Cà phê vợt means “stocking coffee,” a direct reference to a cloth filter the family uses to strain coffee ground.

This method is popular among stalls operated by those of Chinese descent in old Saigon, before French-style filters – or phin in Vietnamese – started dominating the market.

Here are 3 Café Vợt that have existed for more than half a century to attract visitors, do not miss it!

1.Cheo Leo Cafe is located at 109/36 Nguyen Thien Thuat, Ward 2, District 3

Hidden in the heart of District 3’s “chessboard” neighborhood – a network of intersecting alleys that can easily bewilder first-timers in town – Cheo Leo Café is more than just a street coffee shop: it’s a Saigon landmark, a family heirloom and a cultural hangout all rolled into one simple shopfront.

Photo: nguyenmx13

Over the past eight decades, Cheo Leo has gained a reputation among Saigon’s coffee lovers for its sole focus on coffee flavor sans embellishment.

For the three sisters, running Cheo Leo is less about making a profit and more about keeping their father’s legacy going; the fame they’ve gotten over the years is just a nice bonus.

Photo: linhmel

Photo: thuongngo2211

2. Café vợt of Mr Thanh is located at Alley 313 Tan Phuoc, Ward 6, District 11 

Photo: hanhienj

Located behind Thiec Market in District 11 (HCMC), although Mr Thanh’s small cafe on Tan Phuoc Street has no signboard, it’s still well-known. Just like making tea, the hand-crafted coffee-making process is to put the coffee powder in a cloth filter in a clay cooking pot, and then pour some boiling water into it. A few minutes later the coffee is poured into the warm aluminum, placed on the stove before serving guests. Each hot black coffee costs VND 4,000 and hot milk coffee is VND 6,000.

Photo: Thi Hà

Photo: Thi Hà

Photo: huanlephotography

Photo: su.candyy

3. Café vợt in 330/2 Phan Dinh Phung Street, Phu Nhuan District.

The café, owned by Dan Trang Con (Mr. Ba) and his wife Tuyet, has been open for the past 60 years and shows no signs of stopping. We found Ms. Tuyet busily brewing up coffee for the dozen or so customers on their mopeds waiting for their morning takeaway, drowning herself in cup after cup a black coffee with sugar.

Photo: kellankhuu

Photo: vosan___

No hustle or bustle, visitors coming here just want to enjoy the taste of old coffee and in that space, it reminds of the image of an old, simple, rustic Saigon in the minds of each person.  Each glass is 15,000 VND and only cash is accepted.