points for viewing the cathedral.
Nguoi Tam Chuyen House
Located on the top floor of the apartment building at 26 Ly Tu Trong Street, Nguoi Tam Chuyen House sits in an area known for fashion boutiques, eateries and art spaces. The journey up is part of the experience, as guests pass through residential corridors, with visitors asked to keep noise to a minimum.
Access includes a staircase with railings reflecting French-era architecture and a box-style elevator in the center of the building that still functions.
A view of the Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral from Nguoi Tam Chuyen House. Photo by Ngo Tran Hai An |
The shop itself is small, with just three tables facing Notre-Dame Cathedral through a window. Due to limited seating, reservations are recommended.
The menu includes teas, coffees and juices, with prices starting at VND60,000 (US$2.30).
RuNam d’Or
RuNam d’Or, at 3 Cong Xa Paris Square, is ideal for those who appreciate French villa-style architecture. The café has vaulted ceilings and decorative details, with many tables near windows.
The menu has coffees, pastries and European – Vietnamese foods at prices ranging from VND80,000 to VND500,000 ($3 to $19).
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Notre-Dame Cathedral glows in golden lights as seen from through the windows of RuNam d’Or. Photo by Read/Ngo Tran Hai An |
Saigon Corner
Situated at 8 Alexandre de Rhodes Street, Saigon Corner embraces a 1980s aesthetic with wooden furniture and nostalgic items. It is fairly large, divided into several sections and surrounded by greenery from Thong Nhat Park.
Its balcony overlooks Notre-Dame Cathedral and some of the city’s busiest central streets.
The coffee shop offers both indoor seating and a few outdoor tables. In addition to coffees, juices and pastries, Saigon Corner serves sandwiches, salads and brunch.
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Saigon Corner lights up Alexandre de Rhodes Street at night. Photo courtesy of Saigon Corner |
Drinks are priced at VND45,000-80,000 ($1.70 to $3), while food ranges from VND70,000 to VND150,000 ($2.70 to $5.70).
Giong Coffee
Situated 30 meters from Notre-Dame Cathedral, Giong Coffee at 57 Nguyen Du Street is popular thanks to its central location.
The café has a minimalist design with light tones, outdoor seating and an upper floor that overlooks the cathedral. Despite the bustle outside during the Christmas season, the interior remains quiet.
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Giong coffee shop. Photo by Trieu Nguyen |
The menu focuses on coffee, cold brews, tea, and fresh fruit juices and prices range from VND45,000 to VND75,000 ($1.70 to $2.85)
Highlands CoffeeNguyen Van Binh
Highlands Coffee on Nguyen Van Binh Book Street is just 20 meters from Notre-Dame Cathedral. The two-story place is designed with many tables placed near windows overlooking the square.
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Highlands Coffee on Nguyen Van Binh Street, meters away from Notre-Dame Cathedral. Photo courtesy of Kaz |
The cafe is busiest from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., when visitors gather to watch the cathedral light up. Drinks are priced at VND45,000 to VND85,000 ($1.70 to $3.20), including Vietnamese phin filter coffee, lattes and seasonal offerings.
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