Few cities in Asia have a café scene as deeply woven into everyday life as Hanoi capital. Hanoi Cafe Culture is not just about drinking coffee — it is about slowing down, observing the rhythm of the city, and understanding Vietnam through small stools, chipped cups, and quiet conversations. From smoky street-side brews to artistic hideaways tucked inside French-era villas, Hanoi Cafe Culture offers travelers a front-row seat to the soul of the city.

Unlike global coffee cities driven by trends and branding, Hanoi Cafe Culture remains fiercely local, layered with history, creativity, and habit. To sit at a café in Hanoi is to witness generations overlapping — students, writers, retirees, artists — all sharing space, time, and caffeine.

HANOI CAFE CULTURE: THE BEGINNING

From the early years in the 1900s, Hanoi was under the French colonial system. Hence, to imitate the lifestyle of their homeland, the French people at that time decided to bring their traditions to the colonial land, and one of those things was the cafe. At that time cafe was an elite location that solely served French officers and a small number of the staff working under the French bureaucracy.

Cafe in the French colonial era (Source: Nhan Dan)

Basically, the architecture, style of service, and the menu list were all replicated from a typical café that you could find in France, or specifically in Paris at that time. In fact, the main menu at that time included black coffee and a latte (which was named “brown” or “milk coffee” by Vietnamese people at the time). 

The first cafe in Hanoi – Café de Beira – had its first opening in the late 1880s by a French woman with the location on Tho Kham Street (now this street turns into Trang Tien Street and Hang Khay Streets). After that, many other cafes started to establish themselves, such as Café du Commerce, Café de Paris, Café Albin, Café de la Place, Café Block, etc.

VIETNAMESE IDENTITY IN HANOI CAFE CULTURE

There are some significant milestones and highlights when we look at the Vietnamese identity in the unique coffee culture in Hanoi. First of all, the very first coffee shop in Hanoi was the cafe vendor of Mr. Lam, who was the founder of the famous Lam Café since 1952 (you can find this cafe at 60 Nguyen Huu Huan Street, Hanoi).

At that time, coffee in Hanoi remained in two typical brewing styles: black coffee (served with a small portion of butter to enhance the creamy flavor and complement the original bitterness of coffee) and milk coffee. Also, the first appearance of a café shop located near the breakfast restaurants or vendors in Hanoi, the breakfast coffee culture was born like that and has continued until now.

Egg Coffee (Source: Foody)

Another point is a genius invention that has become a signature for Hanoi cafe culture nationally and internationally. Yes, it is egg coffee. As a former bartender at Metropole (now Sofitel Legend Metropole) hotel, Mr. Giang invented egg coffee because, at that time, milk was a “luxurious” good.

Hence, the egg was a substitute for milk due to the creamy texture after mixing this ingredient. Surprisingly, egg coffee was so famous and turned out to be the favorite of the majors, even surpassing the popularity of the original milk coffee. Nowadays, it is a must-try beverage for all tourists once coming to Hanoi.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM HANOI CAFE CULTURE AT THIS MOMENT?

In extreme seasons like summer or winter, coffee can be the beverage to moderate your body temperature and relax with the outside weather conditions. However, personally, I think the better seasons to enjoy all the senses of Hanoi cafe culture are spring and autumn.
It is because when the weather is in its moderating mode, you can enjoy your drink, sit freely in or outside of the café, immerse yourself in the nice weather, and watch the city’s life go on.

Enjoy at a local café in Hanoi

It has been approximately 70 years since the first appearance of the Vietnamese café in Hanoi, and there have been many changes in all aspects of Hanoi cafe culture. Café now is not only about drinking coffee. The menu is more diverse, and so on, for these purposes.

However, as always, the unique vibe and the one-and-only atmosphere of the cafes in Hanoi make them so unique that even the famous international coffee shop chains like Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts hardly compete to win the market here.

Suggestions

For the ones who would like to try the famous Vietnamese traditional brewing method of coffee and some other traditional beverages, we recommend:

• Giang Café: 39 Nguyen Huu Huan Street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi
• Dinh Café: 13 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi
• Lam Café : 60 Nguyen Huu Huan Street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi
• Café Thai: 27 Trieu Viet Vuong Street, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi

And that is not the end. Of course, we understand we are so diverse with different preferences. Then, for those who love to see Vietnamese identity but prefer to have a more innovative menu and creative space, here are the places for you:

• Xofa Café: 14 Tong Duy Tan Street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi
• Ban Cong Café: 2 Dinh Liet Street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi
• Cong Café Chain (suggested address: 116 Cau Go Street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi)

GOOD NEWS!

For both coffee and non-coffee lovers, cafe culture is a must-try experience when you are in Hanoi. Do not forget to let us know your feelings, expressions, and wishes by connecting with us via our social media platforms below. Also, let us know your preferences through Build Your Own Trip, or check out our Hanoi Street Tour with the experience of Hanoi cafe culture inside for travel inspiration.

We are always here to welcome you to our beautiful Vietnam, and this is Thanh Duong, a travel and foodie expert. Coming soon for the “tastier” and wanderlust blogs.